Limits of Leadership

"The Memo to the CEO" series offers short, practical books from world-class thinkers on the burning issues at the top of executives' agendas. Authored by the foremost experts in the field and published under the Harvard brand, these books are different from traditional books in the business category because they are written in the form of a "memo"and only 100-150 pages in length. Highly readable, engaging, and solutions-oriented, these "memos" provide senior level executives and decision makers with provocative insights and top advice on topics of special urgency pertaining to business, organizations, and organizational life.Timely and authoritative, "Memo to the CEO books" are ideal for time-starved and information-overloaded executives who seek the best advice from the best thinkers. Most senior executives, particularly CEOs, are hired to deal with a specific set of issues for which they are ideally suited - what the authors call Act I. But figuring out how to transition to Act II, when conditions require a new set of skills and capabilities, often creates a "paradox of success" in which talents limit the ability to lead.David and Mark Nadler (yes, they are brothers) have worked behind the scenes with a number of senior executives and CEOs, helping them learn how to succeed in their rookie year and how to make the transition to the next stage.
Here, the Nadlers share their perspective on what works at each stage, where the risks and rewards are, and how to make the transition from Act I to Act II. They will draw on stories from their coaching experiences and also provide some analysis of recent media coverage of CEO turmoil. Although the paradox of success is most pronounced at the CEO level, the authors will make clear the implications of their findings for leaders at all levels.