The Motive

Shay was still angry but shrugged nonchalantly as if to say, it's not that big of a deal. "So, what am I wrong about?" "You're not going to want to hear this, but I have to tell you anyway." Liam paused before finishing. "You might be working hard, but you're not doing it for the company." "What the hell does that mean?" Shay wanted to know. Knowing that his adversary might punch him for what he was about to say, Liam responded. "You're doing it for yourself." New York Times best-selling author Patrick Lencioni has written a dozen books that focus on how leaders can build teams and lead organizations. In The Motive, he shifts his attention toward helping them understand the importance of why they're leading in the first place. In what may be his edgiest page-turner to date, Lencioni thrusts his readers into a day-long conversation between rival CEOs. Shay Davis is the CEO of Golden Gate Alarm, who, after just a year in his role, is beginning to worry about his job and is desperate to figure out how to turn things around. With nowhere else to turn, Shay receives some hard-to-swallow advice from the most unlikely and unwanted source--Liam Alcott, CEO of a more successful security company and his most hated opponent. Lencioni uses unexpected plot twists and crisp dialogue to take us on a journey that culminates in a resolution that is as unexpected as it is enlightening. As he does in his other books, he then provides a straightforward summary of the lessons from the fable, combining a clear explanation of his theory with practical advice to help executives examine their true motivation for leading. In addition to provoking readers to honestly assess themselves, Lencioni presents action steps for changing their approach in five key areas. In doing so, he helps leaders avoid the pitfalls that stifle their organizations and even hurt the people they are meant to serve.

PATRICK LENCIONI is founder and president of The Table Group, a firm dedicated to helping leaders improve their organizations' health since 1997. His principles have been embraced by leaders around the world and adopted by organizations of virtually every kind, including multinational corporations, entrepreneurial ventures, professional sports teams, the military, nonprofits, schools, and churches. Lencioni is the author of eleven best-selling books, including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, The Ideal Team Player, and The Advantage. He previously worked for Oracle, Sybase, and the management consulting firm Bain & Company. To learn more about Patrick and The Table Group, please visit www.tablegroup.com.

Introduction ix The Fable 1 The Lesson 127 Introduction 129 Exploring the Two Leadership Motives 135 The Five Omissions of Reward-Centered Leaders 141 Imperfection and Vigilance 165 The Surprising Danger of Fun 167 The End of Servant Leadership 169 Acknowledgments 171 About the Author 173