Suzanne Bates pools together her vast experience as a TV anchor and reporter of 20 years to provide insights to awaken the powerful leadership quality inside all of us in her latest, Discover Your CEO Brand. It is not a run-of-the-mill self-help guide to transform oneself into a leader, influence people and move ahead; rather, it is a set of do’s and don’ts to groom and extend your intrinsic personality to widen the sphere of influence and institute changes that benefit the company and the people in it.
The book opens with the words of Abraham Lincoln — “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing”. This sets the tone for the entire book by clearly defining the personal “brand” and describing ways to leverage it to benefit your organisation. This book is not just for CEOs, but for just about anybody who is a leader in any walk of life. Expanding the definition thus enables the author to adroitly weave in fascinating stories and anecdotes of famous CEOs and celebrities ranging from the inimitable Steve Jobs to the NBA star Shaquille O’Neal to drive home the impact a strong and authentic personal brand can have on your career and on your organisation. Throughout out the book, there is a consistent emphasis on “authenticity” as a tool to discover your personal brand, leverage your brand to build relationships, make breakthroughs in a new organisation, and project an image of transparency, which fosters trust and helps you during difficult times. The book also has plenty of actionable advice and useful checklists that help you make personal choices that burnish your reputation and tackle crises. The author’s pedigree as an inspiring coach and storyteller really shines through here.
The book is written in an easy-to-read language with concise structure. It is divided into short impactful chapters, each of which ends with a helpful summary. The book also contains a number of do-it-yourself exercises which are highly recommended by the author who asks you to ‘Invest in the self-discovery. Make it real for you’. These engaging activities greatly enhance the reading experience and often reveal startling revelations about oneself. The book adeptly marries practical business skills with insights into self-discovery, which make it a powerful read for anybody who wants to be a successful leader.
— shishir1037@iimtrichy.ac.in