Customer Reviews

CEO Material: How to Be a Leader in Any Organization

5 star:		(17)
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This book from Debra Benton, the New York Times Best Seller author, does a fascinating job of telling us what a CEO is supposed to be, and what is meant by leadership.

Debra is the premier world class executive coach and educator who has created a monumental and real basis to judge CEOs. Her trademark extensive research and intensive fact finding interviews with CEOs and others, insight, and clear and easy to understand writing has made a masterpiece that out does her own previous work.

In my opinion, we are all CEOs of our own lives, therefore CEOs of our work and career. This book helps us regardless of where we stand in the corporate organization charts. It shows us the way up in clear and concise steps. This book empowers us to understand what it is to be a CEO and how to lead at any level of the organization.

You do not have to be a CEO to benefit from this book. This book is written for all of us who are working.

In view of all the negative images of CEOs broadcast in media in 2008-2009, this is a timely and productive insight to tell us what is right and what is not right. It helps CEOs understand and implement highest levels of integrity and profitability as two interdependent processes and procedures.

In fact, the entire media is telling us what a CEO and leadership at any level of organization is not supposed to be. This book single-handedly tells us how to be an outstanding CEO, and more importantly, how to lead. As a senior management consultant in Silicon Valley, CA I found the material in this book to be the authoritative confidence builder that many CEOs, leaders, management, and workers have been looking for to find better success in the work place.

Debra has a real gift for taking a complex topic and turning it into both an entertaining and yet personally challenging adventure. There is much here from her earlier work but with a slightly different twist, including lots of challenges like "If you choose to... (because it is your choice)" and solid, tested, and trusted recommendations in nearly every paragraph.

One of the greatest lessons is that each of us must take charge of life or life will take charge of us. Debra Benton once again delivers the primer on the knowledge and practical steps one must take to be in charge of one's own career and its success. CEO Material not only is for CEOs and those in the making, but for everyone who wants professional and personal success. And, at heart, every person wants to be his or her level best. Benton has written another indispensable book for grasping how to move ahead, differentiate yourself, and happily lead.

If all you did was read the chapter headings, you would gain much of the wisdom of the ages when it comes to working with others. I believe that the simple, elegant writing and stories will resonate with people in ALL facets of their life.

I have made Debra's other books suggested reading for years. This book is the best one yet, and I will be getting a copy for each of my management team. No longer suggested, this will be required reading.

Debra Benton has taken the complex issue of how to become an organizational leader and boiled it down to sixteen key behaviors that separate the leaders in an organization from the masses. For each behavior she ensures the reader has a good understanding of what their actions should include by outlining a "What Does It Look Like?" section. The entire book is also peppered with quotes from the senior most organizational leaders that allow the reader to gain learnings from the top. This book is easy to read, understand, and apply - highly recommended for anyone looking for advice on continuing to build their leadership skills!

Debra Benton provides the right material to create and improve your leadership skills regardless of what position you hold in your organization. You will find practical and useful information on how to become a better leader. Also, this is a must read for any parent who wants to develop their childern's leadership skills.

CEO Material: How to Be a Leader in Any Organization

Debra Benton has done it again! "CEO Material: How to Be a Leader in Any Organization" provides a wealth of valuable insights that will help any person in any business role improve their professional reputation and leadership skills.

"CEO Material" is well organized and each chapter includes helpful hints, key messages and lots of CEO quotes from many industries and points of view. Debra delivers insightful and down-to-earth advice that has helped me better understand how people really consider, evaluate and rate the potential of their business associates.

Debra's writing style is direct, personal, and easy to read. Once I started the first chapter I just couldn't put the book down! I've marked SO MANY pages for future reference that I know this will be a book I keep on my desktop to ensure I focus on what is really important in my day-to-day business activities.

I strongly recommend this book for both new and seasoned professionals. This is a must-have book for business people seeking to improve their leadership effectiveness and for pro-actively driving their career toward CEO. Thanks Debra for creating and sharing this practical leadership guide.

I was given an advance copy of this book by my boss to read. Usually, I am not a huge fan of these kinds of books. However, this book is different so I decided to purchase it. Debra Benton describes the practices and attitudes of many of today's leaders. As a recent graduate who is new to the working world, I have already had some success incorporating her suggestions into my daily routine. These practices have not gone unnoticed by my superiors and colleagues who now to turn to me when they need something done.

While it will take me years to master, I recommend this book for anyone who is looking to succeed as a leader in business or any other setting. In college and graduate school I was a member of and ran a number of organizations. While reading this book, I recognized a number of the principles discussed from my own experiences. In retrospect, I realize how I could have done things differently and better by incorporating many of her other ideas. This book is a great resource containing a wealth of knowledge for anyone who is looking to improve their leadership skills.

As an interesting side note, on a few occasions I have had the pleasure of talking on the phone with Debra Benton. It is clear that she lives the ideas and practices that she writes. After reading her book, I have noticed so do many of the successful people I respect.

This is a good book for general knowledge on how to be promoted and getting to the top.

The author has somewhat of a quirky but effective writing style. Almost all the suggestions are based on anecdotal evidence and personal experiences. You will not find any scientific studies in this book. Yet, I have found many of the author's suggestions to be very insightful and occasionally eye-opening. The book is also an interesting read and does a good job of keeping the reader constantly stimulated.

Some of the more useful suggestions in this book are:

1)Be a generalist and not just a specialist. Be good and have experiences in multiple disciplines. If you want to rise to the top, you do not want to be pigeon-holed as a specialist in only one area and not good at much else.

2)There are no shortage of able bodies for top level CEO positions. Good undergrad, blue chip company background, and a top-tier MBA are just for starters. One almost must have steady career progression (promotion every 2.5 years or so) and a solid track record of leadership and improving the organizational bottom line.

3)One must be willing to take risks and occasionally fail. No risk taking means no big rewards or even gaining valuable experiences.

4)One must strive for constant personal and professional improvement through gathering 360 feedback. Continuous improvement requires constant feedback, analysis, and learning.

5)Your appearance matters and you always want to look and act like a CEO.

I recommend this book.

Anyone who wishes to become a CEO someday or is currently a CEO of his/her company (startups or small business) will find the book beneficial and should be a part of his/her library. This book can serve as your mentor. In addition, it will help you determine what makes a good CEO or employee of a company. It can also serve as a personal evaluation tool for your own benefit.

FINLION