Put the Moose on the Table: Lessons in Leadership from a Ceo's Journey Through Business and Life - Hardcover

Randall Tobias; Todd Tobias

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0253342392 ISBN 13: 9780253342393

Publisher: Indiana University Press, 2003

Synopsis

This is the book that needed to be written in this time of tribulation for American business.... a must-read."―Norman R. Augustine, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Lockheed Martin Corporation

Aspiring CEOs and leaders of all kinds―as well as anyone depressed at recent revelations of the dark side of American business behavior―should read this book."―Nannerl O. Keohane, President, Duke University

He has accurately described the critical role that character plays in the leadership equation... and in life. This is a superb book."―General Charles C. Krulak (Ret), 31st Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps

Like a moose in the living room, some problems are hard to ignore. Randall Tobias says that whether these problems are in business or in life, it is best to confront them openly and honestly.

Put the Moose on the Table sets forth the ethical lessons Tobias first learned as a youth in Remington, Indiana, which continued to guide his upward trajectory through the business world. Among the topics he discusses are leading by example, dealing with wrenching change, the importance of openness versus secrecy, mentoring, and "the vision thing."

This is an enlightening and hopeful book about succeeding without selling out, turning change to advantage, and confronting difficult issues, told from the point of view of one who has played a significant role in two of the major corporate transformations of our time.

About this title

About the Author

Randall L. Tobias was Chairman, President, and CEO of Eli Lilly and Company until his retirement at the end of 1998, when he was named Chairman Emeritus. Before joining Lilly, he had a distinguished career at AT&T, where he was Vice Chairman in the years following the government-ordered breakup of the company in 1984 and negotiated the first-ever telecommunications deal with China. Still active in corporate and community life, Tobias serves on the boards of a number of major corporations and foundations.

Todd Tobias is President of Table Moose Media, Publisher of Indy Men's Magazine, and Vice President of the Randall L. Tobias Foundation.

Reviews

Tobias spent decades climbing the ladder at Ma Bell, served as vice chairman at AT&T and in 1993 became CEO of the prestigious pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. One of his book's few interesting anecdotes is his recollection of an exchange he had with Charles Brown (AT&T's then-CEO), when Tobias was a mere underling at the company in the early 1980s. Tobias was preparing a presentation, which Brown canceled, since he was finalizing the monumental splitup of AT&T. Although Brown was busy planning the company's reorganization, he found time to send Tobias a gracious note, apologizing for any inconvenience he may have caused Tobias. Tobias was moved by Brown's thoughtfulness and, as he progressed in his career, made attempts to be as forthcoming with his own subordinates. It's a valuable lesson about the importance of treating your workers well. Unfortunately, the rest of the book, which ostensibly offers lessons on how to communicate effectively and always deal with the problems at hand (keeping "the moose on the table," as it were), is an uninformative mishmash of autobiography and unimaginative "Lessons on Leadership" (e.g., "Leaders almost always think out of the box"; "Keep learning"; "In business as in life, one thing is absolutely inevitable-continuous change"). Tobias has had an esteemed career and has undoubtedly been a good boss (Lilly is justifiably well-known for its benevolent attitude toward employees), but his book fails to engage. Photos.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0253342392
• ISBN 13: 9780253342393
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 304