Beyond the Leader: A Fable About the 7 Disciplines That Define Extraordinary Teams

by Tony A. Bridwell

Overview

A USA Today Bestseller

An exciting and effective new approach for leadership in all manner of settings

In Beyond the Leader, renowned organizational behaviorist and author Dr. Tony Bridwell delivers a startlingly insightful new take on leadership and followership. The author explains how the interplay of these two dynamics can optimize team performance. In the book, Bridwell introduces seven disciplines that elevate teams from mere efficacy to a state of continuous learning and improvement, innovation, and long-term success.

Bridwell describes the journey of a young man named Thomas, a first-time leader, as he meets and learns from Leah, a seasoned executive turned business professor. Under Leah's patient mentorship, Thomas learns how to embed learning, accountability, and adaptability into his team. Beyond the Leader also explores:

• How to apply the book's lessons to commercial organizations, families, communities, and other groups
• Practical insights and best practices for research-based, effective leadership that motivates all kinds of people
• Strategies for optimizing your team's behavior to create sustainable, high-performance organizations

Perfect for managers, executives, and other business leaders, Beyond the Leader is also a must-read for anyone interested in improving their own ability to lead, motivate, and inspire the people around them—personally, professionally, and organizationally.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781394364558
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	09/17/2025
Pages:	176
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

DR. TONY BRIDWELL is an organizational behaviorist with over 25 years’ experience working with global companies to help them develop their employee experience and culture. He is the Chief Talent Officer for The Encompass Group, a people optimization company, where he leads the firm’s organizational consulting practice. Additionally, Bridwell is an Adjunct Professor of Management, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship, in the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xiii

About the Author xvii

Introduction 1

1 The Prologue 5

The Note 8

The Words 11

The Lecture 16

The 7 Disciplines 22

2 The Learning Discipline 27

Redefining Leadership and Followership 30

The Starting Point 32

The Barriers to the Learning Discipline 36

Thomas’s Breakthrough 37

Thomas’s Journal Recap 39

Learning Discipline: Lessons from Leah 39

3 The Clarity Discipline 43

What Is Clarity Discipline? 44

Why Teams Struggle with Clarity 47

How to Achieve Clarity 48

Clarity in Action 50

Leah’s Wisdom 53

Thomas’s Journal Recap 53

Clarity Discipline: Lessons from Leah 53

4 The Safety Discipline 57

Safety: The Air We Breathe 60

The Four Seeds of Trust 62

Overcoming Weeds in the Garden 64

Recognizing and Addressing Weeds 66

The Role of Faith in Trust 67

Thomas’s Journal Recap 68

Safety Discipline: Lessons from Leah 68

5 The Connection Discipline 71

What Is Connection Discipline? 73

Collaborators: The Team 74

Coaches: The Guides 80

Counselors: The Unpackers 83

Building Connections 92

Thomas’s Journal Recap 94

Connection Discipline: Lessons from Leah 94

6 The Action Discipline 97

The Foundation of Execution 98

Decisive Decisions 99

The Polarity Paradox 100

Both/And Thinking 103

Engaging the Team 105

Avoiding the Priority Trap 106

Understanding the Trap 106

Applying It 109

The Power of Both/And 110

Aligned Execution 110

Sustained Momentum 111

Thomas’s Journal Recap 112

Action Discipline: Lessons from Leah 112

7 The Adaptability Discipline 115

Situational Awareness 115

Feedback Loops 115

Strategic Flexibility 116

Thomas’s Journal Recap 118

Adaptability Discipline: Lessons from Leah 118

8 The Celebration Discipline 121

Acknowledgment 121

Reflection 121

Renewal 122

Execution in Action 122

Thomas’s Journal Recap 123

Celebration Discipline: Lessons from Leah 123

9 The Final Word 125

Leah’s Insights on Trust and Faith 126

The Doubt Inside 127

The Disciplines Revisited: Trust and Faith in Focus 131

Learning Discipline: Start by Listening 131

Clarity Discipline: Align Expectations 131

Safety Discipline: Building with Faith, Vulnerability, and Trust 132

Connection Discipline: Create Shared Moments 133

Action Discipline: Making Decisive Decisions 134

Adaptability Discipline: The Ability to Check and Adjust 136

The Letter 138

The Celebration Discipline: Telling the Story 139
Appendix: Resource Material 143
Index 149