Title: Leadership Rites of Passage: The Journey of the Aspiring Leader and the
Methods of the Mentor
Author: Rick Tirrell
Publisher: iUniverse
ISBN: 978-1663214614
Pages: 196
Genre: Business & Economics / Leadership
Reviewed by: Anne Rose

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While common sense and good judgment can help to improve leadership skills, there are a plethora of talents that must be studied and exercised to become a competent, excellent leader. Author Rick Tirrell’s purpose in Leadership Rites of Passage: The Journey of the Aspiring Leader and the Methods of the Mentor is to give the reader a leadership roadmap through two connected agendas for both aspiring leaders and mentors. Tirrell engagingly accomplishes this by constructing a business fable in which ambitious leader Joe Miller seeks to master 16 difficult leadership duties with the assistance and interventions of his wise mentor, Sagen Cruz. We follow Joe as he learns how to overcome obstacles as Sagen transmits his wisdom through his accomplishments, failures, shortcomings, and insecurities.

This engaging business fable begins with the naive and overwhelmed young Joe Miller following his career toward Extraordinary Leadership as he effortlessly develops certain leadership qualities, nearly fails others, faces betrayals, and forms a team. Joe, at the age of 25, joins his family’s firm, expecting he will have an easy run thanks to his father’s supportive tutelage. However, six months later, his father dies unexpectedly, just as the economy enters a deep recession. Sales fall, he is unable to service his debt, staff mutiny, and he is aware of his inexperience. He seeks Sagen Cruz’s guidance, kicking off a lifelong leadership mentorship relationship.

Sagen skillfully demonstrates his coaching approaches, which any reader can emulate. He probes with penetrating questions and cleverly lets quiet do his work. As he mentors, he refers to the classic masterworks of leadership literature. He gives Joe a brief explanation of each idea and requests that he read a related book so that he can put its contents to use. Sagen assigns Joe on four missions, each of which focuses on a different aspect of leadership development. Joe will face quite particular challenges on each assignment. If he chooses to ignore any challenge, it will continue to beckon him until he overcomes it. Rites of Passage is the name Sagen has given to these obstacles. Each Rite of Passage is its chapter, and at the end of each one, three quick summaries provide us with Joe’s work, Sagen’s approach, and seminar discussion questions.

The leadership traits depicted and articulated in this book are based on the author’s own experience as both a leader and a mentor. This knowledge stems from starting and directing two businesses, as well as twenty-five years of assisting leaders and mentors in a variety of organizations. Tirrell has used his abilities to produce an ‘actionable toolkit’ which aspiring leaders can use to achieve remarkable leadership capabilities. Leadership theory is a wide topic, but Tirrell divides it into 16 Leadership Rites of Passage, directing the reader to great leadership.

“The genius of masterful leaders can be demystified, and their methods understood. Building great leadership skills is not the product of magic, chance, or genetics,” said Tirrell. “The exceptional leader’s talents are organized in a logical, understandable manner which gives an order to our observations of outstanding leadership and explains how some achieve it and others do not.” Finally, Leadership Rites of Passage will motivate readers to follow Joe Miller’s example and embark on their journey to remarkable leadership.
This book can provide valuable skills and lessons to both mentors and aspiring leaders. Tirrell provides the foundation for effective leadership that is required in our society at all levels by transmitting this information.