The 52nd Floor: Thinking Deeply About Leadership
(Five stars)A must read for those who want a new approach to fine business leadership.--Midwest Book Review(July 8, 2009)Thinking Deeply About Leadership is a perfect subtitle for this book.Why? Because as you read and get actively involved with the process which Levy, Parco, and Blass have created, youwill think deeply about what leadership means to you. This book on leadership is all about you and your leadership point of view, not about the authors and their leadership point of view. Wow! What a learning opportunity.--Ken Blanchard, Legendary Co-Author of  The One Minute Manager&Leading at a Higher LevelWhether in the locker room or the board room, on the field or in the office, leaders constantly influence behavior. This book is ideal for anyone who has ever wondered about what it means to lead. Levy, Parco, and Blass, have given us much to think about – their book is a winner!--Coach Bobby Bowden, College Football Hall of FameLeadership is certainly a subject that requires deep thinking because it determines success or failure in every human endeavor.The 52nd Flooris a non-traditonal approach that provides the reader with a unique glimpse into leadership. A must read for those serious about developing as effective leaders.Bill Looney, General (ret.), U.S. Air ForceAn absolutely fascinating look into leadership. Levy, Parco and Blass have fully grasped the entire picture and spectrum of leadership that has taken me a lifetime to discern. This book will make you think .--Michael J.C. Roth, President Emeritus, USAA Investment Management CompanyIt takes courage and imagination to write such a book. I can only hope that more will follow. I like the way the questions have been posed, how myths have been shattered, and the emphasis on thinking deeply rather than repeating trivialities. Very well done.--Amnon Rapoport, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Management, University of California-RiversideThe 52nd Floorprovides an extraordinarily fresh and mentally stimulating look at the development of great leadership skills. This book will challenge many old business school paradigms and will stretch your imagination. It offers wonderful insight into new vistas of effective leadership. Combining theory, practical experience and exciting new science,The 52nd Floortakes you on a journey into what great leadership will look like in the future. This is a home run!--E. Lee Rice, D.O., Chief Executive Officer, Lifewellness InstituteBravo! The authors have written a brilliant and wholly unique leadership book! The inclusiveness and participatory nature of the book will inspire anyone who is interested in management. Once you get started, you won't be able to put it down!--Robert N. Mishev, McKinsey & Co.Finally, a leadership book that will actually improve one's leadership!The 52nd Floorsees leadership as a journey, a practice what real people do in real time to create practical value right now. Here is a natural and realistic practice that we can take to make our leadership journeys successful.--James R. Barker, PhD., Editor,Management Communication QuarterlyA wonderfully refreshing book that provokes thinking, reflection and the insight needed to design a meaningful, creative, leadership path.--Frank J. Prochaska, Ph.D., Author ofMetamind: Think and LeadThe book is a very good read -- and different. I've read many leadership books.The 52nd Floorprofoundly changes the discussion in a way that practical leaders can relate.--Ronald A. Poussard, Senior Executive ServiceIf you are serious about leadership,The 52nd Floordeserves your time. Don’t rush the reading. Savor the experience.--Linda Hillmer, CEO and President, CorpComm Inc.I readThe 52nd Floorand I think these authors have a winner on their hands. This book has the power to transform emerging leaders today into more thoughtful, ethical leaders in the future. It is a must read for anyone looking around at how the world has changed in the last six months and looking to grow as stronger leaders in the future. The creative writing style is reminiscent of another favorite book of mine,The Goalby Dr. Eliyau Goldratt.--Patrick Murphy, Senior Vice President, INGWhen I lead large change efforts, I like to tell the organization's leadership that in order to enact their current change initiative, they need to put a sticky on their bathroom mirror that readsWhat am I doing for change today?Then I mention that they need to read that sticky every morning, everyday, while they brush their teeth, for about the next five years. It looks like Dave, Jim, and Fred have created the perfect sticky note.Ken Stoltman, DRS Technologies, Inc.Over the years, I’ve learned that people at every level of experience and responsibility learn about leadership best from stories which resonate with their own life. The stories in this book are engaging in themselves, but even more importantly they cohere so that taken together the stories become a powerful and useful perspective on good leadership practice. The book’s a gem!--Rich Hughes, Ph.D., Senior author of best-selling textbook:Leadership: Enhancing the Lessons of ExperienceThe authors take readers on a powerful journey of critical thinking exercises that builds tools for successful decision-making. Every chapter of this book offers metaphors for leaders that pull away the crutches that too many people have been relying on. I would recommendThe 52nd Floorfor leaders of leaders who want to increase the adaptive capacity of their organization.--Kerry Plemmons, Clinical Professor, Institute for Leadership and Organizational Behavior, University of Denver>This book really made me sit back and reflect on my leadership style and on those that work with and around me. There will be many that will learn from this book (I did) and become better leaders if they apply some of the lessons.--Randy Spetman, Director of Athletics, Florida State UniversityI foundThe 52nd Floorto be provocative and challenging while at once elegant in it s simplicity. Take a scenario and think deeply about the leadership implications! It sounds simple, but the drill-down exercise allows the reader to go deeper and deeper into theso whatof the equation on a level rarely achieved by other authors. As a chief of police, I am using their book and concepts in developing leaders within my organization. Their book is already a well-worn addition to my library!--Rick Brandt, Supervisory InstituteFor those who truly care about leading well, there is always a struggle to find the balance within ourselves.How do I communicate effectively and with ease? How do I encourage the best in those around me and also deliver the best in myself? How do I deal with my own self-doubt?What Levy, Parco and Blass achieve here is to make this journey deeply insightful and also fun. It s a must read for those who embrace the challenge to lead in today’s world.Dan Oates, Chief, Aurora Police DepartmentCompelling, practical, and straight-to-the-point real world stories that challenge leaders to ask the right--and tough--questions. A must read in these challenging times when leadership matters most!--Keith Kennedy, Chief Investment Officer, General Electric Healthcare Financial ServicesMost of the entries in the perpetual parade of leadership books have, in some way, shape, or form, tried to explain what is, and who will be, a good leader. Conspicuously and refreshingly different is Levy, Parco, and Blass’s new book.The 52nd Floorimplies that leadership represents the artistic brushstrokes framed by the contextual canvas. Transmitted quite interestingly through anecdote, story, and metaphor, this book is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise rather stale leadership literature.--Gerald R. Ferris and Pamela L. Perrewé, Authors ofPolitical Skill at Work: Impact on Work EffectivenessThe difference between ordinary and extraordinary leaders is a refined ability to see deep within themselves and those they lead. Any leader who is committed to life-long learning simply has to read this book--it is unlike any other.--Wendy Wallace, McKinsey & Co.As I began my journey intoThe 52nd Floor, I was immediately struck by the preface and the following:Great leaders are those who have a refined ability to adapt to change'and'Increasing your adaptive capacity is what we aim to do with this book.'Fantastic! Life really is about change and our response to it. Change is a constant, but our response is not. Leaders responses are dynamic and morphing constantly. There are no Newtonian Laws commensurate with our response to change. Therefore, in my mind, success is tied to those possessing the awareness of self in response to the dynamics of change. This is precisely why the study of leadership will never end. It is a study more of self than rules, checklists, catch phrases, etc. Quite frankly, this book has been a tremendously enlightening read. I have not read a book on leadership that turns the focus primarily onto the leader by way of introspection! The unique methodology and approach to leadership have been refreshing and truly useful.--Calvin Ball, Washington DC--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.