In this ground-breaking new book, Ram Charan, co-author of the bestselling "Execution", redefines leadership by focusing on eight specific practical skills that, if mastered, are guaranteed to bring success. The eight practical skills include: Positioning - formulating a clear central idea that chimes with your customers' desires and allows the business to be profitable; Detecting patterns - recognising key variables that may create barriers to growth; Managing the social system - influencing the workplace environment so that people can pull together and make the right decisions at the right time; Selecting (and deselecting) people - spotting talent, and making the change when the fit isn't right; Leading your management team - trusting, and inspiring, an effective team of managers; Setting goals - deciding what the business can achieve; Setting priorities - assessing the actions that need to be taken in order to meet your goals; and, Dealing with external parties - making sure that outside power groups beyond your control do not affect your business unduly.