Comeback

Most would agree with Martin Puris that although we all know leadership when we see it, it has proven practically impossible to analyze, define, or teach. Nonetheless, countless "experts " have devised systems to describe types of leadership and characteristics of good leaders - still no theory has held up to time and reality. Unfortunately, however, we are living and doing business in a time when rapid political, cultural, and technological changes have left everyone feeling rudderless. Thus, the requirement for leadership and the compass of its vision has never been more critical.Comeback speaks to that requirement by completely avoiding any theoretical pronouncements on the hows and whys of leadership and, instead, presents well-crafted, intimate portraits of world-class business leaders in action. Because the reader’s view is not obscured by any analysis or interpretation on the part of the author, he or she can actually see (in most instances in the leader’s own words) how leaders actually think and work.The real-life examples in Comeback are compelling for several reasons. First, the CEOs profiled come from disparate backgrounds and their personalities, management styles, and businesses cover an entire spectrum. Thus, we come to understand that leadership is not about pouring oneself into some kind of cookie-cutter leadership mold. Second, all the companies examined were in code-blue crisis. In this kind of situation, leadership, or the lack of it, stands out in bold relief so that the nuances are magnified for all to see. And third, despite their many differences, all nine CEOs were successful because they all doggedly pursued the truth, shared that truth up and down their organizations, and showed respect for the intelligence and worth of all their employees. In other words, we come to understand that there are no tricks to consistent success.