Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
The Leadership Challenge  By  cover art

The Leadership Challenge

By: Barry Z. Posner,James M. Kouzes
Narrated by: Barry Posner,James Kouzes,Sean Pratt
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $21.48

Buy for $21.48

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The 25th anniversary edition of the best-selling business classic, completely revised and updated.

For more than 25 years, The Leadership Challenge has been the most trusted source on becoming a better leader, selling more than two million copies in over 20 languages since its first publication. Based on Kouzes and Posner’s extensive research, this all-new edition casts their enduring work in context for today’s world, proving how leadership is a relationship that must be nurtured, and most importantly, that it can be learned. This book:

  • Features over 100 all-new case studies and examples, which show The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership in action around the world
  • Focuses on the toughest organizational challenges leaders face today
  • Addresses changes in how people work and what people want from their work

An indispensable resource for leaders at all levels, this anniversary edition is a landmark update and must-hear.

©2012 James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner (P)2012 Gildan Media LLC

Critic reviews

" The Leadership Challenge is still popular and relevant after 25 years for a reason: it is a classic. No one provides more practical real-world advice than Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. This is the audiobook on leadership that I recommend to all of my clients, and I think this is the greatest book on leadership ever written." (Marshall Goldsmith, best-selling author, MOJO and What Got You Here Won't Get You There)

More from the same

What listeners say about The Leadership Challenge

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    340
  • 4 Stars
    164
  • 3 Stars
    54
  • 2 Stars
    24
  • 1 Stars
    14
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    276
  • 4 Stars
    142
  • 3 Stars
    68
  • 2 Stars
    22
  • 1 Stars
    13
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    276
  • 4 Stars
    144
  • 3 Stars
    55
  • 2 Stars
    23
  • 1 Stars
    17

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Great book, too many stories

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes. I'm currently in my first management position and have historically been a stellar worker with excellent technical knowledge. My low-level management experience has made me aware that I need to improve in the areas of leadership and management.

This book includes principles and stories that are applicable and analogous to leadership opportunities in my profession and in my personal life.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The ending was simply the end. There were some strong points in the middle of the book. I don't think the ending of the book stood out. It was kind-of boring.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't listened to these narrators before, but I enjoyed it.

Was The Leadership Challenge worth the listening time?

Yes. I think that it was a huge help to me and would be a great must-read book for existing managers.

Any additional comments?

Personally, I approach stories with a strong skepticism. Leadership books tend to be heavy too on the narratives. This book has that same trait.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

1 of my top 3 best leadership books of all times

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

If you want the essence of leadership distilled with scientific precision with practical applications to use today, this is your book.

What other book might you compare The Leadership Challenge to and why?

John Maxwell's 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership and call me a freak, but John Maxwell's Study Bible where he mines leadership gold out of the scripture. Leadership powerhouse books.

Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but this was good. Typically I hate books read by the author because there is nothing like a professional narrator, but this was good.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did laugh when I built my interview question and answer study notes on the concepts of this book and described my leadership skills and abilities using the five major themes of this book, and got called for a second interview! I'm convinced speaking to the five themes will result in securing my next job.

Any additional comments?

Love the website and additional resources offered by the authors online and as an app.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Credible, but long-winded....

The Leadership Challenge is one of those books which holds substantial credible information, but is packaging it in to too much fluff. In this case the big problem is the volume of practical examples, where one or two examples of application of theory, makes good sense and strengthens the point, this book does not refrain from using, I think, hundreds of examples.

Some examples in the book are in direct contradiction to other examples of good leadership in other parts of the book. Other examples are very shallow and shows no causation with the great leadership results it is referring to.

I listened to the book from start to finish, but it was a battle not to drift away from the narrator when he was coming with one trivial example after the previous.

The narrator does a good job and is easy to listen too. There are also many good and credible points in the book. But the authors do not have the ability to zoom in on the most important. Unfortunately.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

some good concepts but...

Some good concepts but, terribly boring and repetitive. this book could have been a quarter its size. Could not get through it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Brlliant theory, avarage audiobook!

What was most disappointing about Barry Z. Posner and James M. Kouzes ’s story?

A bit too long, some editional stuff would be required to make the book work as audio book!

Any additional comments?

Every leaders should adapt these 5 leadership practices!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Survive hard times

Listen to this when times are the hardest. It will rebalance you and sustain you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

excellent

very informative read, its amazing what treating good can do for you in your work place

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

You are a leader

this book has so much depth. its a book you need to hear again not cause you have to but because want to grow. i enjoyed this book so much.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great information

This book provides great insight on how to becomes true leader. It includes real examples and stories that beautifully illustrated the tops and advice presented and how to tie them into your everyday life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Leadership = Love

i thoroughly enjoyed the in- & out-sights provided. However, the closing chapter nailed it. The secret of life is how we chose to leverage our leadership. The more leadership the more success one can expect!

oh, i purchased the hardback book as i will be leveraging the many wonderful tips, tools, & techniques.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!