What’s Holding You Back?

About the Author

Robert J. Herbold is a renowned author and the managing director of the Herbold Group, LLC, a consulting business focused on profitability and strategic and operational issues. He has a rich history in the corporate world, having served as the executive vice president and chief operating officer of Microsoft Corp. His extensive experience in high-stakes management roles has provided him with deep insights into leadership and organizational dynamics. Herbold is also known for his other works, The Fiefdom Syndrome and Seduced by Success. His writings focus on the practicalities of leadership and the psychological barriers that prevent effective decision-making in corporate environments.

Main Idea

In What's Holding You Back? 10 Bold Steps That Define Gutsy Leaders, Robert J. Herbold addresses the critical need for courage in management. He argues that many managers, despite knowing the right course of action, often hesitate due to fears of unpopularity, uncertainty, or failure. This book serves as a guide for leaders to confront these fears head-on and make bold decisions that drive organizational success. Herbold delineates ten core principles that underpin courageous leadership, providing a roadmap for managers to foster operational excellence and innovation.

Table of Contents

1. Devise a Demanding Game Plan to Confront Reality
2. Staff for Success
3. Clean Up the Sloppiness
4. Institutionalize Tight-Fisted Cost Control
5. Insist on Functional Excellence
6. Create a Culture of Innovation
7. Demand Accountability and Decisiveness; Avoid Consensus
8. Exploit Inflection Points
9. Value Ideas from Anywhere
10. Shake Up the Organization

Devise a Demanding Game Plan to Confront Reality

Being a leader is exhilarating because it offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on an organization's efficiency and effectiveness. However, effective leadership requires devising a demanding game plan that confronts reality head-on. This involves creating an aggressive, clear vision, selecting the right strategies to fulfill that vision, and defining measures of success.

Fear of Change

Most people within an organization fear change. A strong leader, however, does not let this fear stand in the way. Instead, they alleviate these fears by demonstrating the substantial opportunities for improvement. Good leaders create a sense of urgency, especially when things aren't going well. They implement focused and demanding game plans to achieve significant improvement.

Three Essentials for a Clear Direction

1. A clear vision with impact: Leaders need to articulate a vision that is both ambitious and attainable.
2. Aggressive strategies: These strategies should be bold enough to challenge the status quo and drive significant progress.
3. Defined measures of success: Clear metrics are crucial for tracking progress and ensuring accountability.

Addressing Weak Performance

Strong leaders address weak performance proactively. This involves: