About the Book
Leading Excellence — recipient of the prestigious Shingo Publication Award — is a powerful and practical guide for leaders and aspiring leaders across every type of organisation.
This award-winning book explores both the why and the how of building truly successful organisations — those defined not only by performance, but by strong, values-driven cultures where people genuinely flourish. Drawing on decades of senior leadership experience, the authors share real-world stories, hard-earned insights, and practical tools that leaders can apply immediately.
At the heart of the book is a critical leadership truth: one size does not fit all. Exceptional leaders understand that effectiveness depends on context — the situation, the strategy, and the individual. To address this, the authors introduce the concept of the “5 Hats of the Adaptive Leader” — a simple yet powerful framework that helps leaders recognise when and how to adjust their approach to achieve the right outcomes in any given circumstance.
Rich with relatable examples and actionable guidance, Leading Excellence serves as a practical handbook for developing the habits and mindset of an adaptive leader. It is both inspirational and grounded — equipping readers to take immediate action and create meaningful, lasting impact for themselves, their people, and their organisations.
2024, Butterworth, Dargan, Jeavons
Where to Buy
BookPOD in Australia
Our Published, Paper Copy
Amazon in Australia. Paper, kindle, audiobook
Awesound - Digital audiobook for streaming and mobile download
Available in Polish translation, Paper copy, in Poland.
Coming soon - Arabic translation
Coming soon - Turkish translation
Coming soon - Mandarin translation
Coming soon - Spanish translation
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2024, Butterworth, Dargan, Jeavons
Mike Hoseus
Co Author of Shingo Award winning book, Toyota Culture
Executive Director, Center for Quality People and Organizations
Former Executive Toyota Motor Manufacturing
A Win-Win. "Leading Excellence" is a must read for any leader wanting to improve their effectiveness. There are great books on organizational leadership, but this one fills a gap as a resource for “Individual Leadership”. The practical, “how to” principle-based steps including actions and behaviors will improve your relationship with those you lead and serve. It will also render the business results that you and your organization need."
Dr Jeff Sutherland
Inventor and Co-Creator of Scrum and Scrum@Scale
Top Gun in the US Air Force
Former VP of Engineering and CTO or CEO of eleven software companies
In this book, the author explores the essence of leadership across various disciplines. While the context may differ from my background, the fundamental attributes of what makes a leader effective remain the same. Through this forward, I aim to bridge the gap between the battlefield's decisive, quick-thinking leadership and the strategic, iterative processes of Scrum, illustrating how these worlds, seemingly different, are interconnected by the universal principles of effective leadership.
I highly recommend "Leading Excellence" to anyone committed to the pursuit of leadership excellence. It is a vital resource that promises not only to guide but also to inspire its readers to new heights of achievement. Explore its pages and find the inspiration to transform not just your approach to leadership, but your entire vision of what it means to lead.."
Mark Deluzio
Author, President & CEO of Lean Horizons Consulting.
LLC is known as a pioneer of Lean and the principal architect of the Danaher Business System (DBS).
There are thousands of books written on the subject of "Leadership." Most of these books talk about theory and leave little to practical implementation. LEADING EXCELLENCE debunks this notion by offering a hands-on process to become an "Adaptive Leader." Leadership is not telling others what to do. It inspires others to work together for the common good of all stakeholders. However, inspiration (the first of the "5 Hats") is insufficient by itself. A leader must ensure that the framework is set for others to succeed. The "5 hats of the adaptive leader" does just that by providing a practical 5-Step process to win. Peppered with insightful case studies, the authors bring a reality to the subject of leadership. This book separates itself from the leadership pollution in the marketplace today. To call this a "book" may be a disservice to the authors, as I feel it is a hands-on manual that should be read (and implemented) by anyone in a leadership position or by those aspiring for leadership roles.