The Corner Office

(Extra book recommendation from former staff member)

Always good to read a book highlighted by a colleague, this time from a former NYUer hall staff member.  The book is The Corner Office by Adam Bryant, a NY Times writer.  The book focuses on what the writer learned from over 80 CEOs of major corporations (for profit and non-profit) outlining how to get to the “corner office” – hey, I have a corner office!!!  He didn’t interview me!  Oh well… his loss.  In fact, I’d say that I actually have a great corner office overlooking the Empire State building (oh yeah) and the Chrysler building.  I’m a lucky guy, yet I digress….  So the book… Bryant breaks down lessons learned into three categories: succeeding, managing, and leading.  He gives in-depth examples of experiences the CEOs had during their journey to the top of their respective companies.  Bryant suggests that there are themes that can be applied to moving up the corporate ladder.  In terms of highlights from each area, first succeeding: being curious in knowing “why” is a strong characteristic that runs across all of the leaders that were interviewed (makes great sense).  Other characteristics include having some “battle scars” as he describes (having a challenge in life that was overcome), realizing you are on a team, prepare – prepare – prepare and of course, have patience (as a former boss of mine would say, it is a marathon not a sprint!).  In managing: remember the importance of time management, learn how to facilitate meetings, be a great interviewer (as Jim Collins wrote “get the right people on the bus”), and learn how to coach people.  In the leading section: create a shared mission that is easy to understand and ensure you live it, offering small gestures to staff and clients will reap major benefits long term, and create a culture worth working in.  Many of the lessons seem simplistic, but in life the formula for success really is pretty simple, but as complicated human beings we tend to mess it up pretty well, huh.  Worth a read as it goes quickly and reinforces much of what we know already.  Thanks David for the suggestion!