The world is experiencing a leadership crisis. The Essence of Leadership addresses this concern by empowering self-differentiated leadership. The authors draw on family systems thinking, foundational to family therapy, psychodynamic theory, a recognized lens on human nature, and proven process management tools. The core message explored over seven chapters is that a leader’s management of their own anxiety and the anxiety in a system has direct implications for their effectiveness in bringing change.

The authors believe that leadership is mastering emotional and relational processes seeking to bring change according to clearly defined goals and ethical principles. As such, leaderships poorly defined as a cognitive-rational, economic, charismatic, democratic, data-based, or expert-driven “How to …” skill. Rather, anxiety’s flow and management greatly determine the likelihood of systemic transformation.

After reading this book, leaders will be empowered with a growing understanding of the role anxiety plays in systemic change even as they are equipped to lead with less anxiety. Though the theory and practices in the book are applicable tall leaders, the authors illustrate many of them through numerous case studies from their extensive experience empowering leaders in both the healthcare and nonprofit sectors. Callouts throughout the book, along with questions for reflection, invite the reader into deeper contemplation.

About the authors

Derek W. Anderson is Vice-President, Business Improvement at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. An engineer holding a Master of Management in Healthcare degree, he has more than thirty years of national and international corporate experience in change management across business sectors. Derek has taught Healthcare Strategy and on adaptive change and the use of data within Vanderbilt University Owen Graduate School of Management program.

Jaco J. Hamman, PhD is Professor of Religion, Psychology, and Culture at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. A clinically trained academic, his research areas include psychodynamic theory, leadership formation, and the foundations of human flourishing. Jaco has published nine books and numerous book chapters and peer-reviewed articles. He co-founded Our Place Nashville, a non-profit placing persons with developmental disabilities in intentional communities called Friendship Houses.

What business and community leaders say about the book

In The Essence of Leadership, Hamman and William offer a true gift: a moral vision of leadership that is abundant with psychological wisdom. They draw on the resources of family systems theory in an original way that is sure to transform both individuals and institutions. In the leadership literature, there has never been a book as emotionally-rich as this one.

Nathan Carlin, PhD

Director of the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics

Samuel Karff Chair; McGovern Medical School, Austin TX

These are hard times in which to be a leader. Virtually every industry, whether nonprofit, faith community, or corporation, is experiencing massive disruption. Hamman and Anderson provide a framework for “self-differentiated leaders” who can think, feel and discern their way through the knotty task of leadership, finding a path that is good for the organization, those it serves, and even for leaders themselves.

Dr. Shari Brink, President & CEO

Blanton-Peale Institute & Counseling Center, New York, NY

As one who strives to be the best leader I can, I have read many books on the subject. What Anderson and Hamman have done here is refreshing and engaging, framing leadership beyond the usual sets of skills found in many “how to” books on the subject. The authors provide a keen perspective rooted in family systems theory, creating an impactful resource I will revisit on my path to continuously improving my performance as a leader.

David M. Aronoff, MD, FIDSA, FAAM

John B. Hickam Professor of Medicine; Chair, Department of Medicine

Indiana University School of Medicine

Anderson and Hamman draw on lived experience having personally engaged a wide variety of intense leadership environments and the anxiety that permeates them. Pairing deep knowledge of both psychological theory and the management space, they elevate the truth that anxiety drives both reactive leadership systems and the individual leaders who seek to make changes within them. Their thoughts will resonate as leaders are encouraged toward the personal health of managing one’s own anxieties, which then cannot help but bring a way through as well as lead the organization into greater health.

Ann Shackelton, VP Human Resources Mission Care & Enrichment

Young Life

Leadership is largely about emotions, and managing one’s own emotions, others’, and the emotions operating in an organization is a critical skill. Understanding common emotions such as anxiety and how it operates at these three levels is crucial if you want to be someone others are willing to follow, for managing processes of change, and for the complex work of growing and develop healthier leaders, teams, and organizations. Anderson and Hamman have provided an indispensable resource for just these goals. It is a text I will assign in my leadership classes.

Barbara J. McClure, MDiv., PhD

Professor: Pastoral Theology and Practice; Director: Flourishing in Ministry Program

Brite Divinity School at TCU

Thankfully, a book about leadership, proposing that solid leadership begins in the affective, the soul, rather than the cognitive. Blending the best of family systems theory with cognitive rational dynamics, the reader understands leadership as an integration of both heart and head.

Donald W. Winslett, Ed.D

Director, Center for Clergy Care and Education, Pensacola, Fl.

Anderson and Hamman draw on their diverse backgrounds and leadership experiences to provide a useful guidebook to the aspiring leader in all of us. The Essence of Leadership reminds us that the best leaders are able to master their emotional selves before effectively leading others. As a business leader in today’s fast-paced, competitive environment, I have learned that behind every high-performing team is a high-performing leader.”

David H. Dupuy, CEO

Community Healthcare Trust, Inc.

Anderson and Hamman underscore the inescapable paradox embedded within any effort to attain a thriving organization: To lead others well, one must lead oneself first. If you want to excel as a leader, with the ability to form relationships for success, they invite you to embark on a path of deliberate and personal transformation, away from burnout and despair toward durable and sustainable efficacy for you and your organization.

Rev. Katherine Wiebe, PsyD, PhD

Founder, Institute for Collective Trauma and Growth

Santa Barbara, CA

You just may meet yourself in The Essence of Leadership. I did. Anderson and Hamman know that we all lead from the inside out. They say the hard things out loud. And in so doing they build trust with us as readers and give us confidence, courage and wisdom to become less anxious versions of ourselves and steadier, more resilient and effective leaders.

Chaplain John Luth

The Salvation Army - Edmonton Centre of Hope

Alberta and Northern Territories Division, CANADA