The Corner Office by Adam Bryant

We are always curious to know what makes someone successful. Is it hard work? Is it about IQ or EQ? There is a never ending debate on whether leaders are born or made.If you read The Corner Office by Adam Bryant, you will have the perspective of 70 CEOs from a range of companies from the behemoths to relatively smaller boutique firms. Microsoft to Zappos to Zynga to the Gates Foundation are all covered.Adam Bryant  conducts interviews with CEOs for Corner Office, a weekly feature about leadership and management in the Sunday Business section and on nytimes.com that he started in March 2009. This book culls out those nuggets of leadership. The book talks about 5 qualities that he saw the leaders share in common.

1. Passionate Curiosity: These leaders have the uncanny ability to ask big-picture questions. They wonder why things work the way they do and whether those things can be improved upon. It is this intellectual curiosity that makes them see connections that others don't. They may not know the most about a subject when they start off, but they surely know how to filter this information from the noise. They are lifelong learners. their skill lies in not knowing all the answers, but in being able to ask the right questions. Tip for us: Ask three questions often. Why do you do that? How come it’s done this way? Is there a better way?
2. Battle Hardened Confidence: Translated in simple terms it would mean the ability to thrive even in adversity. How soon can you pick yourself up after experiencing failure. Does that mean that if you fail often enough, it is a sign that you are CEO material? Ummm... no. It is more about how you react AFTEr you have failed. Do you take accountability or do you look around to see, who you can pin the failure on? Do you tend to blame failures on factors you cannot control, or do you believe you have the ability to shape events and circumstances by making the most of what you can control? If you have this quality, you are happy to take up any challenge coming your way. It is Achievement Motivation at its best.
3. Team Smarts: I have to say that this section was the weak link in the book. Maybe because there is so much written that extols the virtues of teamwork that most of the stuff sounds mundane. In this case Adam is talking about emotional intelligence. But it is also about their ability to identify and nurture talent. "Team smarts" is also about having good “peripheral vision” for sensing how people react to one another, not just how they act. As one of the CEOs said, "I need people who are going to be able to build a team, manage a team, recruit well and work well with their peers. The people who truly succeed in business are the ones who actually have figured out how to mobilize people who are not their direct reports.”
4. A Simple Mindset: A famous poet once said that you should be able to describe any work of fiction in one single sentence that should tell the audience who is the story about. What happens to this person. What is the end state? The successful people seem to have a way of clearing up the clutter of data and information that most people get overwhelmed with. They can translate their ideas in simple easy-to-understand language. What is the big idea that is nesting inside the tedious PowerPoint presentation? They will often quickly get what is the Point of the PowerPoint? Information is available in plenty. The successful CEOs value the ability to connect the dots and on the ability to synthesize maybe with simple, smart questions. That is what helps them to describe a compelling vision. They can put the most complex idea in a single line. The next time you present an idea, try presenting the conclusion first. I am serious.
5. Fearlessness: This is about the leader's ability to be comfortable dealing with ambiguity. The leaders are able to handle the complexity that is a by product of lack of definitiveness in the environment. How would you know if you have this? Ask if you are willing to make unconventional career moves to learn new skills? They’re looking for calculated and informed risk-taking, but mostly they want people to do things — and not just what they’re told to do. They like to try out things even there is no need to. Many executives said fearlessness was one of the top qualities they’re looking for when they were interviewing job candidates.

The book is divided into three sections: Succeeding, Managing and Leading.The five traits are a part of the section called Succeeding.  I liked the section on Managing.  It gives you what CEOs have learnt about time management, running meetings, how to interview, finding time to think etc. If these CEOs get more work done than you or me, it is because they make the most of their 24 hours. They structure it differently and are frugal about how they spend time. The section also shares the approach different leaders take to coaching their team mates.I always find that when someone says that they do not have time to read, it is a sign that they have got to a role that they are not adequately ready for. It is about having a curious mind. Remember that bit about passionate curiosity? I wish there was a section on the kind of reading the CEOs do. Then again, maybe that is a tough one because at any given point of time they maybe reading multiple books. There may be books that have all time inspirational value or a book that has shaped their philosophy about leading. That would be a nice list to know of.Adam was the lead editor of a series on the dangers of distracted driving that won a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting. This book steers us right through the views of seventy CEOs with no distractions. This book is a well written book. It tells you very clearly that there are multiple approaches that lead to success. The book boils down the wisdom in simple easy to understand chapters.It is an easy read. Then think about it. There is lots there for you to think about. Go read it first.Overall rating: A============Rating Scale:A+: Don't tell me you haven't read THIS book...A : You must read this book. You must.B+ : If you are bored then pick it up. You will find useful stuff.B : If you must read something... anything... then read this. Or you could sleep some more.----------------Read Adam Bryants column for nytimes.com <click here>