For those who imagine themselves in line for advancement — Being on the short list for the CEO job and having a record of delivering amazing results; having been told they have the inside track; feeling they are the leader in the clubhouse — Mark Thompson and Byron Loflin offer a wakeup call: Don’t believe it.
They caution readers that, no matter what a leader has heard or what their CV says, they are not alone in the race, and the odds are against their getting the job.
Leadership selection isn’t the methodical, objective process we imagine. Decisions aren’t made by robotic executives ticking boxes for attributes such as strategic fit, core competencies or cultural alignment. Instead, the process is deeply personal, emotional and, often, unpredictable.
CEO Ready: What You Need to Know to Earn the Job and Keep the Job
Mark Thompson and Byron Loflin
$35
Harvard Business Review Press
On shelves and online
272 Pages
