Business consultants continue to pump out scores of "how to" books at a record pace these days. In many cases, these books are used as door openers to establish credibility with senior executives who might hire them to fix problems or enhance specific areas of their business.
Over the years, a number of authors like Jim Collins (“Good to Great”), Stephen Covey (“Seven Habits of a Highly Effective Person”) and Clayton Christensen (“Innovator's Dilemma”) have delivered game changing ideas, processes and new paradigm shifts in the way we look at managing and building business.
Maybe it's just me, but lately I've noticed that we're seeing a glutton of consultant books that simply reinforce principles that are nothing new, are redundant and state the obvious.
Not to pick on one author, but last week I read some of the book “True North”, authored by Bill George. I picked up the book because his thesis seemed very interesting and non-conventional. It focuses on how the soul of leadership cannot be taught. Instead leaders are shaped by personal crisis and other life experiences. So, I started to read...
What emerged were a few heart warming examples of how successful CEOs like Howard Schultz and Ann Mulcahy overcame great odds and tragic upbringings to persevere and become who they are today. That's great.
But, the guiding principles and rationale behind George's prescription for success has been told countless times:
* Leaders whose goal is the quest for power over others, maximizing wealth or becoming famous are certain to ultimately fail.
* The key to success is to realize that the game isn't about "I," but rather about "we," meaning the team.
* The role of the CEO isn't to get others to just follow him, but to empower others to lead.
And, the list goes on. It seems that Mr. George is providing us with his real life experiences as a successful CEO, which is valuable. I just wish that those thousands of consultants who are now writing their next "best selling" business book would first truly analyze how their content is unique and could offer true value to readers, before we comb the shelves of those bookstores hoping to be enlightened.
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