'Bluer than Indigo' Leadership: The Journey of Becoming a Truly Remarkable Leader

By Jonathan H. Westover, PhD

AWARD-WINNING #1 BEST SELLING AUTHOR Jonathan H. Westover, PhD is the # 1 ranked HR, Innovation, and Future of Work Global Thought Leader & Influencer (Thinkers360) and ranked in the Top 30 in Management and Organizational Culture (Global Gurus).

Early in my adult life, I learned about an Asian proverb that translates as 'Bluer than Indigo.' If you think about the color indigo, it is a brilliant, deep and vibrant blue — what some would call the bluest of blues. To have something that is "bluer than indigo" is rare and truly remarkable.

Contrary to popular myth, there is no one-size-fits-all or cookie cutter approach to effective leadership. There is no silver bullet, no secret sauce, no go-to model that will solve all our problems. The truth is, great leaders have all had their unique strengths (and flaws) and have all had to discover and then pave their own distinctive path in their life's journey to fulfill their leadership potential.

'Bluer than Indigo' Leadership will help you discover your own path and explore those ordinary, everyday actions that will help you respond to an uncertain future and produce extraordinary results for individuals, teams, and organizations.

 

What Leaders Are Saying:

 

"Sometimes being a leader feels complex; more often being an effective leader comes from disciplined application of simple principles.  Jonathan does a masterful job of identifying not only the principles of effective leadership, but how to turn these principles into specific daily actions.  This relevant, applicable, and helpful book offers concrete ideas that will have real impact for anyone working to be a more effective leader."

 

~ Dr. Dave Ulrich, Rensis Likert Professor, University of Michigan; Partner, The RBL Group

 

"What makes great leadership? While the answer remains open to reader interpretation, the author takes us on a journey that begins with a broad definition and ends with an opportunity to make it owned, personally. Where the magic is revealed comes through in seamless, simple and applicable anecdotes, applications and tools any reader will appreciate, regardless of their current position or status in life. Cheers to Dr. Westover for providing an informative, fluid and accessible leadership book at a time when any of us can use it…if not for ourselves, then for working with others."

 

~ David A. Yudis, Psy.D., President at Potential Selves

 

"Dr. Westover has done the work to make what's required for leadership in today's complex world accessible, practical, and powerful. This must-read book covers all the components necessary to become a more conscious, impactful leader by introducing critical concepts, inviting self-reflection, and setting a path for accountability."

 

~ Shonna Waters, PhD, Vice President at BetterUp

 

"Dr. Jon does a great job at identifying a variety of areas of focus any leader should take to be more effective. From framing your mind for growth to being a more consciously inclusive leader (my biased favorite!), Dr. Jon frames these concepts in a memorable, approachable, and authentic manner. A must-have book for the leader who wants to improve their leadership awesomeness in a variety of facets."

 

~ Dr. Steve Yacovelli ("The Gay Leadership Dude"), Award-winning leadership author, speaker, and catalyst

• Language: English
• Publisher: HCI Press
• Release date: Aug 1, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201654641

Book preview

출람지예

Bluer than Indigo

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List of Korean Proverbs

시작이 반이다 - sijagi banida; The start is the half.

꿩 먹고 알 먹는다 - kkwong meokgo al meongneunda; If you eat a pheasant, you also eat the egg.

로마는 하루아침에 이루어진 것이 아니다 - romaneun haruachime irueojin geosi anida; Rome wasn’t made in one morning.

낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다 - nanmareun saega deutgo bammareun jwiga deunneunda; Birds hear the words spoken in the day, and mice hear the words spoken at night.

눈에서 멀어지면, 마음에서도 어진다 - nuneseo meoreojimyeon, maeumeseodo meoreojinda; If it becomes distant from your eyes, it also becomes distant from your mind (heart).

말을 냇가에 끌고 갈 수는 있어도 억지로 물을 먹일 수는 없다 - mareul naetgae kkeulgo gal suneun isseodo eokjiro mureul meogil suneun eopda; You can lead a horse and go to a stream, but you can’t make it drink water through its own will.

백지장도 맞들면 낫다 - baekjijangdo matdeulmyeon natda; If you lift together, it’s better – even if it’s a sheet of paper.

궁하면 통한다 - gunghamyeon tonghanda; If you are hard up for something, it will open up.

