The CEO Next Door

By: Tahl Raz, Kim R. Powell, Elena L. Botelho

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 8 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's Summary

New York Times and Wall Street Journal best seller

Winner of CMI Management Book of the Year 2019

Based on an in-depth analysis of over 2,600 leaders drawn from a database of more than 17,000 CEOs and C-suite executives, as well 13,000 hours of interviews, and two decades of experience advising CEOs and executive boards, Elena L. Botelho and Kim R. Powell overturn the myths about what it takes to get to the top and succeed.

Their groundbreaking research was the featured cover story in the May-June 2017 issue of Harvard Business Review. It reveals the common attributes and counterintuitive choices that set apart successful CEOs - lessons that we can apply to our own careers.

Much of what we hear about who gets to the top, and how, is wrong. Those who become chief executives set their sights on the C-suite at an early age. In fact, over 70 percent of the CEOs didn't have designs on the corner office until later in their careers. You must graduate from an elite college. In fact, only seven percent of CEOs in the dataset are Ivy League graduates - and eight percent didn't graduate from college at all. To become a CEO you need a flawless résumé. The reality: 45 percent of CEO candidates had at least one major career blowup.

What those who reach the top do share are four key behaviors that anyone can master: they are decisive; they are reliable, delivering what they promised when the promise it, without exception; they adapt boldly, and they engage with stakeholders without shying away from conflict.

Based on this breakthrough study of the most successful people in business, Botelho and Powell offer career advice for everyone who aspires to get ahead. Based on research insights illustrated by real life stories from CEOs and boardrooms, they tell us how to:

• Fast-track our career by deploying the career catapults used by those who get to the top quickly.
• Overcome the hidden handicaps to getting the job we want.
• Avoid the five hazards that most commonly derail those promoted into a new role.

For everyone who aspires to rise up through the organization and achieve their full potential, The CEO Next Door is an essential guide.

©2018 G.H. Smart & Company, Inc. (P)2018 Random House Audio

You don’t have to want to be CEO to read this book

The CEO Next Door was one I thought I’d struggle with but as one of my #leaderbox titles I had to commit to it. Once I got past the title and the first 50 pages I found a wealth of information from understanding what it takes to be a successful leader to identifying the keys to acing high profile interviews and efficient networking. This is a book for anyone who aspires to climb to the next wrung of their career even if you don’t intend on being CEO.

3 people found this helpful

The real deal

Absolutely read this. Don’t ask why, just trust me. THIS is information that will actually change your life if you listen & apply. NO ITS NOT going to turn you into a CEO - it more about how to be a LEADER in aspects of your career that I bet will hurl you above your current management staff. This book is for those of us brave enough to make it happen! I’m buying my bosses all a copy of this. It’s incredible & this is my subtle way of simultaneously all of them- YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG & I told you so! While also leading the pack within my own department. READ IT

2 people found this helpful

Wow, just wow.

I found this inspiring, challenging, balanced, instructive, and most of all, hopeful. I realized when reading the story of one of the CEOs highlighted here--whom I personally worked with as he was ascending--that the work done to prepare this valuable advice was learned in the trenches. It is a well grounded and candid work that I surely wished I had available to my career long before today. Please read the book deeply and keep as a reference for the road ahead.

1 person found this helpful

My strategy on this book

Coming to you from a 4th grader drop out.

Read first Think and Grow Rich
Then read The CEO Next Door
The read any of the CEO's personal journey book, Like Starbucks CEO's book ONWARD.

Here is what I am saying. First read the book that tells you who the winners could be on the "Think and Grow Rich of 1938" then read about all the people who did something that was mentioned in First book and now on The CEO Next Door and they read any CEO you admire like the starbucks CEO's book ONWARD or any other.

You will get the point after you read or listen to these three books in depth for 3 times to sink in.

I am a changed man today then I was before these 3 books.

Good

It helped inspire some basic changes to help get myself aligned with the top performers in this space.

Okay book

Listen to this book in x1.25 so you won’t fall asleep
Alot of it stories and examples repeated in many chapters

Excellent Read and Excellent Lessons

I was captivated by this book. Very transparent; constructive feedback. Felt like the author held a mirror up to me so that I could see areas for improvement in my perception and perspective. Loved it.

Every chapter is meaningful and applicable

Fascinating information, backed up by some serious analysis, qualitative and quantitative. Findings are supported by real-life scenarios. Great insight for anyone with ambition to succeed at any level. Awesome.

Great Insights and Action Plans

I really enjoyed this book. They shared their research in a relatable way. They outlined the four characteristics they found for successful CEOs. While I'm not interested in that role, it gave me good tips for how to elevate my leadership skills. I'll definitely read this again.

Great read for all levels of leaders!

Great read! Excellent advice for seasoned leaders as well as those striving to grow and develop their skills.