I thought I knew where I was going. But it turns out a glance or two at the map of Seville, Spain, online a few days before wasn’t quite enough to give me a firm sense of how to get to the hostel where I staying. So, I wandered the streets of the city in the dark, confused, tired and trying not to miss my turn off.

I eventually arrived, but my feet ached and my shoulders felt sore from carrying the load of my giant backpack. Such travails proved to be a common occurrence as I traveled Europe and Asia on breaks from graduate school in the United Kingdom. It was more than a decade ago, in the days before Google Maps and smart phones to help you pinpoint your location immediately to find your way.

One thing I learned during my time as a backpacker is that when you’re traveling on a significant journey, it helps to have a guide and map to keep you oriented. On more recent trips to Germany and Uganda, my trusty “Lonely Planet” guides have proved invaluable for helping keep me on track.

I thought of my travel guidebooks when reading “Your Leadership Edge” the other day.

The book contains detailed descriptions of what you need to know to prepare yourself to exercise leadership. It provides valuable tools and ideas to apply immediately. Each chapter is designed to help you as you work to make progress on your own personal leadership challenges.

This is an excellent course book for any leadership training whether in a college course, an employee training or a staff book club.

You can learn more about the book and how to purchase it here (INSERT BOOK LINK). It’s just one of the books in a series of books being published by the KLC Press, our in-house publishing arm that produces titles designed to help Kansans increase and leverage their knowledge about leadership. Our first book, “For the Common Good: Redefining Civic Leadership,” by two of our founders, David Chrislip and Ed O’Malley, about a more purposeful, provocative and engaging approach to leadership has been garnering some international recognition.

You can also check out our latest book, “What’s Right  with Kansas: Everyday Citizens Transforming Their State” to learn about how people just like you are exercising leadership every day.

As you probably know all too well, leadership is challenging, difficult work. Hopefully publications like the “Your Leadership Edge” will help be a useful travel guide for you to keep in your backpack as you navigate your leadership adventure.