The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive: A Leadership Fable

This is actually a good example of business advice writing in that the author develops the four concepts in the context of a story that can keep the reader's attention and at a length that allows the book to be read on a weekend morning or on a plane flight/layover. However, as sensible as the advice may appear, especially regarding matters of hiring for the right cultural fit, the idea of hiring based upon those criteria still appears to be as arbitrary as anything else proposed, which is a troubling prospect given how many careers are in the balance.

The author uses a parable or a fictional story to illustrate four key principles that separate extraordinary executives from the rest of the pack. I thought the story was very interesting and the characters were real and well developed. The story demonstrates the issues caused by failing to practice the obsessions and helps you remember them too.

The obsessions are classic, but not ordinary or ones that I have found in other leadership books. When listening to this audiobook, the issues covered were very much on my mind as my employer experienced some of the same problems as the characters in the story experienced. I've listened to this book about 3 times now and really enjoy it.

The four obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive once again provide some great insight on simple concepts that are profoundly thought-provoking. I really enjoy Lencioni's style and hope to build more of his principles into my own life.

In the world of business, the Aesop of our time is Patrick Lencioni. In the second of Lencioni's seven (to date) business fables, The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive (Jossey-Bass, 2000), the storyline follows two rivals in the technology consulting field: Rich O’Connor, who appears to sail lightly over the rough waters of competition, and Vince Green, forever trailing in his wake, who is desperate to overtake him by any means necessary.

What is Rich's secret? That's what Vince would like to know. As far as he can tell, they are evenly matched, but he is perennially second best in his market. Sometimes his frustration just about makes him crazy.

In fact Rich has weathered his own crisis--and come out stronger. One night show more when stress has driven him right to the brink, Rich has an epiphany. Running a company, staying on top of developments in a rapidly burgeoning field, and trying to lead something like a normal family life in the few remaining hours of the week have just about burnt him out. He is on the verge of giving up. In his dark night of despair, he asks himself the pivotal question: “What is the one thing I do that really matters to the firm?”

The answers that emerge from Rich's soul-searching are brief enough to fit on one side of a sheet of yellow ruled paper and comprehensive enough to turn his working life around.

Read the entire review in Peer to Peer, the magazine of the International Legal Technology Association. show less