Leadership decisions and the development of strong leaders have always been important, but the rapidly changing business environment and global war for talent now make internal leadership development crucial for enterprise success and sustainability.

The definition of leadership varies, but the actions are distinctive. Leadership signifies the act of making a difference. It requires making active choices among plausible alternatives, and it depends on bringing others along – mobilizing them to get the job done. Leadership is at its best when the vision is strategic, the voice persuasive and the results tangible.

All leaders must be ready for those moments when their leadership is on the line, when the fate of others depends on the choices made in those moments. Perhaps only a few will be touched by the decisions that are made at such critical junctures; perhaps the number will be many. Either way, leaders must be prepared to seize those opportunities. One of the most effective ways to prepare for such challenges is to look at what others have done when their own leadership was tested – examine their experiences, and ask what they did right and what they could have done differently.