The Five Temptations Of A CEO explores what Patrick Lencioni believes are the common mistakes that CEOs make in their roles as leaders of their companies. In particular he believes that many CEOs succumb to one or more the following five temptations:
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Choosing status over results.
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Choosing popularity over accountability.
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Choosing certainty over clarity.
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Choosing harmony over productive conflict.
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Choosing invulnerability over trust.
Each temptation is explained in detail along with actions the CEO can take to avoid the temptation (and rectify any prior sins). All of which is delivered as a fable about Andrew O’ Brien, the CEO of Trinity Systems. The story takes place as he travels home after a late night preparing for the board meeting that will mark the end of his first year as CEO.
Lencioni is a management consultant whose firm The Table Group specialises in executive team development and organisational health. He has written several other books, at least one of which, The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team I’ll be buying after having read this one.
This is a short book that’s very easy to read. Yet it manages to convey some important lessons in a succinct, entertaining and thought provoking way. If you are a CEO or you expect to become one then I suggest you buy a copy and invest an hour in reading it, perhaps on the train home…
You can buy it from Amazon UK or Amazon USA.
This blog is about business opportunities and ideas that I spot, think of or hear about and think are useful and interesting. It is intended to provide ideas and inspriation for you to help you find the right business idea for you to then grow it into a successful business.
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