Harder Than I Thought

by Austin, Robert D.; Nolan, Richard L.; O'Donnell, Shannon

• ISBN13: 9781422162590
• ISBN10: 1422162591
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-11-27
• Publisher: Harvard Business School Pr

Summary

Meet Jim Barton, new CEO of Santa Monica Aerospace. Jim's job won't be easy: the company's hemorrhaging cash, struggling to regain investors' trust after an accounting scandal, and striving to transform its military and manufacturing culture to become a global aerospace integrator. Jim isn't real: Harder Than I Thought is a novel. But his story--developed in consultation with seasoned, actual CEOs--contains crucial lessons for all chief executives. Walk in Jim's shoes to engage in challenges that include: - Formulating and executing strategy - Managing financial and labor crises - Fostering a culture of innovation and continuous transformation - Forging global partnerships - Making ethical choices in an increasingly transparent environment As events in each chapter push Barton to the edge of his abilities, he seeks counsel from a panel of expert advisers. These collaborative reflections invite you to apply the lessons from this story to your own situation. Experts agree that many twentieth-century leadership practices are inadequate to the stormy twenty-first-century present. This engaging and provocative book equips you with the insights you'll need to rise with the occasion of a rapidly shifting business landscape.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. ix
First Day	p. 1
Getting to Know SMA	p. 13
First Interlude: The Lords of Leadercraft	p. 35
Financials and Trust	p. 41
Transparency	p. 57
Second Interlude: A Leader of Men	p. 71
Reunion	p. 73
The Board of Directors	p. 85
Getting Great Performance from People	p. 101
Third Interlude: Your Lineup Is a Mess!	p. 119
Rallying the Team	p. 123
Restructuring the Board	p. 137
Consulting with a Peer	p. 151
Implementation	p. 163
Test Drive	p. 177
The Agony of Defeat	p. 189
Wildcard	p. 201
Bluebirds Fly In	p. 217
Fourth Interlude: Execute, Execute, Execute	p. 229
Globalization	p. 233
Execution	p. 245
Public Life, Private Life	p. 255
Communicate, Communicate	p. 265
Partnering Risks Realized	p. 273
Fifth Interlude: The Leadership Main Course	p. 283
There Is a Time…	p. 287
Finale: Still Figuring It Out	p. 297
Ways of Using This Book	p. 299
Cast of Main Characters	p. 301
Glossary of Acronyms and Terms	p. 305
Acknowledgments	p. 307
About the Authors	p. 309
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