The Accidental CEO: Interview
An Inspirational Leadership Book Created for CEOs & Entrepreneurs.
© Joe Lam
Tom Voccola discusses how his book can inspire leadership in CEOs, keep employees engaged, and effectively transform the world of corporate management.
“No one goes to work to do a bad job.” - from The Accidental CEO - A Leader’s Journey from Ego to Purpose.
Suite101: Tom, can you tell me the idea behind this fascinating business book?
Tom: That something important is missing at work. Have you ever wondered why - with all of our Ph.D.s, MBAs, Best Practices, Business Gurus, Management Consultants and Advanced Technology - 74% of our managers report being disengaged in the workplace? The Accidental CEO reveals the missing link between wanting an extraordinary organization and creating one. The missing link I point to is Passion and Purpose. It is missing at every level in the majority of organizations, because it's missing in the leader.
We are so busy reacting to the outside world that we have forgotten what’s really important. The idea behind the book is that self aware, passionate people make better, more powerful decisions that are less susceptible to the whims of the market. This type of leadership can inspire and engage people with ease, elegance and authority. The book deals with how to fully engage people without the drama usually associated with management. There is no need, for example, to “fire the bottom 10% every year.” You cannot scare people into being engaged. You can only inspire them.
Suite101: What compelled you to write it?
Tom: There is no training to be a CEO, in fact, 95% report getting the job by accident. And when 95% of our leaders receive no training in CEOing, it’s no coincidence that 75% of our managers report being disengaged or that 95% of all businesses fail in a 10-year period. An organization is always a reflection of the leader, and so it is not the disengaged manager or employee that causes a dysfunctional organization, it is, in fact, the CEO that has no idea of how to be effective at CEOing.
Being a great engineer, accountant or salesperson does not prepare you to manage or lead people. No one is talking about this. Smart and hardworking does not always make a good leader. We assume because someone is an entrepreneur or business owner that they know how to lead. I wanted to give leaders an alternative to the management myth driving organizations today.
While I have hundreds of stories, let me give you just one. One CEO told of going from “an extraordinary programmer to incompetent CEO in less than 24 hours. And the funny thing is; everyone treats me like I know what I’m doing – like the title alone would somehow give me what I needed to be a CEO. I’m talking investors as well as my employees here.”
Suite101: What can people learn from reading it?
Tom: You can learn how to challenge people in a way that will have them feel appreciated and responsible for the outcome. In short, The Accidental CEO shows you exactly how to become an authentic leader in your own right, and how to build the culture that will take the hill for you every time.
Suite101: How do you hope corporations and businesses will change as a result of your writing?
Tom: Business is about people, working with people, making stuff for people. The road to corporate growth and sustainability is by engaging employees in a vision of the future that the employee and customer see as worthy. No one goes to work to do a bad job, yet no one gets excited about shareholder value either. There needs to be something else. There need to be purpose and passion. Engaged employees create engaging organizations. There is a very simple formula for finding yourself and engaging people in the book.
Suite101: What kind of feedback have you received from your readers?
Tom: One of my favorite reviews on Amazon.com is from a guy named Jim Russell. Jim, it turns out, is the creator of National Public Radio’s Marketplace. I suspect Mr. Russell knows something of business. Here was he said about the book: “I’m not big on motivational therapy, but this is one of the most compelling, authentic, honest business books I've ever read. It grabs you where you live -- you see and hear yourself in the struggle, and more importantly, in the victories of this book. Do yourself a favor -- believe that YOU can do this too.” I can live with that!
For more info about the book visit: www.TheAccidentalCEO.com
