Synopses & Reviews
Absorbing, compelling, and utterly memorable,
The Five Temptations of a CEO is like no other business book that's come before. Author Patrick Lencioni—noted screenplay writer and sought-after executive coach -- deftly tells the tale of a young CEO who, facing his first annual board review, knows he is failing, but doesn't know why.
"This book provides extraordinary insight into the pitfalls that leaders face when they lose sight of the true measure of success: results. This model is required reading for my staff."
—Eric Schmidt, chairman of the board and CEO, Novell
Any executive can learn how to:
- recognize the mistakes that leaders can make
- avoid errors before they occur
- and much more!
Refreshingly original and utterly compelling, the story of this executive (written to be read in one sitting) will be enjoyed, remembered, and reread for years to come. It serves a timeless and potent reminder that success as a leader can come down to practicing a few simple behaviors—behaviors that are painfully difficult for each of us to master.
"Lencioni delivers a provocative message: CEOs mainly have themselves to blame when things go wrong. If you're a CEO (or any manager for that matter), do you have the courage to face the blame? Doing so could change your future-for the better."
—Dr. Jerry Porras, coauthor, Built to Last; professor, Stanford School of Business
You won't find any dry management rhetoric in this razor-sharp novelette. Apply these riveting lessons in leadership with the self-assessment at the end of the book. It will change your career!
Review
"A must read for all leaders, not just CEOs. Take it from someone whohas been tempted. Better than a personal coach." (Boyd Clark, president and CEO, The Tom Peters Group)
"Pat Lencioni delivers a provocative message: CEOs mainly havethemselves to blame when things go wrong. If you're a CEO (or any manager for that matter), do you have the courage to face the blame? Doing so could change your future-for the better." (Dr. Jerry Porras, co-author, Built To Last; professor, Stanford School of Business)
"A truly enjoyable story. I found myself immediately trying to decidewhether I had fallen victim to the temptations. I think most executiveswill be able to recognize parts of themselves in this well-written,enlightened book!" (Ellyn McColgan, president, Fidelity Investments Tax Exempt Services Co.)
"This book provides extraordinary insight into the pitfalls that leadersface when they lose sight of the true measure of success-results. Thismodel is required reading for my staff." (Dr. Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO, Novell Corporation)
Synopsis
As he stared out the picture window from his office, Andrew O'Brien wondered how it had come to this.
Tomorrow would be the one-year anniversary of his promotion to CEO. It would also be the first board meeting where he would be accountable for the results of an entire fiscal year. Those results, as he had grown accustomed to saying, were "unspectacular at best."
Andrew could not deny that he was at a low point in his brief tenure as CEO, a point he never expected to reach so soon.
Then things got worse.
In this stunning business fiction debut, Patrick Lencioni delivers a powerful wake-up call to all of us who dare to lead.
Young, ambitious, and overwhelmed Andrew O'Brien personifies a part of every leader as he wanders in search of the elusive silver bullet that will propel him to success. He happens upon an unlikely guide who distills the seemingly infinite list of leadership perils into the five temptations of a CEO. In an intense and often combative exchange, the two debate fundamental issues faced by all leaders-issues involving personal integrity and effectiveness in the ongoing struggle for success. While some of these topics have been bandied about in the leadership literature for years, here they actually begin to make sense.
Refreshingly original and utterly compelling, Andrew's story (written to be read in one sitting) will be enjoyed, remembered, and reread for years to come. It serves as a timeless and potent reminder that success as a leader can come down to practicing a few simple behaviors-behaviors that are painfully difficult for each of us to master.
Synopsis
A commemorative edition of the landmark book from Patrick LencioniWhen it was published ten years ago, The Five Temptations of a CEO was like no other business book that came before. Highly sought-after management consultant Patrick Lencioni deftly told the tale of a young CEO who, facing his first annual board review, knows he is failing, but doesn't know why. Refreshingly original and utterly compelling, this razor-sharp novelette plus self-assessment (written to be read in one sitting) serves as a timeless and potent reminder that success as a leader can come down to practicing a few simple behaviors?behaviors that are painfully difficult for each of us to master. Any executive can learn how to recognize the mistakes that leaders can make and how to avoid them.The lessons of The Five Temptations of a CEO, are as relevant today as ever, and this special anniversary edition celebrates ten years of inspiration and enlightenment with a brand new introduction and reflections from Lencioni on the new challenges in business and leadership that have occurred in the past ten years.
Synopsis
The Commemorative Edition of a Landmark Book from Patrick Lencioni"Patrick Lencioni's combination of homey management truths and simpleprose has struck a chord with business leaders tired of jargon and complicated strategic models."
—The Wall Street Journal
"This book reflects so much of what I love about Patrick's insights; thought provoking, challenging of the accepted, simple but not simplistic, and highly practical. It should be a primer for leaders at all levels—not just CEOs."
—Colleen C. Barrett, president Southwest Airlines Co.
"Lencioni's remarkable ability to tell a compelling story is what sets this book apart from most other leadership books."
—Pat Esser, president, Cox Communications
"I talk about the Five Temptations in all my leadership programs and have used it to enhance my leadership and the leadership of others."
—David C. Novak, chairman, CEO, and president Yum! Brands
"The Five Temptations of a CEO is a thoughtprovoking story, a reason to examine your behavior in light of your current challenges. Read it, reflect on its message, make changes, and read it again in a few months."
—Edward T. Reilly, president and CEO, American Management Association
About the Author
Patrick M. Lencioni is founder and president of The Table Group, a management consulting firm specializing in executive team development and organizational health. As a consultant and keynote speaker, he has worked with thousands of senior executives in organizations ranging from Fortune 500s and high-tech start-ups to universities and nonprofits. He is the author of seven nationally recognized books, including the New York Times best-seller The Five Dysfunctions of a Team.
Table of Contents
Tribute.
Foreword.
Introduction.
The Fable.
The Model: A Summary of Why Executives Fail.
Self-Assessment.
Acknowledgments.
About the Author.