The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable

by Robert H. Thompson

Drawing on the leadership theories in the management classic The Leadership Challenge , Robert Thompson effortlessly incorporates these ideas into a fable of leadership and growth. Based on a company's three-day offsite meeting, we follow this tale of transition through the eyes of two former rival pharmaceutical companies creating a joint sales strategy. The characters ultimately learn how to adopt the five practises that form the Leadership Challenge : The book also explores the dynamics of a company off-site and addresses the fears and concerns participants may have especially around 360 degree feedback, the key component of the Leadership Challenge model and workshops. For anyone preparing to attend a leadership training off-site, human resource professionals or trainers planning an offsite, leadership developers, program planners, or for professionals looking to hone their leadership skills, this book will be an invaluable resource and a succinct introduction to The Leadership Challenge .

Genres: Leadership, Business

208 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2008

About the author

Like you, leadership expert and business author Robert Thompson has seen the word leadership defined numerous ways over the years. Is it charisma and positive thinking? Pinstripes and red power ties? Decisiveness? Is it all about the situation? Is it meant only for the chosen few who rise to the top? Or, is there a different story?
With over three decades of executive coaching, speaking, and most importantly, real-life, in-the-trenches business experience, his view is radically different.
Robert appreciates, and shares with listeners, that leadership is a moment-to-moment choice and not about title, tenure or position. Leadership is for everyone, everyday. It's how we should live our life.
Robert, sometimes referred to as the “Provocateur” for his ability to stir up a group or as the “People Whisperer” for his coaching skill that brings out the best in people, is known for his practical, street-savvy style; Robert's fusion of real-life stories and his conversational techniques connect with his audience at an intimate, intense and individual level.
The author of the best selling, The Offsite: A Leadership Challenge Fable, Thompson's penetrating conversations have been shared with folks from around the globe including: AT&T, Amgen, Hewlett-Packard, Johnson & Johnson, Lockheed Martin, Qwest, Sony, Sun Microsystems, The Cheesecake Factory, The Gap, Visa and numerous U.S. city, state and federal agencies to name a few.
Robert, a journalist by education and passion, also served as a senior consultant with the U.S. based Tom Peters Company for several years. A founding Master Facilitator of the renowned The Leadership Challenge Workshop™, he continues to work with the best and brightest in the leadership development field.

Reviews

[Kristin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can't say I can recommend this one. I had hopes because it's supposedly a fable built on the five leadership themes of Kouzes and Pozner. However, I thought the themes were weakly interwoven in the storyline. The dramatic "conversion" of the most belligerent character wasn't believable. Plus there's a romantic subplot between two characters that's irrelevant. These are just my humble opinions though!