Mark Miller is back with another great book. This new one is called Uncommon Greatness: Five Fundamentals to Transform Your Leadership, and it is, like the last several books of his, not a fable but rather a straightforward non-fiction business book focused on how to become a leader people want to follow.

For many, this book will challenge their thinking and beliefs about leadership. Miller makes it clear that leadership is not about positions, roles, or titles. He explains the difference between management and leadership and opens up the possibility for anyone to lead others to higher levels of performance, a more joyous life, and more impactful results.

The book pushes hard an optimistic view that sees value and potential in everyone. This is made clear early on when he says, “You were born for greatness, even if you’ve never considered the possibility.” This spirit is ever present throughout the book. When you finish reading, you will walk away with a sense that, while leadership is not easy, it is perhaps one of the most fulfilling things you can do in life.

Miller presents us with Five Fundamentals that put uncommon leadership within reach of just about anybody.

1. See the Future: Uncommon leaders have a compelling vision of a better tomorrow.
2. Engage and Develop Others: Uncommon leaders help those they lead to do great work and grow while doing it.
3. Reinvent Continuously: Uncommon leaders understand that the only way to make a better future is to improve skills and thinking continuously.
4. Value results and Relationships: Uncommon leaders see the importance of getting results but they recognize the need for developing, nurturing, and honoring relationships in pursuit of those results.
5. Embody a Leader’s Heart: Uncommon leaders lead in ways that make them leaders people want to follow.

Each chapter clearly explains the concept at hand and presents practical examples in the form of stories of people who are demonstrating or have demonstrated the idea. At the end of each chapter, Miller gives practical ideas to try and apply to your leadership journey.

Throughout the book, there are great quotes (have a highlighter handy). Here are some of my favorites:

• “Without good leaders, people and organizations flounder. No team or organization drifts to greatness, they must be led there.”
• “Leaders must constantly ask and answer this question: How can I add the most value in this situation?”
• “Managers want to control people, and leaders want to empower and release them.”
• “Your current systems, work processes, and behaviors are perfectly aligned to the outcomes you are achieving. Chances are high they were not designed to support or move you toward your future vision.”
• “If your heart is not right, nobody cares about your skills.”
• “Your team does most of the day-to-day work. Try not to forget that.”

When I finished reading this book I was so excited I dashed off a note to Mark to let him know he had really done something great here. As is my experience of him, he responded with the humble gratitude one would expect from Uncommon Leadership. Put simply, he lives his words.

I give this book five stars. If you want to up your leadership game, go get this one, devour it, and then start living it.

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