You're in charge! Now what?
2/9/2004
In The Accidental Leader, authors Harvey Robbins and Michael Finley offer a practical guide to Leadership 101 that is geared toward people who quickly and without warning have to assume the role. (Just as Tom Brady, a sixth-round draft pick, assumed the position of quarterback for the New England Patriots after starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe was injured—and led his team to Super Bowl victory in 2002.) The book has tips on a variety of problems, from coming to terms with your new position to rising above turf wars among co-workers. The most important ingredient emphasized here, however, is knowledge. Knowing your leadership style, employer, and team is the key to success. Harvey Robbins is a psychologist, business consultant, trainer, and author. Michael Finley is an author and journalist. Both authors wrote Why Teams Don't Work, winner of the Financial Times/Booz Allen & Hamilton Global Business Award in 1995.—Sara Grant