<p>What does it really take to run a successful company today? Thomas Neff and James Citrin, U.S. chairman and managing director, respectively, of the Spencer Stuart executive-search firm, offer revealing answers in Lessons from the Top: The Search for America's Best Business Leaders. In 50 short but perceptive profiles, they identify and analyze the men and women who drive today's most successful corporations. As might be expected, the authors lean heavily on well-known CEOs such as Steve Case of America Online, Michael Dell of Dell Computer, and Howard Schultz of Starbucks. But they also look at a number who don't get the same publicity, including Fannie Mae's Frank Raines, the Gap's Don Fisher, and Autodesk's Carol Bartz. The result is a broad but surprisingly consistent palette of personalities and philosophies that in a concluding section Neff and Citrin highlight by synthesizing into 10 common traits (passion, intelligence, communication skill, high energy, controlled ego, inner peace, a defining background, strong family life, positive attitude, and a focus on "doing the right things right") and six core principles (live with integrity, develop a winning strategy, build a great management team, inspire employees, create a flexible organization, and implement relevant systems). This book is for managers and anyone else looking for the patterns of success, both in and out of business. --Howard Rothman</p>

Lessons from the Top: In Search of the Best Business Leaders (Penguin Business Library)

Business & Money

Thomas J. Neff

International

Penguin Books, Ltd.

What makes a business leader great? This book identifies the 50 most successful business leaders in America, then, in a series of interviews, goes on to examine their methods & techniques for success. Nor surprisingly, each of the 50 executives selected differ greatly in their personalities, their paths to the top, & the industries in which they work. But perhaps the best way to learn how to excel is by studying the strategies & thinking of a wide range of the leaders who have proved themselves in some of the world's best-run companies. This groundbreaking book should be required reading by leaders -- & future leaders -- everywhere. "The key to building an enduring new medium is passion, people, perseverance, perspective & paranoia." Steve Case.

Lessons from the Top: In Search of the Best Business Leaders

James M. Citrin

Management & Leadership

Diane Pub Co.

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Books by Thomas J. Neff