The official website of Applied Organizational Concepts, Inc., Rod Hess, President


Normative Leadership Book Overview


Long before the latest fads in management/organizational development, good leaders displayed an intuitive command of how to use normative skills. They were able to create an informal, or normative culture within their group or organization, that fostered an attitude of teamwork, accountability and overall excellence. This enabled the leader to gain the support of the followers to move forward in achieving the leader’s goals. Normative skills have been used by all leaders throughout history, and you cannot lead the change process without using normative skills. It is in learning “how to” harness the power of the informal culture that makes the leader more powerful and effective. Normative Leadership is a unique, comprehensive text that shows you how to do this!

Chapter 1 examines the paths that you can take in life. The Path of Least Resistance is taken by most people who talk about achieving certain goals in life, but lack the necessary motivation and persistence to attain them. Consequently, they only reinforce the “status quo.” You will walk this path until you choose to pursue your dream. When you do this, you will step onto the Path Seldom Taken. Here, you have finally discovered your purpose in life and are gaining knowledge and experience in your chosen field from mentors. Once you have learned all you can from your mentors, you may choose to leave this path and step onto the Path of the Normative Leader. Now, you are ready to pursue your own unique purpose in life. Here, there is no path. One must be forged. Here is where the normative skills will be an invaluable resource to you.


Chapter 2 introduces you to the philosophy of Helpathy. Adolf Hitler used normative skills. Mother Teresa also used normative skills. The difference in how the skills are applied is reflected in the attitude of the leader. Helpathy is a philosophy that guides the use of the powerful and dangerous, normative skills. It challenges you to seek the balance between the needs of the group and the individual by creating a culture of trust, understanding, mutual respect and cooperation.


Chapter 3 emphasizes that change begins with you! It provides you with a set of behavioral characteristics that serve as a guide for you to model as you begin your quest as a Normative Leader. How do you compare to the model? How can you modify your behavior to become more “balanced” in your style?


Chapter 4 introduces you to the concept of normative behavior and how it influences you on a daily basis, both in society and in the work place. It helps you to understand the choices you have when responding to peer pressure. It also introduces you to the Helpathy Tracts, which are the eight areas crucial to the success or failure of an organization. You can now use the tracts as a means to identify both positive and negative norms operating within your organization.


Chapter 5 gives you normative skills for working with group behavior. As you forge your path and share your vision with others, you notice that people are beginning to follow you. How then, do you transition your followers into a highly productive team? Learn to use The Diamond, Force Field and other group skills that will give you an intangible edge in working with small groups, or the overall organizational culture.


Chapter 6 focuses on working with individual behavior. Each of your followers has a pattern of behavior shaped by their experiences and beliefs. When conflict arises, you must know how to use the 1-1 skills to sort through the symptomatic issues and identify the real problem in order to resolve the conflict in a supportively-challenging manner. In this chapter too, you will learn to use the Decision Planner which is a tool to help yourself and/or others to make tough decisions.


Chapter 7 outlines additional tools for the Normative Leader. Employee Transition Phases help you to understand how to best manage employees as they move through the various stages of their employment. The Performance Assessment System offers a formal system of accountability. The Leader/Follower Relationship is discussed along with the “secrets” of success and effective time management.


Chapter 8 brings to light the process of finding your purpose in life and learning to recognize the “signs” that lead you toward its’ fulfillment. The author takes you through a retrospective journey from his travels on the Path of Least Resistance to his transition onto the Path of the Normative Leader. His experiences may help you to be more attuned to the opportunities that are presenting themselves to you in the “here and now,” so that you can consciously decide to follow these “signs.” This chapter also gives the author’s perspective on the normative cultures we have created in some of our “worlds,” with the hopes that you, as a Normative Leader, will use your skills to be a catalyst for change in your world.


Chapter 9 offers exhibits of forms you can use as a Normative Leader.


This 265 page, comprehensive text is filled with information and “how to” skills that you will use throughout your life, both personally and professionally. As long as there are leaders and followers, normative skills will be the medium through which behavior will be managed.

This book is for CEOs, managers, supervisors, administrators, teachers, coaches, HR Professionals, group leaders, students of leadership . . . anyone who aspires to lead others. This book is the "missing link" that provides the road map to enable you to close the gap between what you want to happen, and what really happens in your group, business, human service agency, school or athletic team. (Parents, you can even teach your kids these skills to help them deal more effectively with bullying and negative peer pressure!)

We face many problems in the world today. But, remember, you can't change the world, but you can change the world around you, starting with yourself, your group or your organization. The Path of the Normative Leader is a very difficult, but rewarding path. The world could use more Normative Leaders. Are you willing to take the challenge?


Normative Leadership: Simple Skills for Simply POWERFUL RESULTS!


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