Exceptional leaders start by looking inward and making big changes, one small step at a time.

In his three decades of military leadership, Jody Fletcher discovered two fundamental truths: If you don’t show up as a good human, you’ll never be a great leader. But being a good human doesn’t automatically make you someone worth following. These qualities must be learned, and the first lesson starts with taking a hard look at the person staring back at you in the mirror.

Well-meaning organizations often promote people into positions of leadership without offering much—if any—proper training. In Good Humans Make Great Leaders, Fletcher offers a simple and sturdy bridge between self-awareness and practical leadership skills to teach new and aspiring managers to lead with trust, respect, and empathy. Throughout, you’ll learn how to:

• Clearly define and cultivate your core values.
• Show up in the world with self-awareness, self-love, and self-care.
• Define the leadership traits that you want to embody the most—and why.
• Lead with influence, not control.
• Set clear expectations, hold employees accountable, and foster trust in your team.

With warmth and humor, Fletcher approaches the journey to better leadership with compassion—because your most powerful leadership tool is your humanity.