You Can't Lead With Your Feet On the Desk: Building Relationships, Breaking Down Barriers, and Delivering Profits

by Edwin D. Fuller

"You can't lead with your feet on the desk . . . or your brain on hold. Ed Fuller brings experience, intelligence, and heart to this inspiring guide to building relationships and the good things that follow when you do.?The message is delivered in an engaging style that keeps you entertained and leaves you with lasting wisdom."—MICHAEL V. DRAKE, MD, Chancellor, University of California, Irvine

"The world of tourism, hospitality, and hotels has become a very global, complex, and diverse industry. No one knows this better than Ed Fuller. In this thoughtfully written text, Ed is speaking to business students, managers, and executives of all industries through his rich experience in the global hotel industry. We have found many great examples within these pages of how we can conduct business better, and I would suggest that they are not only relevant in the United States but throughout the world."—ANDREW H. FEINSTEIN, James A. Collins Distinguished Chair and Dean, The Collins College of Hospitality Management, Cal Poly Pomona

"The World Travel & Tourism Council services six continents. Ed's book will empower you to apply many of the principles that we employ globally, whether it's in Denver, Dubai, or Düsseldorf. These principles will give you a competitive edge in your markets immediately."—JEAN-CLAUDE BAUMGARTEN, President, World Travel & Tourism Council

"Ed Fuller's generous layers of personal experiences and his crisp narrative make his stern message easy to understand. Take my advice, read his book before you take another plane on a foreign business trip. It will change the way you behave."—GEOFFREY KENT, founder and Executive Chairman, Abercrombie & Kent

"Let me tell you what Ed's book isn't: it's not a primer on how to shake hands or fold your napkin in another country. It's an incredibly rich insight into leadership through well-earned personal relationships and experiences that American business executives need to embrace to succeed in the global economy."—ROGER DOW, President and CEO, U.S. Travel Association

"Ed's book gives the student, manager, and executive practical experience in dealing with unique situations, new relationships, and creative problem-solving approaches that are broadly applicable in the business world, no matter where you live or whom you deal with. The insights will prove valuable to your personal growth."—ANDY POLICANO, Dean, The Paul Merage School of Business, University of California, Irvine

208 pages, Hardcover

First published March 31, 2010

Reviews

[Alberto Tebaldi · Rating 2 out of 5]

congrats to the author for his career but I will never fully understand people taking their job extremely seriously lol

[Badr البدر · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice, easy to read book based on the hands on experience of seasoned international leader in the hospitality industry. The author relates some anecdotes from his past and builds a theme around them basically on the importance of understanding different cultures and investing in building and maintaining relationships. He the also attempts to draw parallels to other industries.

I have found powerful personal lessons and stories to reenforce what common sense dictates on todays leaders but ofter overlooked. However the stories about the other business and sports leaders seemed more of repetition and a filler compared to the authors personal stories.

[Breia · Rating 2 out of 5]

To begin, I do not being told what to read but as a returning student in continuing education, this was on the "must read" list.

Why? Sure, it is a nice story about Fuller's career and some of his travels and experiences are interesting but I did not learn anything from this in the fashion in which I need to learn about the title of the class - Empowering Teams.

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Easy read, but not quite what I was expecting. Majority of the anecdotes were about the author's time with Mariott. Some of the chapter topics will be elementary for those already deep in a higher education or diversity-focused environment, but will be applicable to several career fields.

[My Business · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by Jochen Mayer.
Great story-based teachings on how to lead by example.
Outlines the importance of cultural education and understanding.
Promote from within.