Leadership is a Relationship: How to Put People First in the Digital World

Discover how putting people first creates vibrant organizations and profound change

In Leadership is a Relationship, accomplished founders and authors Michael S. Erwin and Willys DeVoll deliver an insightful collection of interviews with leaders who have succeeded by prioritizing the wellbeing of other people. Featuring fresh stories from leaders like Olympic legend Kerri Walsh Jennings, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs Bob McDonald, and visionary principal Dr. Virginia Hill, the book shows how you too can become a relationship-based leader and thrive in our chaotic, digital world. By highlighting role models from different careers, backgrounds, skill sets, and schools of thought, the authors offer readers an inspiring antidote to one of the most serious—and underreported—crises of our era: the damage that digital distractions have done to our personal relationships.

The book offers:

• Concrete strategies for combating the depersonalization of the Information Age and strengthening our connections with other people
• Real stories of how people from Olympic champions to small-business owners have put people first
• Take-away tips for the busy reader who needs quick insight or hopes to use the book in a modular curriculum for their organization or class

Perfect for anyone who wants lead both morally and effectively, Leadership is a Relationship provides a concise and convincing argument that leaders who put people first have the best chance of succeeding in the twenty-first century.

About the Author

Michael S. Erwin is the founder of the non-profit organization Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB), whose mission is to enrich the lives of America’s veterans. In 2015, he cofounded the Positivity Project—a non-profit organization with the mission to empower America’s youth to build positive relationships. With 587 partner schools, the organization reaches 323,000 children every day. He served as Executive Director for four years and remains the chairman of the board. Mike continues to proudly serve the nation as a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves assigned to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he is an Assistant Professor assigned to the Behavioral Sciences & Leadership Department.

Willys DeVoll is a writer, creator, and speaker. He’s currently on the product design team at Gusto, which offers small businesses a software platform for payroll, benefits, and HR throughout the United States. He also founded and runs Will Digital, a design consulting firm dedicated to helping mission-driven organizations build strong online presences and succeed in the Information Age. Prior to joining Gusto, Willys worked as a writer and strategist at Airbnb and Google and was a regular keynote speaker at industry conferences.