As dawn breaks, a new generation of passionate and idealistic young people is preparing to rise up, readying itself to bring a brand of transformational leadership to our public institutions that will leave a mark for years to come. A lifetime of public service has now led to the author’s single focus: molding these new leaders.
“Out of the Clay” is not a dry, formulaic text book with step-by-step instructions on what to do. Unlike anything in the genre, this collection of entertaining, thought-provoking, and inspirational stories, taken from the life and work of the author, combine to define the essential attributes of these passionate, transformational leaders.
“I believe that this need for meaning in one’s life, this basic individual desire for passionate contribution to a worthy cause, represents the holy grail for the transformational leader.”
While it only takes one individual to make a difference, the greatest leaders are those who inspire that difference in others, creating a ripple effect that spreads throughout the organization and beyond. This is the transformational leader, the one who guides others to recognize and achieve their utmost potential. With over forty-five years committed to public service, William F. O’Connor III shares the five attributes he’s encountered throughout his career that define such leaders:
Respect Vision Courage Intuition Credibility
The public sector is notorious for its resistance to change, inflexible bureaucratic procedures, and ineffective strategies. O’Connor provides a fresh, bold perspective shedding light on the leaders who bucked this trend and instead empowered those around them to effect true and vibrant change in public service. Out of the Clay takes “leading by example” to heart with a series of interwoven anecdotes from O’Connor’s years of experience, each illustrating the vital tenets of transformational leadership. To the next generation of public-sector leaders, let this book guide you on your own journey to cultivate a passionate and fulfilling life’s work.
Author William F. O’Connor III says it the way it is. He offers deep insights that will change the way people think about their role in public service . . . This book is a must-read for anyone in, or aspiring to, a position of leadership in the public sector.
. . . Foreword by Ron Wallace – President UPS International (Ret)
William F. O’Connor III studied at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he earned master’s degrees in architecture and business administration. A career public executive, he has served at the state, county, and local levels, as well as in public education and the military, amassing a singular record of leadership and transformative change. He now shares with us his keen understanding of the critical personal attributes required to energize public employees and lead the radical reinvention needed to restore faith and confidence in our public institutions.
