The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive

A Leadership Fable

By: Patrick Lencioni

Narrated by: Charles Stransky; introduction by Patrick Lencioni

Length: 3 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

As CEO, most everything that Rich O'Connor did had something to do with at least one of the four disciplines on his famed "yellow sheet." Some of the firm's executives joked that he was obsessed with it.

Interestingly, only a handful of people actually knew what was on that sheet, and so it remained something of a mystery. Which was okay with Rich, because no one really needed to understand it, other than him. He certainly never suspected that it would become the blueprint of an employee's plan to destroy the firm.
In this stunning follow-up to his best-selling book, The Five Temptations of a CEO, Patrick Lencioni offers up another leadership fable that's every bit as compelling and illuminating as its predecessor.

This time, Lencioni's focus is on a leader's crucial role in building a healthy organization - an often overlooked but essential element of business life that is the linchpin of sustained success.

Listeners are treated to a story of corporate intrigue as Rich O'Connor, fictional CEO of technology consulting company Telegraph Partners, faces a leadership challenge so great that it threatens to topple his company, his career and everything he holds true about what makes a leader.

In the story's telling, Lencioni deftly helps his readers understand the disarming simplicity and power of creating a healthy organization, and reveals four key disciplines that they can follow to achieve it.

Once again, Lencioni delivers an utterly gripping tale with a powerful and memorable message for all who strive to be extraordinary leaders.

The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive is also available in print from Wiley.

©2002 Patrick Lencioni
(P)2002 Random House Inc.

Critic reviews

"This is a compelling story with a significant message for executives. The lessons here are substantial, and the style of writing is succinct, thorough, and very entertaining." (David S. Pottruck, president and co-CEO, The Charles Schwab Corporation)
"Since implementing these ideas within our company, I've seen morale and productivity increase dramatically. Lencioni encourages us as managers to deal with human issues that are not quickly quantifiable in a spreadsheet or a quarterly report." (Glenn Kiser, vice president and general manager, Skywalker Sound, Lucas Digital LTD.LLC)

Solid, tried and true , all the way thru!

40 years in business and I learn something new every day, even if I knew it Once, or herd it last week, Patrick's ability to communicate the foundational precepts and core principals of success is astounding!

Wow what a mindset shift

This book is the catalyst you've been looking for to shift your life and business from where you are to where you want to be!

Gave me great perspective on my co's exec team

I really enjoyed this book. I found that it built on the ideas in The Five Disfunctions of a Team and would suggested that book before this one. I really like Lencioni's style of using a story to illustrate the point and then finishing up by summarizing them in The Model. I actually found the novel part to be hard to put down!

A must-read for all executives and management

Patrick has put the essence of management into 4 simple concepts that he calls obsessions and weaved them into a very interesting story.

Keys to sustainable success

Key lessons here are so valuable for attracting and keeping high quality management staff and front line employees.

Very insightful

The book starts with a fictional account of two businesses that illustrate the books premise that creating a "healthy" organization is as if not more important than having an "intelligent" organization. The story does a good job of delivering the message and keeping the listener interested. The last hour follows with a detailed explanation of the steps to create a healthy organization, and it is something I will go back and listen to multiple time. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to better understand how executive action/inaction affects how their organization acts/performs .

Good book

Informative and thought provoking. Looking forward to reading more of Patrick Lecioni's books. I have read 3 so far. Next up" temptations of the CEO"

Worth reading multiple times!

I lead two decent sized organizations and one of the biggest issues is getting leadership teams to develop into leaders. This book literally brought tears my eyes several times. It should be required reading material and the MBA programs in the world. Be cohesive, be clear, over communicate, reinforce... the four most simple keys to grasp yet the hardest to implement... thank you Patrick and TG for continuing your work to make teams better!

Wow! Very clear and brings all of his works together.

I really enjoyed this book. It was just as interesting as the others but sums all others up.

Lencioni delivers again

One of my favorite authors- insightful and powerful leadership principles told through a story. Lencioni delivers again.