Summary: Better Under Pressure: Justin Menkes, a partner with executive search firm Stern Stuart, discusses the research and experience that underlie his recent Harvard Business Review Press book, “Better Under Pressure: How Great Leaders Bring Out the Best of Themselves and Others.” Drawing on in-depth interviews with sixty CEOs from an array of industries and performance data from two hundred other leaders, Justin shows that great executives strive relentlessly to maximize their own potential—as well as stoke their people’s innate thirst for their own triumphs. To do so, they draw on a set of three essential and rare attributes: (1) Realistic optimism: They recognize the risks threatening their organization’s survival—and their own failings—while remaining confident in their ability to have an impact. (2) Subservience to purpose: They dedicate themselves to pursuing a noble cause and win their team’s commitment to that cause. (3) Finding order in chaos: They find clarity amid the many variables affecting their business by culling data and forming the conclusions that matter most to the company. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: A pdf transcript of this episode is available (or will be made available shortly) for download at robertgbarnwell.com. In addition, listeners are invited to explore the many executive briefings, whitepapers, case studies and other information and tools available (no registration required) at robertgbarnwell.com. FEEDBACK: Listeners are encouraged to leave positive feedback on iTunes and other podcast directories. If you have additional comments, suggestions for improvement, or specific guests you’d like to see appear on CEO Talk Radio, please call our toll-free number at (800) 673-0313 or write our host and producer, Robert G. Barnwell, directly at Robert@robertgbarnwell.com. FYI: Listener feedback MAY be replayed or cited on future episodes. CONSULTING SERVICES: On a limited basis and subject to availability, professor Barnwell is pleased to work with the senior leadership of companies undergoing significant strategic or enterprise-wide change. Clients are typically multi-national corporations or the large subsidiaries of such companies with revenues in excess of $250.0 million. If you would like to learn more about Professor Barnwell and his services, please visit robertgbarnwell.com or email Robert directly at Robert@robertgbarnwell.com.
