Dusan Djukich’s Straight-Line Leadership is a no-nonsense book about his no-nonsense approach to leadership—the leadership of others and ourselves. Mr. Djukich writes with the authority of a world-class coach:
[He] is co-founder and a Senior Partner for Corporate Reinvention Associates, a global coaching firm that specializes in individual and organizational performance. He is the creator and developer of Straight-Line Coaching technologies. For the last 24 years, [he] has been privileged to work with more than 5,000 entrepreneurs, Senior-Level Executives and highly committed individuals from all walks of life in creating unreasonable results with his unconventional coaching style.
Straight-Line Leadership
What is straight-line leadership? It is getting from where we are now—A—to our objective—B, as quickly as possible, i.e., via a straight line. The core of the approach is choosing an “inner stance”—how we live, how we operate—that allows us to succeed.
It boils down to this: Where you come from determines the actions that you take in life and the actions that you don’t take in life. Your stances will always be the keys to your castle or your jail cell.
How do we free ourselves from our own mental jails? Adopting a powerful inner stance requires recognizing “distinctions.” Mr. Djukich explains:
When someone tells me, ‘I like your theory,’ I realize he doesn’t quite get it. These distinctions are tools already used in practical ways. … They are tools for escaping a circular existence.
Distinctions provide awareness:
Distinctions give you an up-close observation of the stances that you live your life from. They make these stances clear and visible. Distinctions give you the awareness you need to clear your way for choice in the matter.
The result:
Clients make distinctions that free them from the unworkable stances that they are operating from in life and then are in a position to choose stances that will allow them to take the necessary actions to get from A to B in short order.
Mr. Djukich emphasizes that it is important not just to understand, but also to “live” the distinctions. Examples of the distinctions—opposites that are simple by design—include:
Wanting vs. creating; problems vs. decisions; dreams vs. projects; commitment vs. trying; owner vs. victim; and realistic optimism vs. unrealistic pessimism.
The straight-line approach is not one of mere positive thinking. Rather, it requires action: “Why would you have to engage in positive thinking if things were great?”
In the world of straight-line leadership, “nonsense” means “attempting to operate from a disempowered stance.” Mr. Djukich persuasively dismisses all of the excuses that are obstacles to action. What about fear, the past, uncertainty, discomfort, and incomplete knowledge? These are just excuses—forms of nonsense–we overcome through action.
Timely Lessons
The principles of straight-line leadership are timeless, and are particularly valuable now. Many institutions and organizations are starved for effective leadership. Many also need to learn the meaning of leadership, and the traits of true leaders. People who follow the principles of straight-line leadership will create their own success, serve others well, and stand as examples for others.
The poor economy in much of the world also will require people to rely on better personal tools, whether they are employees or, as is increasingly common, self-employed. Mr. Djukich observes:
We are back to our own performance as the main driver of our success. In this new world, performance is what matters.
As Mr. Djukich counsels, regardless of our circumstances, we can create our own lives—our own worlds.
Conclusion
Straight-Line Leadership will change the life of anyone who embraces its principles. Does the approach sound too simple? As Mr. Djukich warns, in explaining the need to convert dreams into projects:
The five most damaging words you could be thinking right now are: “IT CAN’T BE THIS SIMPLE.”
But it is that simple. And simplicity gives you strength.
The world needs stronger people, better leaders, and more understanding of simple truths. The straight shooting of Straight-Line Leadership hits the bullseye.
