The Secrets of CEOs
Author: Steve Tappin and Andrew Cave
Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing
Price pounds: 18.00
Rating 3/5
This book is a mixed bag. The format - exclusive interviews with some of the UK's leading CEOs (GlaxoSmithKline, Imperial Tobacco, EasyJet et al) - is enticing. But the end product is a little hit-and-miss.
There were some great chapters - particularly the one about the current credit crunch, which is required reading. Also on the mark was a chapter analysing most CEOs' perceptions of HR, a topic I found very challenging, because it provided hints on the way we should develop our careers.
But there were also many things that detracted from the whole. The authors chose what they thought were the five most important business topics, but to me the choice seemed slightly random as many of these issues have been around for some time. They also characterised all 150 CEOs as five 'types' - including 'commercial executors' and 'commercial ambassadors' - but again, there was no rationale behind it, and I thought the characterisations rather dated. It was what the CEOs themselves had to say that was most interesting. Some of their statements about business were thought-provoking, and many of their comments I didn't agree with.
Despite all this, you learn what makes these CEOs tick, which is vital information for people in jobs like ours. It shows just how diverse those in the top jobs are, and their views about what they wanted from HR were both challenging and comforting. The main message appeared to be that CEOs want an HR function that is commercial in outlook, but just as interesting was the view that many CEOs still say senior HR people are not commercially-minded enough.
Is this book worth buying? Despite some clangers - such as the debate around the 'war for talent' (we've had this for the past 10 years, it's hardly new) - it's worth a look. No book is ever life-changing for me, but I would recommend it to my senior HR colleagues, and would urge you to do the same.
