Beyond Ambition

Arguing that excessive drive is derailing too many talented managers, "Beyond Ambition" shows how managers on the corporate fast track can shift into an "inner fifth gear" that enables them to perform at peak effectiveness without burning out or alienating the people whose loyalty and support are essential to their success - including their families. Based on an intensive six-year study of 40 senior executives whose drive to excel was actually damaging their performance, this book shows how - by committing to develop managers' character and not just their skills - organizations can help executives break through personal barriers to managerial excellence. The authors offer ways that managers can recognize and work toward changing personality traits that are undermining their effectiveness, such as perfectionism, impatience, or the need to overcontrol. The book presents in-depth case studies of executives who have made profound personal changes, illustrated by interviews with their co-workers, spouses, and children.