Simple Truths of Leadership Playbook by Ken Blanchard & Randy Conley & Renee Broadwell Summary

Simple Truths of Leadership Playbook by Ken Blanchard, Randy Conley, and Renee Broadwell is a 52-week actionable guide for developing servant leadership skills and building trust. It expands on principles from their bestselling Simple Truths of Leadership, offering weekly exercises, self-assessments, and prompts to translate leadership theories into practical habits. Designed as a structured workbook, it emphasizes character-driven leadership and relational trust.

This book is ideal for leaders at all levels—new managers, seasoned executives, and entrepreneurs—who want to foster trust and adopt servant leadership practices. It’s particularly valuable for those seeking a hands-on approach to improving team dynamics, communication, and organizational culture through incremental, weekly improvements.

Yes, for leaders committed to long-term growth. The playbook’s structured format provides actionable steps to implement servant leadership, making it a practical companion to the original book. Its focus on self-reflection and incremental progress helps leaders turn intentions into measurable results, supported by real-world examples and exercises.

Key concepts include servant leadership (prioritizing team needs), trust-building behaviors, and character-driven decision-making. The playbook breaks these into 52 digestible principles, such as “Leadership is an inside job” and “Trust is earned through actions,” paired with weekly activities to reinforce learning.

Central lessons include:

• Leadership success hinges on integrity and empathy.
• Trust is built through consistency and transparency.
• Effective leaders empower others rather than control them.
  Each lesson is tied to exercises that encourage self-assessment and real-world application.

Unlike theoretical guides, this playbook offers a year-long, step-by-step framework for skill development. It contrasts with Blanchard’s earlier works like The One Minute Manager by focusing on long-term relational trust rather than quick managerial fixes.

• Ken Blanchard: “Effective leadership is an inside job; it’s all about a leader’s character and intentions.”
• Randy Conley: “Trust is a result of the behaviors we use in our interactions with others.” These quotes underscore the book’s emphasis on authenticity and action.

Some may find the 52-week structure demanding for busy professionals. However, the flexible format allows users to pace themselves, and the focus on incremental progress is designed to prevent overwhelm.

It tackles current issues like remote team management and organizational transparency by advocating servant leadership practices that build resilience and adaptability—key for navigating 2025’s dynamic work environments.

Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute Manager, is a globally recognized leadership expert with over 60 books. His 40+ years of research and consulting inform the playbook’s evidence-based approaches to trust and servant leadership.

• Dedicate time weekly to complete exercises.
• Track progress using the included templates.
• Pair with the original Simple Truths of Leadership for context.
  Consistency and honest self-reflection maximize impact.

Blanchard’s leadership training programs, the original Simple Truths of Leadership book, and Ken Blanchard Companies’ workshops provide additional tools for deepening servant leadership skills.