뜻이 있는 곳에 길이 있다 - tteusi inneun gose giri itda; In the place, there is a will, there is a way.

엎질러진 물이다 - eopjilleojin murida; It is spilled water.

장님이 코끼리 만지는 격이다 - jangnimi kokkiri manjineun gyeogida; It is like a blind man touching an elephant.

다 된 밥에 재 뿌리지 마라 - da doen babe jae ppuriji mara; Don’t spread ashes on cooked rice.

웃음은 최고의 명약이다 - useumeun choegoui myeongyagida; Laughter is the best healer.

될성부른 나무는 떡잎부터 알아본다 - doelseongbureun namuneun tteogipbuteo arabonda; You can know a promising tree from when it’s a baby tree

원숭이도 나무에서 떨어질 때가 있다 - wonsungido namueseo tteoreojil ttaega itda; There is a time when even monkeys fall from a trees.

개구리 올챙이 적 생각도 못 한다 - gaeguri olchaengi jeok saenggakdo mot handa; The frog can’t remember the times when he was a tadpole.

굴러온 돌이 박힌 돌 빼낸다 - gulleoon dori bakin dol ppaenaenda; A rolling stone extracts a stone that is embedded.

아는 길도 물어가라 - aneun gildo mureogara; Ask first, then go, even if it’s a road you know.

가는 말이 고와야 오는 말이 곱다 - ganeun mari gowaya oneun mari gopda; If going words are beautiful, coming words will be beautiful.

등잔 밑이 어둡다 - deungjan michi eodupda; The bottom of the lamp is dark.

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Acknowledgements

First and foremost, I would like to publicly thank my wife (Jacque) and my six wonderful children (Sara, Amber, Lia, Kaylie, David, and Brayden) for all of their love and support! I would also like to thank my research assistant, Cambree King, for all her assistance on all aspects of the book and getting it ready for prime time. Finally, I want to thank my many colleagues who have worked with me over the years; each has helped to inform and refine my thinking and worldview, as well as my leadership practice.

Lean into Uncertainty

To develop new habits and skills, there is no substitute for persistent practice, and the same goes for learning to embrace the ambiguity and messiness of life. No one likes uncertainty, but we can learn to lean into the darkness. We can develop our personal confidence in our own ability to successfully navigate the unknown, thereby expanding our comfort zone into the previously uncomfortable.

시작이 반이다

sijagi banida

Well begun is half done.

Chapter 1

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Your ‘Bluer than Indigo’ Journey

Starting Your Leadership Journey

Welcome to the start of a new adventure! We all embark on various journeys in this life, perhaps none quite as important as the journey to develop and hone our personal leadership competencies and capabilities so we are in a position to better serve our families, friends, communities, and the organizations in which we work.

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Contrary to popular myth (and what many will try to sell you), there is no one-size-fits-all or cookie cutter approach to effective leadership. There is no silver bullet, no secret sauce, no go-to model that will solve all our problems and this book does not provide any such recipe. The truth is, the great leaders that have come before us have all had their unique strengths (and flaws) and have all had to discover and then pave their own distinctive path in their life’s journey to become and then pay it forward in supporting the next generation.

As I have written about previously, we each have to commit to doing the hard work of discovering our own personal leadership alchemy. There are no shortcuts and inevitably we will face obstacles and roadblocks along our treacherous path. But the challenges we will unavoidably face do not mean the journey is not worth the effort; in fact, it is precisely those obstacles that will hone our skills and aid us as we grow into our leadership capabilities.

However, while we each must discover our own unique life path and commit to living our own authentic truth, that does not mean that our main purpose in this life is to merely develop ourselves, though that is certainly important. We each have been gifted an array of talents to bless the lives of those we lead and serve. Ancient wisdom from nearly all faith and spiritual traditions teaches us that it is only when we sincerely give of ourselves, that we find ourselves; that it is only when we uplift others, that we too are uplifted.

In Chapter 2, you will learn about an ancient Korean proverb, Bluer than Indigo, which illuminates these simple but profound truths. The choice will then be yours to make—will you choose to embark on this leadership journey? If you do, this journey will change your life and will provide opportunities for you to serve and influence others for good.

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Organization of the Book

‘Bluer than Indigo’ Leadership explores those ordinary,