TouchPoints

June 1, 2011

Think you're going to hold onto the big chair by remaining the biggest SOB in the room? Think again.

The man credited with turning around the Campbell's Soup empire and one of the most sought-after leadership consultants in the business are adamant that running a successful corporation today requires something else—a human "touch." Forget the corporate-speak; Conant and Norgaard write that if executives really want to raise standards, inspire commitment and achieve lofty business goals, they'll need to drop the phony tough-guy act and reach out and touch someone. The authors write of the myriad daily interactions bosses have with their employees throughout the course of the work week that lesser leaders might call "interruptions." But Conant and Norgaard view these as opportunities to exercise true leadership, the kind of leadership that elicits creativity and collaboration instead of mere compliance. The result may be the difference between languishing and lifting an organization out of the red. The tone of this slim volume never rises above high-school PSA fare, but its content is pointed and direct. Back-office drones dreaming of their big break and open-minded CEOs eager to perform a little magic of their own should have no trouble digesting the system.

A short, concise handbook with practical examples on how to become a more effective leader and a better boss.

(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)