Although many leadership concerns are universal across industries, healthcare presents unique leadership challenges. The complex environment, financial pressures, and life-or-death nature of the work are unlike anything else.

Exceptional Leadership describes the professional and personal skills and behaviors that managers need to lead successfully and thrive in healthcare's high-stakes environment. The book offers a leadership competency model based on four themes: well-cultivated self-awareness, compelling vision, a real way with people, and masterful execution. Each competency is covered in its own chapter that defines it, provides examples and advice, and outlines common skill deficits.

The third edition of this book has been revised to reflect contemporary issues and the latest research on leadership. Individual and organizational challenges faced in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed in several chapters. The opening case study that threads throughout the book, vignettes at the end of each chapter, self-reflection questions, and the self-development plan have also been revised and continue to offer opportunities for applying the competencies.