The Will to Lead draws on Bower's years of experience to present his highly personal vision of what it takes to lead people to work together effectively. Rejecting the command-and-control style of managing that has built so many great companies, Bower argues that in today's intensely competitive global marketplace, it is no longer the best way to run most businesses. Instead, he urges senior executives to turn their firms into true leadership companies by replacing bosses with a network of leaders and leadership teams placed strategically throughout the company.

Bower describes how such a flexible leadership network will help companies improve performance dramatically by enabling people to learn leadership on the job; develop greater self-confidence and self-esteem; work together more effectively, efficiently, and creatively; and speak freely and candidly with their leaders without fear of sanction even when they openly disagree. Weaving in stories and lessons from his own journey as advisor, mentor, and colleague, Bower outlines steps for creating a leadership company and addresses one of the most pressing problems that today's corporate leaders face: attracting talented people.

Marvin Bower, one of McKinsey & Company's founders, reflects on the importance of leadership in working relationships and teamwork. Drawing on his extensive work with top executives during his career at McKinsey, he rejects the command-and-control style of managing that has built so many great companies. Instead, Bower provides sets of leadership guidelines so that readers can use their own judgments in dealing with the facts of particular companies and leaders in today's intensely competitive global marketplace. Bower weaves into his commentary stories and lessons from his role as advisor, mentor, and colleague.