THE CHIEF X OFFICER

Two consultants deliver a quick, high-impact guide through the corporate labyrinth for newly hired senior executives.

Rahim and Nabi’s slim volume of no-nonsense advice is a lifeline for top executives looking to make a lasting impression on a new organization. This handy guide is divided into three basic parts. The first focuses on how a “CxO” (the authors’ moniker for any senior executive) can start off right with staff and colleagues. The authors suggest postponing an initial staff meeting, where “the careers of many executive ‘CxOs’ are made or destroyed.” Instead, they encourage an informal walkthrough to build goodwill; readers can gain their peers’ support, they write, by being “genuine” and “constructive.” In Part II, the authors address how to effectively navigate an organization. While some of the material covered here is common sense (“Hold meetings as often as you can”; “Read as much as you can”), the authors also dole out worthwhile wisdom. For example, they recommend that readers “scan the troops for the unpolished diamonds” and develop “a blueprint or manifesto of changes.” The authors’ 14 helpful “Rules of the Game” identify organizational and political issues to either leverage or avoid, and they pull no punches (“Rule #5: People will complain. You are neither their parent nor their best friend”; “Rule #13: Stay clear of the Silver Bullet Trap”). These rules, borne of the authors’ experiences, will likely prove applicable for anyone working in a corporate environment. Part III looks at some simple tools executives can use, such as meeting agendas, progress reports and financial tracking sheets; however, it doesn’t provide examples, which would have been helpful.

A sometimes-simplistic but often insightful guide that may help keep senior executives from being blindsided.