The Life Cycle of a CEO Format: Hardback

"A groundbreaking exploration of corporate leadership that challenges conventional wisdom."  - Hubert Joly, former CEO of Best Buy

Being appointed CEO is seen by many as the pinnacle of success in business, but it is actually the first step in a journey of evolving stages requiring ongoing personal reinvention. In an unprecedented study of the individual performance of every twenty-first-century CEO of the S&P 500, combined with over 100 in-depth interviews of CEOs and board directors, Claudius A. Hildebrand and Robert J. Stark discovered the CEO Life Cycle, a series of five stages: launch, calibration, reinvention, complacency trap, and legacy. Each presents distinctive headwinds and tailwinds that require leaders to develop the fresh skills and strategies needed to thrive.

Successful CEOs are often portrayed as fully formed heroes endowed with exceptional leadership traits. Hildebrand and Stark break through the mythology to provide unique understanding, explaining how outstanding leaders surmount predictable challenges and develop the mental fortitude, emotional resilience, and self-awareness required to keep adapting.

Invaluable not only for CEOs to take their game to the next level of high performance but also for executives who envision themselves in the role, The Life Cycle of a CEO provides the unvarnished truth about what it takes to be a successful CEO.

 

Claudius A. Hildebrand, PhD, coaches and advises CEOs and future leaders to thrive and outperform in their roles. He leads Spencer Stuart’s CEO Performance Analytics and is a regular contributor to Harvard Business Review. His work on mindsets and social networks was awarded “Best Article” by the Academy of Management.

Robert J. Stark is a trusted advisor and coach to CEOs and boards. He helps CEOs outperform and CEO aspirants prepare for the role, and guides boards through value-creating CEO transitions. His insights appear frequently in business publications including Harvard Business Review.