Table Of ContentADDITIONAL ADVANCE ACCLAIM FOR
THE CEO NEXT DOOR
“Based on extensive data from 17,000 assessments and field-tested experiences,
Botelho and Powell provide a compelling and concise road map to help you
identify and develop your executive talent.”
—Randall Stephenson, chairman and CEO of AT&T
“Botelho and Powell have brought big data and analytics to one of the critical
bastions of business: the individuals who make it to the corner office. Their
insights into business leadership have the promise to be a game-changer for
companies, leaders, and everyone who aspires to get ahead.”
—Thales Teixeira, associate professor, Harvard Business School
“A first-rate guide for aspiring CEOs as well as those who have already moved
into the top spot. Botelho and Powell’s compelling research and real-life stories
provide a practical road map to leadership and career success that readers can
apply in any setting.”
—Art Collins, retired chairman and CEO of Medtronic, Inc.
“Botelho and Powell challenge conventional wisdom to deliver the most useful
and credible book on career success I’ve seen in years! The CEO Next Door
offers a rare view behind the scenes on how leaders get picked for coveted roles
and how they really succeed and fail….Refreshingly candid and deeply
researched. Whether you aspire to a CEO role or are just starting out your career,
The CEO Next Door will raise your odds of success and protect you from painful
stumbles.”
—Jacqueline Reses, Capital Lead and People Lead of Square, Inc.
“CEOs come from different backgrounds in terms of economic status, education,
family, gender, race, color, country of origin, and sexual orientation. The
majority of them do an adequate job, some of them perform exceptionally well,
and a few are utter failures. Everyone has a unique story of their journey to get
to this destination. So what differentiates the top performers from mediocre
performers and the laggards? This seminal work by Elena Botelho and Kim
Powell does an outstanding job of identifying habits and traits of superstars
versus those of average performers. The frequent references to real situations
and real people make the book even more credible. The book ends on the
optimistic note that everyone in any leadership position with determination and
drive can master the skills. A must-read for those who aspire to make a
difference.”
—Raj L. Gupta, chairman of Delphi Automotive PLC and Avantor, Inc., and
board member of Arconic, Inc., Vanguard Group, and IRI
“The CEO Next Door contributes much-needed research and data to a subject
long dominated by anecdote and conjecture. Your probability of success will rise
substantially when you put these insights into action—whether you aspire to be a
CEO or simply want to reach your full potential professionally, or you are
charged with developing and selecting the next generation leaders as a board
member or a CHRO.”
— L. Kevin Cox, CHRO of the American Express Company
“With a ‘Moneyball’ approach to leadership, The CEO Next Door uncovers four
well-researched CEO behaviors and shows the path to get to the top and stay
there. A must-read for aspiring leaders, CEOs, board members, and anyone
responsible for grooming future leaders.”
—Jim Donald, former CEO of Starbucks and Extended Stay Hotels
“A clear, practical guide on how to run any company, large or small. It’s not
about credentials, breeding, looks, experience, or resources but about how one
makes decisions, adapts to change, shows empathy, and collects information.
The CEO Next Door explodes the myths behind what it takes to get to the top
and provides what works, regardless of gender or background. Eye-opening and
operational.”
—Stuart Diamond, serial entrepreneur, author of the New York Times bestseller
Getting More: How to Be a More Persuasive Person in Work and Life, and
professor, Wharton Business School
“What an invaluable book. With colorful stories and interviews, and solid, in-
depth data to back up its points, The CEO Next Door is the next must-read for
business leaders of all types!”
—Susan Packard, cofounder of HGTV, author, and media executive
“The CEO Next Door is required reading for anyone who aspires to the C-suite
and wants to thrive there. The analytics-driven insights in the book uncover traits
of effective leaders that anyone can develop.”
—Jim Goodnight, CEO of SAS
“Being a CEO is not about background or good fortune but about performance
and hard work based on decisiveness, impact, reliability, and adapting boldly,
which sets the stage for any future or current CEO. I enjoyed every page of this
book. A must-read for all those who care deeply about leading well.”
—Vicki Escarra, former CMO of Delta Air Lines and CEO of Feeding America
and Opportunity International
“This book should be read and studied by all CEOs, aspiring CEOs, and board
members. It contains a wealth of practical experience for those leading
organizations of all sizes, both businesses and nonprofits.”
—Patrick W. Gross, cofounder of American Management Systems, Inc.
contents
SECTION I
Get Strong: Master the CEO Genome Behaviors
chapter 1 Unlocking the Secrets of the CEO Genome
What Makes a Great CEO?
Could It Be You?
Research Approach
chapter 2 Decide: Speed Over Precision
Make Decisions Faster
Make Fewer Decisions
Get Better Every Time
chapter 3 Engage for Impact: Orchestrate Stakeholders to Drive Results
Lead with Intent
Understand the Players
Build Your Relationships Through Routines
chapter 4 Relentless Reliability: Deliver Consistently
Discover the Thrill of Personal Consistency
Set Realistic Expectations
Stand Up and Be Counted On
Adopt the Drills of Highly Reliable Organizations
chapter 5 Adapt Boldly: Ride the Discomfort of the Unknown
Let Go of the Past
Build an Antenna for the Future
Adding It All Up
SECTION II
Get to the Top: Win Your Dream Job
chapter 6 Career Catapults: Fast-Track Your Future
Launching Your Career to the Top
Career Catapult #1: The Big Leap
Career Catapult #2: The Big Mess
Career Catapult #3: Go Small to Go Big
Blowups: Curse or Crucible?
chapter 7 Stand Out: How to Become Known
Visibility with the Right People
Visibility in the Right Way
chapter 8 Close the Deal
Become the Happy Warrior
Safety of Language
Memorable and Relevant
Set the Agenda
The Four Archetypes: Are You a Match to the Role?
SECTION III
Get Results: Navigate the Challenges of the Role
chapter 9 The Five Hidden Hazards at the Top
Hazard #1: The Ghouls in the Supply Closet
Hazard #2: Entering Warp Speed
Hazard #3: Amplification and the Permanent Spotlight
Hazard #4: It’s a Smartphone, Not a Calculator
Hazard #5: The C-Suite Is a Psychological Thunder
Dome
chapter 10 Not Just Any Team—Your Team
The Inaugural Address
The Six “Safe” People Bets That Put You in Peril
Draft the Right Team Quickly
Build Your New Language
chapter 11 Dancing with the Titans—the Board
Who Is Really in Charge?
The Best Questions No One Asks Their Board Members
From Lunch Function to Functional
How to Deliver Bad News
Make It Count
epilogue From Ordinary to Extraordinary
acknowledgments
endnotes
about the authors
To Mamulech, Baba Valya, Liolia, and Murochka—for testament that impossible
is nothing.
To my number one fan. And to AJN for everything.
