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Success Requires Instinct |
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by Laurie Winslow
The Tulsa World
7/12/2007 |
Authors Examine Business Leadership Skills in New Book
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To reach the top of their professions, Pattye Moore and Scott Aylward relied on gut instincts as much as anything.
In their newly released book, "Confessions from the Corner Office: 15 Instincts That Will Help You Get There," the two former corporate presidents outline seven "attitude instincts" and "eight performance instincts" gleaned during their 50 years of combined work experience.
Moore said she hopes that when people read the book they walk away with the idea that "leading from the heart is as important, maybe more important, than just leading by the numbers -- that business is personal. Leadership is about leading people, and that by it's very nature is personal."
Moore, former president of Sonic Corp., met Aylward in the mid-1990s when Sonic's new ad agency, Barkley Evergreen and Partners, hired him to head up the Sonic account.
The two spent several years working closely to help build the Sonic brand and discovered that they shared similar leadership philosophies and instincts.
Those instincts led to impressive growth in their careers -- each went on to be named president of their respective company.
Moore and Aylward left their positions to start Instincts LLC, a consulting firm that helps up-and-coming executives develop as leaders.
In their book, the authors share personal struggles and business insights with humor.
Initially, they didn't think the odds of finding a publisher were good, and that they would have to self-publish, Moore said. But they owed it to themselves to at least try.
After some rejections, they sent their proposal to John Wiley & Sons Inc., which publishes a lot of business books. Within a couple of weeks they received a call from the senior editor.
The book highlights the importance of finding a corporate soul mate, having the confidence to admit mistakes and to ask others for help, sharing the spotlight and being prepared to work long hours.
One chapter focuses on the importance of having a passionate love affair with the office. Becoming passionate about something starts by being curious, Moore said.
"You can develop a passion," she said. "What really concerns me, though, are the up-and-coming leaders I see -- the managers who just want the title. They just want to be promoted.
"They don't care what industry they're in. . . . They don't have the passion that creates the care and concern."
Another chapter extols the value of listening.
"It's such an important trait," Moore said. "Both of us have observed, the higher up you go, you tend to lose that ability to listen."
Moore said she loves technology but also thinks that its prevalence today is creating a generation of people who are too busy multitasking and responding to instant messages to listen.
She encourages young employees to speak up in meetings or ask questions -- something she wishes she had learned at an early age.
Often, newly hired college graduates don't think they have anything to contribute. The reality is that they have a lot to contribute, Moore said, noting that they bring fresh viewpoints.
"Just by asking questions, it will spark ideas with other people," she said.
Are You Passionate About Your Work?
In their new book, “Confessions from the Corner Office: 15 Instincts That Will Help You Get There,” authors Pattye Moore and Scott Aylward talk about several business instincts that can help propel people to the top of their profession.
At the end of each chapter, they include questions and steps to help people hone their business instincts.
Here is a sample.
Five questions to ask to see if you have the instinct of being in love with the office.
- Do you refer to it as a career versus a job?
- Would you ever move to another city to advance your career?
- Do you read business books in your spare time instead of novels?
- Are you obsessed by the thought of breaking some new ground at your company?
- Do you listen to those above you intently and take in both the good and the bad?
If you answered yes to all these questions, you’re in love with the office and on your way up. If not, give yourself a chance to fall in love by taking some steps, which are further outlined in the book. A book signing is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. July 19 at Steve’s Sundry Books & Magazines, 2612 S. Harvard Ave.
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