"...ultimatelythis book is not really about six famous leaders who derailed. It is about you.And me. And anyone who ever decided to accept a position of leadership."-PatrickLencioni, writer of foreword for Derailed, author The Five Dysfunctionsof a Team
"Thisis not just a book for CEOs. It is for anyone who serves in a leadershipcapacity-pastors, teachers, government officials, and even mid-level managersin corporations. Not only is this a book you should read; in my opinion, it's abook you can't afford not to read. There is simply too much atstake."
-Michael Hyatt, CEO, Thomas Nelson
Whatcauses a leader to fail? What can we learn from those who have fallen? How dowe avoid failure of our own?
Theseare just a few of the questions answered in Derailed: 5 Lessons Learned fromCatastrophic Failures of Leadership, a book for leaders and aspiringleaders of all levels by Tim Irwin, Ph.D. Derailed chronicles thecollapse of six high-profile CEOs, the factors that drove their downfalls, andthe lessons that we can learn to stay on track and avoid derailing our ownlives and careers.
Thestory of the fallen CEO has become a cultural fixture: veering off course withthe force of a train careening off its tracks, leaving fiery wreckage anddevastating injury throughout the organization. These executives are often thesmartest and most respected individuals in their industries, with glitteringresumes and histories of successful leadership. Yet they astonish us by drivingthe train dramatically off course, blinded by unchecked power and arrogance.
Dr.Tim Irwin believes that these leaders suffer from failures of character thatare common to each of us--even the most capable individuals. Deficits inauthenticity, humility, self-management, and courage become more dangerous aswe take on more leadership, and can cause us to ignore glaring signals thatmight otherwise save us from catastrophic demise. Derailed profiles thecollapse of six high-profile CEOs (Robert Nardelli - Home Depot, Carly Fiorina- HP, Durk Jager - Proctor and Gamble, Steven Heyer - Starwood Hotels, FrankRaines - Fannie Mae, Dick Fuld - Lehman Brothers) and the factors that drovetheir downfalls, finding that derailment actually happens long before the crashand can be avoided. Derailed explains the character qualities that areessential for successful leadership and how to cultivate them so that we canavoid being derailed.
