Executive Warfare
Pick Your Battles and Live to Get Promoted Another Day
By: David F. D'Alessandro
Published: Aug 22, 2008
ISBN: 9780071544238
Format: Hardcover, 288pp
Publisher: McGraw-Hill
It's not just that the pyramid narrows and the competition toughens as you rise, it's that the game changes fundamentally, writes David F. D'Alessandro in his powerhouse management skills book Executive Warfare: Pick Your Battles and Live to Get Promoted Another Day. As former Chairman and CEO of John Hancock Financial Services, David D'Alessandro describes from personal experience, the real no holds barred competitive world of reaching the top rungs of the corporate ladder, and how to survive the ascent.
David D'Alessandro recognizes that at the upper echelons of corporate life, being good at producing results is not enough to rise higher on the ladder. Instead, talent and productivity are expected, and other less obvious skills come into play. The author points out that at some point in an executive's career, the rules of the game make a sudden change. A new set of unwritten rules govern the executive's rise or stagnation, and David D'Alessandro teaches his readers those new challenges.
David D'Alessandro (photo left) doesn't advocate playing devious office politics. He considers underhanded actions to be counterproductive and their discovery can stall or derail the office politician's career entirely. The author warns against naive acceptance of everything at face value, and recommends making alliances with others. At the same time, he points out that some former bosses and peers may not be compatible with an executive's new status in the corner office. Occasionally, hard ball tactics may be essential for self defence and personal survival on the executive track.
What really happens in the quest for the top positions, in organizations of all types, makes for fascinating and enjoyable reading. With humour and a keen eye for human nature and motivations, the author creates a must read book for anyone seeking the highest offices in business, non-profit associations, or academia. In the quest for the top jobs, many mistakes are made by the countless seekers. The final candidates are often selected from those who merely survived what can sometimes be almost open office warfare. The game is not for the faint of heart, but for those with the courage of conviction to stay true to their principles, while guarding against those who possess fewer scruples.
For me, the power of the book was its honest appraisal of the corporate landscape, and how to navigate its many obstacles. David D'Alessandro shares his real world experience, including the mistakes he made along the way. Those admissions add to the valuable advice he provides for those who strive to lead their organizations in the future. He points out that the hidden game is not played the same way in all organizations, but the rules of the game remain the same. Knowledge is power, and this book provides the information to succeed in the boardroom.
I highly recommend Executive Warfare: Pick Your Battles and Live to Get Promoted Another Day by David F. D'Alessandro to anyone who plans on achieving a top leadership role in any organization. The advice contained in this book is essential reading for all would be top management people.
Read Executive Warfare: Pick Your Battles and Live to Get Promoted Another Day by David F. D'Alessandro, and learn how to navigate the high stakes office and boardroom promotion game successfully.
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