Big Shoes

Near the end of Sander Flaum's remarkable little leadership primer, he reveals one of the constant, but seldom acknowledged, problems with books written by leaders about leadership. Written by a group of people notoriously lacking in introspection, and done through a rear-view mirror that should read "warning: images and egos appear larger than actual size," the aspiring leader often gets a warm and fuzzy rendering of the leader as likeable, motivational coach.

Flaum, who has had an enormously successful career in advertising and marketing in the pharmaceutical industry and who heads the Leadership Forum at Fordham University's Graduate School of Business, makes BIG SHOES come alive by telling us the truth about leadership, warts and all. Leadership really isn't for everyone, Flaum reminds us and quotes journalist Lucy Kellerman's observations, "You need to have a huge amount of personal ambition to climb the ladder; you will work so hard and so intensely that you will have little time or energy for anything else; you will have an inordinate amount of attention placed on you; and the overwhelming likelihood is that your stay at the top will end in failure."

Sort of peels some of the paint off that corner office, doesn't it?

Actually Flaum, who with his son Jonathan wrote the New York Times best-selling book on generational variations in leadership, The 100-Mile Walk, is devoted to the concept of leadership as a way of life, not just a position. But it's tough and all-consuming, and starts before your first day on the job.

Among the many merits of Flaum's book, in fact, is his willingness to descend a couple of rungs on the leadership ladder and tell us what to expect the day the new leader arrives, the first hundred days on the job (forget that "honeymoon"), how to convince your board and superiors that you are worthy of their trust and large salary, and how to deal with some of the great leadership conundrums. You are, for example, supposed to build a team, gain respect from your employees, then fire a few of them from time to time (it has to do with the eighty-twenty rule, and it's not designed to make you popular).

BIG SHOES is a highly practical book that deserves more than just a place on your bookshelf. It's a handbook that you might want to stick in your pocket as you climb the leadership ladder.

"Starting a new job in today's economic climate is a lot like stepping into the front lines of a war zone", writes CEO of Flaum Partners and leadership expert Sander A. Flaum, in his practical and very timely book Big Shoes: How Successful Leaders Grow into New Roles. The author shares career management advice and wisdom, for the rising stars in their organizations, who find themselves thrust into leadership roles.

Sander Flaum understands that the turmoil of the current uncertain economy places executives under greater scrutiny. As a result, companies are seeking innovative new leaders with vision and integrity. The author serves as a guide and mentor to these new leaders, and shares his wisdom for achieving success, while maintaining a balanced work and home life. For Sander Flaum, the first 100 days in a new leadership role are critical for the success of a rising star executive. The author shares timeless ideas for creating early successes, that create a pattern of success, that helps build a dedicated and engaged staff. At the same time, Sander Flaum recommends changing organizational thinking from the imposing of artificial deadlines to that of creating and delivering the best possible products and services to the marketplace.

Sander A. Flaum (photo left) recognizes that many pitfalls await the unwary new leader, and he provides some sage advice for making those first 100 days stand out within the company. Failure to make a strong and positive first impression on shareholders and company superiors can derail a promising career. Getting to know the staff and developing key personnel, while providing both vision and focus, will establish a strong team for future success. The author suggests branding oneself as an innovator, who achieves results. As a mentor, Sander Flaum reminds the new leader that multi-tasking, failure to maintain focus, and a lack of innovative thinking can harm productivity and the teams. The author also advises the new executive to live a balanced life between work and home as all people need a rest for their mind, body, and spirit.

For me, the power of the book is how Sander Flaum shares timeless wisdom in a new and relevant way for today's business environment. Sander Flaum shares his lifelong experience in an easy to read format that turns the book from theory to practical guidebook for constant referral. The author takes the unusual, but highly effective approach to mentoring leaders, of placing the material in chronological order. On the surface, it might seem trivial but in fact turns the easy to read book into an even more powerful management tool. Sander Flaum starts by giving advice to the new leader, from the first day of the critical 100 day honeymoon period, in the new role. He continues his advice as the rising star builds a strong team and establishes a track record of innovation and success. The author then continues mentoring and guiding the leader throughout a successful career.

I highly recommend the essential guide for rising stars Big Shoes: How Successful Leaders Grow into New Roles by Sander Flaum, to anyone seeking sage and timeless advice for becoming successful in a new leadership role. As many executives find themselves pushed into new positions, through upheavals in companies, in entire industries, and in the overall economy, the need for innovative leaders with integrity has never been more important. The author shares his experience with these rising company stars when they need it most.

Read the timeless and insightful book Big Shoes: How Successful Leaders Grow into New Roles by Sander Flaum, and turn those first 100 days into a springboard for future success. The reader will learn the crucial steps toward becoming the innovative and change driven leader who will meet the challenges of today and tomorrow with integrity, vision, and a balanced life.

In today’s volatile economic environment, the strategies offered in Big Shoes are more relevant than ever. The advice for finding success with a new company, with a new department, and in constantly changing market conditions is as timely as it is timeless.

Sander A. Flaum, the CEO of Flaum Partners and former chairman of the Euro RSCG Becker advertising agency, has a proven track record as a leader and corporate executive. He was named Man of the Year in the healthcare marketing industry in 2002.

