Tune In to Wow Leadership: 10 Lessons Learned from America's Favorite Shows

A viewing guide to help leaders focus on their own development and set their internal DVR to WOW!

The fictional world of TV depicts a plethora of characters who embody what Sheri Staak calls ''WOW leadership qualities.'' (Incompetents are not in short supply either.) Drawing from classics and recent favorites alike, she showcases heroes--from All in the Family to Seinfeld to 30 Rock--as well as villains--from The Sopranos to NYPD Blue to Breaking Bad--to illustrate her insights in entertaining and vividly memorable ways.

Far from taking a conventional approach, Staak posits that whether you're a veteran executive or an aspiring manager, you can learn a great deal about becoming an extraordinary leader by tuning in to popular TV programs. She's selected specific episodes that pinpoint what you can do (and should not do) in the workplace to invest in others, constantly improve your own skills, build trust, and earn respect. She supplements those ''Tune In'' features with practical lists of key actions to take to strengthen the character traits every top-notch leader must possess. And for times when you're faced with an issue such as broken trust or poor communication that must be repaired, Staak draws on her estimable experience to suggest implementable, effective solutions. Those bulleted lists, plus the exercises she calls ''WOW in Action,'' will help you quickly evaluate where you stand in comparison to the WOW ideal.

Be you a Millennial or a Baby Boomer, you'll learn how to become the type of effective communicator, confident visionary, inspirational motivator, agent of change, and bold decision maker your direct reports will proclaim to be a ''great boss.''

Sheri Staak has a BS in marketing from the University of Central Florida and has participated in programs at Thunderbird School of Global Management at the University of Michigan, the Ross School of Business, and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. Her affiliations include the Healthcare Business Women's Association, where Sheri sits on the board for the Chicago Chapter and leads the Executive Engagement Strategy. She has held various vice president positions at The Upjohn Company, Pharmacia, and Pfizer. Sheri has mentored and groomed numerous young professionals. Her business and leadership acumen has also been used to consult with small business start-ups.

A strategic and innovative business leader, Sheri held key leadership roles at both large privately held and publicly traded global companies. She has worked with and managed more than 1,000 sales representatives in highly aggressive and competitive marketplaces in the US. By harnessing her passion for leadership and teamwork, she has become a trusted advisor and coach. She further shares her wealth of knowledge through her blog, The STAAK Report. She is married and has two children.