Bury My Heart at Conference Room B

June 21, 2010
"There is more mythology, misdirection, superstition, and generalized academic babble about leadership than any other business subject," says management consultant Slap in this must-read for anyone who cares about organizational success. Slap shares the techniques he's used over several decades to transform the performance of some of the world's leading companies, quickly cutting to the chase with irreverence as he emphasizes drawing deep loyalty and vital energy from every rank in the workforce and allowing "each manager to work according to their individual values." Drawing on his successful engagements at such companies as Microsoft and software company, SAS, which has a culture so compelling and attractive that last year "they had 23 job vacancies and received 23,760 applications," he illustrates his points powerfully and persuasively. If Slap's discussion grows repetitive and drags on a few chapters too many, the strong kickoff and exploration of individual values makes for a provocative read sure to appeal to managers who want to connect with their employees in a fresh, meaningful, and lasting way.