The five temptations of a CEO a leadership fable

The five temptations of a CEO a leadership fable OF A ALEADERSHIP FABLE PATRICK LENCIONI U S 20 00 I he Five lemptations of a CEO As he stared out the picture window from his office, Andrew OBrien w.The five temptations of a CEO a leadership fable OF A ALEADERSHIP FABLE PATRICK LENCIONI U S 20 00 I he Five lemptations of a CEO As he stared out the picture window from his office, Andrew OBrien w.

OF A ALEADERSHIP FABLE PATRICK LENCIONI $20.00 U.S I CEO he Five lemptations of a As he stared out the picture Andrew O'Brien wondered how office, come it his had to this Tomorrow would he promotion 0/ his first window from to hoard meeting the one-year anniversary CEO It would also be the which he would be in accountable for the results of an entire fiscal year Those tomed results, as he had grown accus" to saying, Andrew were "unspectacular at best could not deny that he was at a low CEO, point in his brief tenure as a point he never expected to reach so soon And then Tn things got worse stunning this Lencioni Patrick wake-up business call to all fiction delivers of us who a powerful dare to lead Young, ambitious, and overwhelmed, O'Brien personifies he wanders bullet that in will a part of debut, Andrew every leader as search of the elusive silver propel him to success happens upon an unlikely guide the seemingly infinite list who He distills of leadership perils into the five temptations of a CEO In intense and often combative exchange, the debate fundamental issues faced by ers—issues involving personal all lead- integrit)' (continued on back flap) an two and ^ Advance praise for The Five Temptations of a "The most fascinating book I CEO have ever read about man- agement Pat Lencioni thrusts into the psyche of a CEO in an extremely shrewd manner and reveals the vulnerabilities there could not help but I confronted while reading feel that I was the one being it." —Tadao Kobayashi, Executive Vice President, Amer- Honda Motor Company ican "Lencioni goes right to the core of what is at once simple and profoundly hard to as a leader: to take actions that are conscious and honest, always authentic tempted — at precisely those He moments when we to act out of ego, vanity, or fear good job, I'm aware of following the — Dr human It are When am I to be most doing a principles he suggests." Diane Flannery, CEO, Juma Ventures "Leadership results challenges us is about motivating others to achieve superior demands that individuals rise above the inherent temptations so clearly articulated in this book Insightful and entertaining The Five Temptations of a CFO provides a practical construct that will help every general manager become more —Thomas Bain J effective." Tierney, Worldwide Managing Partner, & Company "I normally cringe every time someone insists read yet another book on leadership or corporate philosophy, but must admit quickly — warmed up to The Five Temptations oj a CEO plain English, simple truths, eminently digestible." —Graham Spanier, President, Penn State University "A fast-reading page-turner that puts things in perspective — it makes you as complicated as — I you their realize that corporate proper life is not think." Sal Schiliro, Publisher, Street ''The Five Temptations of a CEO & Smith's Sports Group tells it like it really is at the top In vivid prose storytelling, Lencioni depicts the challenge and inspiration of overcoming the five deceptively simple barriers to successful leadership." —John Alexander, President, Center for Creative Leadership "Pat Lencioni has written a compelling ble CEO The Five Temptations of a and delightful para- blends Pats brilliant storytelling ability with his extensive practical experience It gives us a \dbrant illustration of the success factors for leadership in business and in life Anyone, CEO or oth- erwise, can benefit from this book." —Terry Pearce, President, Schwab & author Leading Out Loud; Senior Vice Executive Communication, Co.; Lecturer, Charles Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley "Few business books a story that tell you can does that and more The Five Temptations of a key to a form A CEO; a CEO's real ability to ^Alan for anyone CEO holds the a company's ability to per- joy to read for anyone must read — leam and relate to Pat's who wants who wants become to a to stay one." Anderson, President and CEO, Quintus Cor- poration ''The Five Temptations in its oja powerful in simplicity, humanity Pat Lencioni who knows from thrive in CEO is a powerful book honesty, powerful in and engaging a wise is real close one of the its Powerful up what it loneliest places storyteller takes to survive on its the planet and — the boss's office!" —Jim Kouzes, coauthor, The Leadership Challenge and Chairman, Credibility; Tom Peters Group/Learning Systems "Outstanding! one is I've great! All read many management books and managers can leam from honest, and simple to understand book you want I've made this quick-reading, It is a must read improve your executive management to this if skills a wallet-sized reference card of the five tempta- tions so that I don't stray" —Michael Officer, Rowe, President and Chief Operating New Jersey Nets The Five Temptations gets to a level of organizational truth in a compelling way will It change the way we look behavior and priorities without feeling guilty The night commute home —Richard "Take it from tedium ers best-selling author, Never with Reality confirmed 'business book basher': The Five a Temptations of a jargon, Memo late- never be the same ." Moran, A Confuse a will our at CFO is not singing the same old song No no pseudo-science, no strained sound-bites, no —just depend a percipient parable for those whom oth- for leadership." —Mitch Daniels, Senior Vice President, Corporate Strategy and Policy, Eli Lilly and Company "Lencioni understands the subde but that every on CEO must ultimately critical challenges face." —Mark Hoffman, President and CEO, CommerceOne "Some els — practical in and profound choices any organization! The fable for leaders at all lev- is a great way to get hooked." —Tom Kurtz, architect, coach, navigator, facilitator for organization breakthrough, Procter and Gamble "I couldn't stop thinking about the people how this this on book my work with and applies to them I'm going to keep a copy