Excerpts of Questions with Lee Thayer: #1 Why Did You Write Your Book on Leadership?

Well, first of all, I’d like to remind readers that my work in life is not being a book-writing guru. I have devoted most of my working life over the last 4 1/2 decades to being "in the trenches” with the CEOs who have asked for my help in making a high-performance organization. We partner in this common cause, and do—often invent—what is necessary to make it happen.

This is a messy process. No two projects are the same. This makes it a bit difficult to write a book about “how to do it” in six or nine easy steps, like many of the books published in the last couple of decades. So I wrote this book to share with those CEOs (who are really, really interested) in what it takes to make it happen, and the accomplishments required along the way.

It all depends on who they are. And that depends on how they think. Therefore, most of the first half of the book is given over to just that: How you need to think if you want to undertake such a difficult and perilous adventure? Of course, I also wanted to know if such a book could be written.

I wrote several versions of the book over a period of fifteen years. The one offered via this blog and my publisher's website, is not perfect. From my point of view, my work is always a work in progress. So, also, is the book. I learn every day.

If I set out to write Leadership today, it would be different because I am different. But, I'm told it’s a good, reliable guide as it is.

Comments

[Steve Roesler]

Lee, you absolutely touched my mind and heart with your description of inventing things as you go along, no two projects are the same, and the learning just keeps happening.

I've been asked in the past why I haven't written a book on Leadership after 30 years of consulting and and 10 years in the trenches before that. The fact of the matter is, I couldn't come up with a credible "formula"; my experience did not bear that out and I refused to create one to make a buck.

Recently I've begun putting together the snippets collected over the years. Your post has encouraged me to simply lay things out in the way that life actually unfolds and continue to focus people on the wisdom shown in consistent, underlying principles vs. checklists.

Here's wishing you and your clients an even deeper experience as a result of the path taken.

[Michael McKinney]

Lee, thanks for the reference. A mindset of continual learning is foundational. I’ve added you to the list on my blog so I can check-in more often.

[Jayne Proesel]

I like your response to the not very creative interview question.

For me, the most interesting and useful part of your book is the the "how you need to think..." first section. Most books tell you what to think instead of challenging you to think. While not CEOs (as yet anyway) my graduate students find it relevant, thought provoking and very challenging (especially the MBA students "what do you mean there isn't a right answer"?) The result is sometimes spirited and usually interesting discussions, and, I believe, effective learning for all of us.

Jayne Proesel
Webster University
Academic Advisor, Faculty Coordinator
Patrick AFB, FL