THE LEADERSGIP INVESTMENT

Economies rise and fall. Technologies come and go. But companies that develop outstanding leadership within their ranks can weather any business storm. "Leadership," say authors Fulmer and Goldsmith, "is the futures only source of sustainable competitive advantage."

Their new book presents a sweeping overview of the best practices in leadership development today. Rich with the distilled experiences of the worlds most advanced programs, THE LEADERSHIP INVESTMENT focuses on six exemplary organizations and their varied approaches to leadership development:

* Arthur Andersen--its unparalleled use of quantifiable data in assessing the impact of its extensive educational efforts * General Electric--known for its Crotonville "campus," often called "a staging ground for corporate revolutions * Hewlett-Packard--how it made the transition to the computer industry through geographic, ethnic, and gender diversity * Johnson & Johnson--its use of "Executive Conferences" to wipe out complacency and short-term thinking * Royal Dutch Shell--how it developed "scenarios" as a tool for future-focused learning * The World Bank--its one-week "poverty modules," when participants live in environments like those they exist to serve.

With additional examples from business schools, corporate universities, and consultancies, THE LEADERSHIP INVESTMENT reveals many intriguing approaches for creating tomorrows leaders.

"Robert M. Fulmer (Williamsburg, VA/Santa Barbara, CA) is W. Brooks George Professor of Management at the College of William and Mary and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Graziadio School of Business and Management, Pepperdine University. He is the author of Leadership by Design and other books.

Marshall Goldsmith (Rancho Santa Fe, CA) is founder of Keilty, Goldsmith & Co. He was ranked by The Wall Street Journal as a ""Top 10"" consultant in executive development, and has coedited many books, including The Leader of the Future."