Big Shoes is based on Flaum’s personal leadership philosophy and lessons learned from experience. It is intended to be a short playbook on succeeding in the role of a leader. Chapters follow the order of the leadership cycle, from the initial few months on the job, to engaging and motivating staff, growing the business and staying ahead of the competition, and finally, to succession planning

Flaum, who co-authored The 100-Mile Walk, urges new leaders to make the most of their first 100 days in their new position. He cites as an example the changes President Obama implemented during his first few weeks in office. He tells leaders to do their homework and to “hit the ground running,” so that they can demonstrate tangible results to increasingly impatient stakeholders. “In today’s economy, if you haven’t done something, you’ve done nothing,” he writes. “So even while you’re formulating and executing your long-term plans…you should be striving for ‘early wins’ on the job.” Although the book doesn’t present any new ideas for business, it hits its mark by targeting the areas that will help leaders succeed in the current business environment.

After surviving a decade of flagrant corporate greed, Flaum encourages leaders to apply their efforts to making their business and the world a better place. He relates numerous examples of leaders making a positive contribution. For example, former J.P. Morgan executive Jeff Flug quit his job and co-founded Millennium Promise, a non-profit group that helps Malawi villagers avoid famine and develop medical facilities. The book references other successful executives, including Jack Welch of GE, Meg Whitman of eBay, Steve Jobs of Apple, and Alan Mulally of Ford.

Also valuable are his discussions of building a memorable legacy through superior “A+” work and grooming future young leaders to continue the mission. Flaum even shows the importance of gaining perspective through “brainrest.”

To Flaum, wearing the big shoes means being a humble, innovative, and adaptive leader who guides his company to success and leaves a lasting legacy.

Written in true executive style, the message is direct, concise, and to the point. There’s a lot of practical wisdom packed into this small book, which makes it a handy guide for busy executives.

Big Shoes approaches the question of leadership growth slightly different from most other leadership books I have read. Sander Flaum takes a chronological approach to the issues that confront a leader.

He divides a leader's career into stages and then discusses the issues that most leaders will face in that stage of career development. He also gives suggested approaches about how to best handle all the issues which will come up.

The first stage is the "You are hired. Now what?" Here Flaum gives advice on how to hit the ground running. He takes a detailed look of the things a new leader should be doing during the first few months on the job.

Once you are past the honeymoon stage, you must "craft a winning culture." Here is where the leader must sell his strategies to the people he is leading. This requires a leader to sharpen their people skills. You cannot push your agenda on the staff. You must get buy-in.

The next phase for effective leaders is to start developing new products and strategies to get out in front. You cannot afford to just maintain course. Your competitors are always in hot pursuit. So the great leader is always looking for ways to stay ahead of the pack.

Then the leader needs to hone his leadership instincts. Change is happening at an ever increasing pace. The effective leader is continually improving their skills.

The final phase of a leader's career is preparing his replacement. According to Flaum, "Great leaders do more than repair companies and keep them rolling. They prepare their companies to be successful long after they are gone."

Each phase is illustrated with stories and examples - some from the author's own career, others from lesson he has observed.

While the book gives some great insights about what it takes to be a good leader, it also gives some insight about the price a leader must pay. Flaum relates how his busy schedule cost him a life long friend. Everyone looks at the CEO with a certain amount of envy. But there is a price to pay for being at the top.

The book is very short, easy to read and has some very good lessons. It does not contain the typical worksheets, exercises and extended source references found in so many "leadership manuals". It is more the personal philosophy and insights of Sander Flaum based on his every extensive experience.

A good read.

Have you ever wished someone would take you out to lunch during your first week of a big new job and clue you in on what you really need to know?     Enter "Big Shoes."

Meant to be read at a fast-paced clip, it focuses on strategies for optimizing that all-important period of your first 100 days on the job, and tackling the challenges that follow. Through the use of real-world examples drawn from the author's wide experience, as well as straight-up advice, this book helps prepare you--not only to start off on the right foot, but to jump in and take your organization and yourself to a higher level.

So take yourself out to lunch to celebrate your new position, and settle in with this book. You'll walk away with some new perspectives and things you didn't know. Among other things, "Big Shoes" demonstrates that one hallmark of effective leadership is the ability to teach others how to follow in your footsteps.

This practical handbook for aspiring business leaders is chock-full of incredibly useful advice, valuable anecdotes, and first-person experiences from a myriad of accomplished CEO's. This book does a great job of breaking down the experiences of successful leaders to show how they can be applied by up-and-coming Rising Stars. The creative structure of this guide really helps to draw the reader in by creating a narrative around which the content is arranged.

The book begins by imagining the reader has just assumed a leadership position, and proceeds to provide guidance about how to effectively manage their first 100 days on the job - a make or break period for any leader. Each subsequent chapter represents another crucial phase in a young leader's journey to leadership and business success. Placing these instructive lessons in the context of someone who has just taken on a leadership role gives this book an immediacy and urgency that will propel you from cover to cover in one sitting.

Focused, entertaining, and extremely relevant to young leaders, this is a book worth reading every year. You shouldn't leave home (or the office) without it.