Leadership as a CEO is among the most demanding roles in a business environment. Everyone hangs on your every word, for better or for worse, and people are reticent to criticize the leading leader, even when the leader needs desperately to hear critical feedback. The promises of making an impact are great, but so are the opportunities to make a mistake. The authors, senior partners at the McKinsey & Company business research firm, seek to demystify the CEO’s leadership lifestyle through qualitative surveys of leading CEOs in American industry.
Although I like the topic, I don’t like this book’s title. Placing an emphasis on the word “CEO” tends to cut out other organizational leaders and other industries that might not run on a traditional business model. I work in academic medicine, and the organization chart is much different in practice than traditional companies. However, the challenges of leaders, often in decentralized groups, remains the same. The word “CEO” seems to attract ambitious people attracted to elite positions instead of natural leaders at any rung.
With that weakness stated, this book does offer good coaching on how to flourish in a high leadership position. Starting with necessary preparation, it offers actionable advice to prepare for a career leap. It also coaches leaders through the important – and often neglected – art of passing the baton to the next generation of leaders, whose leadership skills a senior leader should be cultivating for years in advance.
Of course, leadership is ultimately more of an art than a science, but trends exist that can enhance any leaders’ effectiveness. Studying other leaders successful traits, such as this book offers readers, can help immensely. These authors offer aspiring leaders, especially at earlier stages, an opportunity to grow. I like their data-driven approach that relies on quotes from other senior leaders instead of just offering a one-size-fits-all approach. Leadership requires wisdom and skill, and books like this offer leaders the chance to enhance those immensely.
A CEO for All Seasons: Mastering the Cycles of Leadership
By Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, Vikram Malhotra & Kurt Strovink
Copyright (c) 2025
Scribner
ISBN13 9781668098349
Page Count: 211
Genre: Leadership
www.amazon.com