Studies recently conducted by the authors have proved that for every leadership competency you develop, you also strengthen several significant related behaviors that enhance your effectiveness as a leader. This book focuses on identifying and building the strengths you need to be successful at your jobs.

"We have moved from a focus on fixing leadership weaknesses all the way over to a focus on building strengths. Without question, it is the most profound change in this realm to occur in the past 50 years." -- John Zenger and Joseph Folkman, from the book

You run a business department, a division, or an entire company. Everything is going smoothly, everyone respects your abilities, and no one complains about you. You are a good, talented business leader.

But are you exceptional? Because in these difficult business times, true success requires nothing less.

From the leadership gurus of Zenger Folkman, How to Be Exceptional provides a revolutionary approach to leadership development. Instead of focusing on your weaknesses and how to overcome them, focus on your strengths--and learn how to magnify them.

How to Be Exceptional explains how to:

• Pinpoint your best leadership traits and choose the right development target for yourself
• Use feedback and action-learning on the job to elevate your strengths
• Apply Zenger Folkman's revolutionary "cross-training" method to escalate your leadership competencies into the top 90th percentile
• Ensure that your fully developed strengths are sustainable by building follow-through into your development plan

When you magnify your leadership competencies to the level of exceptional, employee engagement increases, productivity rises, and profitability soars. Learn how to make your business and career dreams a reality.

One of The Globe & Mail's Top 10 Business books of the Year!

Rethink Everything You Know About Leadership Strengths

"A must-read for anyone wanting to positively stand out in an organization or for leaders wanting to raise the overall performance of the organization." -- Cindy Brinkley, Vice President, Global Human Resources, General Motors

"Zenger Folkman's findings related to companion behaviors is exciting. It enhances what's been presented in prior books and makes extraordinary leadership seem like an achievable goal. I would recommend this book to anyone committed to the journey." -- Pam Mabry, Director, Human Resources, The Boeing Company

"The authors take the groundbreaking concept of driving leadership effectiveness by building our strengths to a whole new level of practical implementation, providing us with a brilliantly clear road map. I have found this body of work to be absolutely invaluable . . . I cannot imagine a person in a leadership role today who would not find value from reading this book cover to cover." -- Loren M. Starr, Senior Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, Invesco Ltd.

How to Be Exceptional is a milestone in the emerging business case for evidence-based management. Building on two decades of earlier research, the authors brilliantly lay out a simple, concrete, scientifically validated model for achieving consistently superior business results through leadership. . . . Its magic is its simplicity, pragmatism, and focus." -- Eric Severson, Senior Vice President, Talent, Gap Inc.

"How to Be Exceptional is the best book on professional development I have read in decades. It reinforces the emerging wisdom that the path to greatness is really about building profound strengths, rather than through relentlessly focusing on one’s weaknesses. This is a great road map for any leader seeking to optimize their growth and impact." -- Michael A. Peel, Yale University, Vice President, Human Resources and Administration