Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

HR practiceLeadership

Leading in Turbulent Times

by Personnel Today 3 Feb 2010
by Personnel Today 3 Feb 2010

Author: Kevin Kelly and Gary E. Hayes
ISBN: 0273727532


This book sets out its stall early on – there’s a hefty quotation from early 20th century US president Theodore Roosevelt before you so much as reach the contents page. But don’t let that put you off. And try not to be too dismayed by the ‘too clever for their own good’ section headings: ‘The perfect chair’, ‘Nimble giants’ and ‘Feeling good, doing good, having fun’ spring to mind.


You’ll pick up this book, and before you start reading, you’ll be impressed by its structure. Just seeing that the authors have split the content into bite-sized chunks will make you more likely to read it. As will the paragraph-long chapter summaries – how often do you see those?


So we know it’s a well put together offering. But what about the content? It’s based on a series of interviews with business leaders, and the first thing you’ll notice is that the authors are evidently well connected. They’ve spoken to everyone from the chief executive of McDonald’s to the chairman of M&S. Look at the dust jacket, and you’ll see why their address books are so valuable. Kelly is chief executive of global search firm Heidrick and Struggles, while Hayes is managing partner and co-founder of human capital consultancy Hayes Brunswick and Partners. But they use their contacts well.


I liked the introduction – rather than the usual dedications, the authors used it to explain the aim of the book, and the concept of turbulence in a business context.


While there are some facts and figures, mainly in the form of research findings or survey results, the book really is what its authors say it is – a series of interviews with the great and the good of the business community. And unlike many books of its kind, this one really does deliver from a global viewpoint – the insights of Japanese, Korean and Indian chief executives were especially interesting.


Whether you enjoy it will depend very much on how much you like this style of book. I doubt anyone will sit down and read it from cover, but if you are a fan of business books, you may well want to dip into it from time to time. The clear structure will make that easier, while the recommended reading at the end of each chapter may be the beginning of a more in-depth look at a particular topic.


Reviewed by Tara Craig

Avatar
Personnel Today

previous post
Slip, trip and fall accidents at work caused 40 deaths in 2008-09
next post
My best and worst decisions: Huw Davies, HR director, Aliaxis UK

You may also like

Lego leader lands top spot for AI in...

22 Sep 2023

What does it mean to be an HR...

22 Sep 2023

Lloyds of London boss urges greater return to...

7 Sep 2023

Bank holidays: six things employers need to know

25 Aug 2023

How to avoid fads in HR

18 Aug 2023

Business leaders must face up to new HR...

17 Aug 2023

Amazon joins Google in demanding more office attendance

11 Aug 2023

In real life – how relationships can unlock...

8 Aug 2023

Kemi Badenoch: ‘confused HR colleagues’ misunderstand Equality Act

31 Jul 2023

The state of employee engagement 2023 (survey)

5 Jul 2023

  • Discover the value of CIPD accreditation PROMOTED | See how the CIPD can increase your earning potential...Read more
  • What does it mean to be an HR professional in 2024? (survey) PROMOTED | The world of HR is changing rapidly...Read more
  • The Contractor Management Mastery Pack: Everything you need to manage and pay global contractors PROMOTED | Answers to cross-border...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2023

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+