Open Leaders Yearbook

What is a leader to an organization? And, much more importantly for this book, what is an Open Leader?

The first question is relatively easy. Leaders are the driving force behind any organization. They force their organization to come together to achieve their combined goals, to the benefit of the employees and the institution itself.

The second question is much more complicated. What exactly is an Open Leader?

According to TheOpenOrganization.org, an open leader is someone who fosters an open organization by creating spaces where transparency, inclusivity, adaptability, collaboration, and community are valued; and by establishing connections with subordinates that enable them not only to survive but to thrive in their organizational environment.

However, being an Open Leader in practice is much more than creating an environment. An Open Leader pushes for open conversations and nurtures communication at all levels for everyone. By fostering a conversational culture, an Open Leader can ensure their subordinates feel comfortable contributing to their organization’s community and goals. The open conversations an Open Leader creates give their employees the space to grow and the opportunities to reach beyond their defined roles.

Read the book

This book is about leadership, specifically Open Leadership, through the perspective of several contributors to our website, Coaching Buttons, published between 2024 and 2025. We will explore what it means to be an effective Open Leader. We will discuss how to build an open organization, foster your employees’ growth, improve process adaptability, and many more topics relating to open leadership.

Thanks to Jos Groen, Jimmy Sjölund, Ron McFarland, Laura Hilliger, Daniela Arellano, Chris Hermansen, Jason Hibbets, and Melanie Barham for sharing their expertise with us.

Download the free ebook (PDF)

Print edition coming soon!