of desk and use it —Leilani Gayles, Vice as a tool for coaching." President of Human Resources, @ Home Network "Good CEOs are going to love this book disturbed by it Bad CEOs because they're going to realize that problems in the organization start be will all the with them." —Mark Talucci, President and CEO, The Sak "Most of us have succumbed tations' is described in this book to one or more of the 'temp- —but not worthy of the attention of any CEO for long This or manager book at any level." —Timothy E Finley, Chairman and CEO, Jos A Bank Clothiers "A good story that conveys wisdom for all human institu- tions, certainly including not-for-profits." —Brian O'Connell, Founding President, Independent Sector "Using a 'novel' format, Lencioni guides not only CEOs, but also and all managers, to a more productive way of thinking acting!" —David Chilton, author The Wealthy Barber CEO really got me thinking It made me reexamine my own performance and gave me some insights on how could my job better." ''The Five Temptations oj a I —-Jerome L Dodson, President, The Parnassus Fund "Lencioni has found a great issues we way face as leaders —John to communicate about A quick, easy, the enjoyable read!" S toner, President and General Manager, True Temper Hardware "Well, well, well make I am the sixth temptation? and could not put my own initiatives, evant CEOs I I down it bringing clarity to the ing tempted CEO to read it again! actually read A it Would on vacation very clever approach to mystique and process In lead- these concepts were abundantly rel- look forward to providing a copy of this to in our portfolio." —Rick Patch, that Partner, Sequel Venture Partners all the The Five Temptations oj a A special thanks to all who CEOs and other executives I've me how simple yet difficult it is to the worked with who taught be a leader and CEO helped lead me toward the realization of the Five Temptations And most important, thanks to God for everything I have J ' and am 132 About Pat Lencioni the president of is Author The Table Group, a San Francisco Bay Area consulting firm specializing in organization development and executive coaching He is also a part-time screenwriter Prior to founding The Table Group, Pat of Organization Development Sybase, worked for Oracle He has worked at was Corporation and Bain closely with vice president Inc He also & Company many CEOs and hundreds of senior executives In addition, he has trained thousands of 133 The Five Temptations of a managers and employees to managing corporate in topics ranging from leadership transition Pat lives with his wife, Laura, and Connor, CEO and their twin sons, Matthew in Lafayette, California His biggest weakness is Temptation Number Two 154 People are talking about The Fi\e Temptations of a CEO Come see how to make these principles relevant to your life and your organization www.j osseybass com/fivetemptations html I (continued from front flap) effectiveness in the ongoing struggle for cess While some bandied about suc- of these topics have been in the leadership literature for years, in The Five Temptations of a actually begin to make CEO they sense Refreshingly original and utterly compelling, Andrew's story will be enjoyed, remembered, and reread for years come to It serves as a timeless and potent reminder that success as a leader can vital come down behaviors— behaviors difficult for few to practicing a that are painfully each of us to master Patrick Lencioni is president of The Table Group, a San Francisco Bay Area management consulting firm In addition to his work as an executive coach and consultant, Pat has also written a number of screenplays Previously he held key positions at began his career Sybase and Oracle at the years, Pat has Bain (£> He Company Over worked with hundreds CEOs— executive teams and one time or another, of all of victims, at the five temptations Pat lives with his wite Laura and his twin boys, A\atthevv and Connor, Francisco Bay Area he lable Group's You can web site: http://www.tablegroup.com in the San reach him at A Wise and "A must read for all Enthralling Leadership Fable leaders, not just CEOs Take it from someone been tempted Better than a personal coach." who has i — Boyd Clark, President and CEO, The Tom Peters Group "Pat Lencioni delivers a provocative message: CEOs mainly have them- blame when things go wrong selves to If you're a CEO (or any manager you have the courage to face the blame? Doing so for that matter), could change your future — Dr Jerry Porras, —for the better." coauthor, Built to Last; Professor, Stanford School of Business "A truly enjoyable story found myself immediately trying to decide whether had fallen victim to the temptations think most executives will I I I be able to recognize parts of themselves in this well-written, enlightened book!" — Ellyn McColgan, President, Exempt "What little us Investments Tax a pleasure! Reading The Five Temptations of a a refreshing look in the mirror a Fidelity Services Co of What Andrew O'Brien in all and really seeing for like taking there There of us and, at times, a lot of him book can be a useful tool this CEO was what was in many is of many CEOs." — Lenny Wilkens, Head Coach, Atlanta Hawks Most Wins in NBA History book provides extraordinary insight into the pitfalls that leaders face when they lose sight of the true measure of success— results This model is "This required reading for — Dr Eric my staff." Schmidt, Chairman and CEO, Novell Corporation Jacket design by Paula Goldstein BUSINESS/MANAGEMENT Jossey-Bass Publishers 350 Sansome Street San Francisco, California 94104 www.josseybass.com Jacket printed on acid-free paper containing 50 percent recycled fiber of which a minimum of percent is postconsumer ... providing a copy of this to in our portfolio." —Rick Patch, that Partner, Sequel Venture Partners all the THE FIVE Temptations OF A CEO THE FIVE Temptations OF A CEO A LEADERSHIP FABLE PATRICK LENCION... jeopardy because they are unwilling —and overcome— the Five Temptations of a IX CEO To my mother and father, my wife Laura, and our newborn sons Matthew and Connor » rHE FIVE Temptations OF A CEO. .. to say What kind of company?" He was expecting a hardware store or dry cleaner was "It a railroad," Charlie said matter -of- factly "But that's My not the point father always said that pany was