Sonnenfeld (management practice, Yale U.) and Ward (management, U. of Georgia) examine how CEOs and other prominent leaders recovered after career disasters, and the particular barriers they faced having to do with society, corporate culture, departure causes, and psychological stresses. The authors also describe resilience in all aspects of life, noting studies of post-traumatic stress response, belonging, self-esteem, and purpose, and describing elements of recovery. Leaders such as Donald Trump, Martha Stewart, Bernie Marcus, and John Mack are contrasted with those who never regained their roles, like Carly Fiorina, George Fisher, John Sculley, and Richard Ferris. Also discussed are individuals in entertainment, sports, and other industries. Some information was drawn from interviews, case studies, and surveys of CEOs and recruiters. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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Is it possible to rescue your career and restore your reputation after a major professional setback? In an age when we're bombarded with press accounts of disgraced CEOs, politicians, and celebrities, this question is more important than ever. In Firing Back, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Andrew Ward lay out a novel five-step recovery process: "Fight, not flight" (face the difficult situation), "Recruit others into battle" (enlist the right assistance), "Rebuild heroic stature" (spread the true nature of the adversity), "Prove your mettle" (regain trust and credibility), and "Rediscover the heroic mission" (clear the past and chart the future). Anchored in original research and decades of scholarly studies across fields, this book is packed with engrossing stories and first-hand accounts from humbled CEOs and executives from firms as esteemed as GE, The Home Depot, Morgan Stanley, Apple, Staples, and Hewlett-Packard. Firing Back offers a clear plan for any businessperson who needs to recover from career setbacks and reclaim lost prestige and reputation. The authors also identify common barriers to recovery that even seasoned executives can fall prey to, and explain how to surmount them.
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