Good People: The Only Leadership Decision That Really Matters - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 039956215X ISBN 13: 9780399562150

Synopsis

Good people are your organization's most critical asset. But what does it really mean to be good?

Leaders love to say that any company is only as good as its people, but tend to evaluate candidates and employees more by their measurable accomplishments than by their "softer" qualities, like integrity, compassion, and other values. Bestselling author Anthony Tjan is leading a movement to change the way we think about goodness so that we can become better judges of people and create more goodness in ourselves, in others, and in our organizations.

Tjan argues that while competence is necessary, real goodness must also encompass values; a fantastic resume can never compensate for mediocre character. In Good People, he provides a clear language to discuss goodness, redefining it as a lifelong, proactive commitment that, like any skill, can be exercised, honed, and taught. When leaders prioritize goodness in themselves and in others, they can create lasting cultures and tremendous value.

Drawing from his own experiences as an entrepreneur and venture capitalist, Tjan also taps into the wisdom of his relationships and interviews with extraordinary innovators, executives, artists, academics, teachers, and role models from all disciplines and walks of life who embody his vision. The cases and profiles shared include: Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria, who has called for balancing leadership of competency with leadership of character; Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who has never forgotten her roots and shows profound kindness to her staff and clerks; Hollywood talent manager Shep Gordon, who has counseled his clients on the importance of generosity and gratitude; legendary venture capitalist Henry McCance, whose success proves that humbly ceding the spotlight to others makes room for their greatness; and master jazz musician Clark Terry, who devotedly mentored the young, blind pianist Justin Kauflin.

Packed with practical yet often surprising advice, Good People establishes a new language and framework you can use to evaluate, develop, and lead with goodness. Tjan will convince you that there is a hard truth in the "soft stuff" of business, and that choosing and working well with good people is truly the only leadership decision that really matters.

About this title

Review

Good People is the rare book that is both a meditation and a road map. Its advice will help leaders at every level mentor the goodness in others and bring out one's own best self (Daniel H Pink, author of DRIVE and TO SELL IS HUMAN)

Good People lends an insightful look at how leadership and culture based on strong values translate into long-term success (Tony Hsieh, author of DELIVERING HAPPINESS and CEO of Zappos)

An important book reminding us of the need for leadership to move beyond the individual to the culture of an organization (Dominic Barton, worldwide managing director of McKinsey & Company)

Good People not only gives us practical ways to incorporate goodness into our daily lives, it also makes the case for why this is the key to a life of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment (Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO of Thrive Global and founder of THE HUFFINGTON POST)

Good People forces readers to thoughtfully consider the people that make the enterprise....a must read for any lifelong student of leadership (General (ret.) STANLEY McCHRYSTAL, coauthor of TEAM OF TEAMS)

About the Author

Anthony Tjan is an entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and venture investor. He is coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Heart, Smarts, Guts, and Luck and CEO of the Cue Ball Group, a private investment and venture capital firm based in Boston. He is also the chairman and cofounder of the retail service brand MiniLuxe. Prior to joining Cue Ball, he served as senior advisor to the CEO of the Thomson Corporation (now Thomson Reuters) and founded the pioneering Internet advisory group ZEFER. He began his career at McKinsey & Company and served as vice chairman of the Parthenon Group for nearly fifteen years. Tjan holds degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Business School, where he contributes to the Harvard Business Review. He serves on several boards and is a member of the Advisory Council for the MIT Media Lab.

Edition details

• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 039956215X
• ISBN 13: 9780399562150
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304