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Pervasive and relentless change in technologies, competition and the demand-side of markets have made business organizations well aware of the practical need to make continuous and sometimes transformational changes to their strategies, structures, systems and the ways they do business. Therefore, a new style of leadership is emerging from the world's most successful organizations. These dynamic men and women are enlightened and motivated. They are driven by possibilities and absolutely committed to mutual values. Excited, creative and alert, they are the new change-makers.

Mike Thompson is CEO of the organizational development company, SVI. He created the Organizational Champion philosophy which is a priceless tool for enacting positive change through the use of an innovative new leadership model that has served such clients as P&G, Wal-Mart, Tyson, VF Corporation and J.B. Hunt. Each company used his philosophy to enact positive change in their respective industries. Thompson now puts his proven leadership method to paper for the first time in his new book titled THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHAMPION: How to Develop Passionate Change Agents at Every Level (McGraw-Hill; June 2009).

THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHAMPION offers a new approach to developing and measuring leadership. The book describes a theory that is thriving and practiced in some of the world's most successful companies. It teaches decision-makers how to make bold moves that will be beneficial to their companies and society by being agile, creative and honest. Readers will also discover the characteristics and attributes that are critical to possess for the success of global organization that faces the challenges and demands of today. This book was written to help people grow their talents and become organizational champions who are:

• Enlightened - They have a strong sense of confidence, self-awareness, and are consistent. They have an understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and are comfortable with who they are at their core. Champions are not defined by circumstances and can confidently maneuver through challenging situations.
• Connected - They genuinely invest in others and have the ability to build trust through their pursuit of mutually beneficial outcomes. Their passion, energy and commitment are inspirational to those around them.
• Change Maker - They are skilled at driving and pushing healthy organizational change through agility, perseverance, communication and collaboration. Their efforts push the business forward with our sacrificing quality or efficiency.
• Opportunity Minded - They inspire and ignite the possibilities within people and organizations through their curiosity; never settling with what is comfortable. Their ability to capture and communicate bold visions opens the door to new opportunities.

THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHAMPION was written to help readers break loose from the limitations of outdated leadership models and ignite a new energy toward a purposeful and rewarding life. Through thousands of surveys and interviews with hundreds of CEOs and executives, the book provides insights into how some of the world's most admired leaders have enabled societal movements and corporate transformations, and how companies are succeeding by accepting such champions.

Ultimately THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHAMPION presents an innovative new approach to leadership in the next millennium. This book is an invaluable resource for developing dynamic leaders.

About the Author
Mike Thompson is the founder of SVI, a provider of innovative and highly effective leadership solutions to many of the world's most admired companies, and is a key consultant for Wal-Mart's culture and leadership initiatives. He is often a featured professor for John Brown University's graduate course in leadership and ethics. Previously, Thompson founded ThompsonMurray, an advertising firm that grew from a two-person start-up to a multi-million-dollar company serving clients such as P&G, Energizer, Michelin and Coca-Cola. For more information, log on to www.organizationalchampions.com.

THE ORGANIZATIONAL CHAMPION: How to Develop Passionate Change Agents at Every Level by Mike Thompson; McGraw-Hill; June 2009; Cloth; $29.95; ISBN: 10: 0-07-162486-4; 13: 978-0-07-162486-2