The Motive: Why So Many Leaders Abdicate Their Most Important Responsibilities
- Downloads：9236
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-04-14 11:55:33
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Patrick Lencioni
- ISBN：1119600456
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Summary
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。
"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。
Reviews
David
，
Another good one from Patrick Lencioni。 Understanding your motivation for leading to ensure you're in the right place and doing the right things for the organization， not just yourself。 Management and leadership are about service。 Another good one from Patrick Lencioni。 Understanding your motivation for leading to ensure you're in the right place and doing the right things for the organization， not just yourself。 Management and leadership are about service。 。。。more
Brian
，
A good book on what motivates leaders。 I’ve liked some of his other books better。
Vaughan
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 The claim is:t• executive leadership is hard workt• bad leaders avoid the shit they don’t like to dot• bad leaders only do what they feel comfortable witht• good leaders do what needs to be donet• good leaders delegate， hire and mangetGood managementt• run good meetingst• give corrective feedbackt• hold people accountablet• communicate to the boardGood leaders are Responsibility centred （they are there to serve） rather than Reward centred （what's in it for me？） The claim is:t• executive leadership is hard workt• bad leaders avoid the shit they don’t like to dot• bad leaders only do what they feel comfortable witht• good leaders do what needs to be donet• good leaders delegate， hire and mangetGood managementt• run good meetingst• give corrective feedbackt• hold people accountablet• communicate to the boardGood leaders are Responsibility centred （they are there to serve） rather than Reward centred （what's in it for me？） 。。。more
Jack Vincent
，
Why do you want to be a leader？ Is it a reward for all of your hard work？ Or is it a responsibility， and a privilege to be able to do what only leaders do？The only acceptable type of leader is a servant leader。 Leaders are responsible for much of the organizational health of their organization， and are the only ones who are able to create and fix a poor company culture。
Doug Guderian
，
Excellent book for a reminder of the most important roles of leaders。
Mark
，
Great book on the core of leadership。 It's succinct too， and the focus （without the fluff） is very appealing to me。 One could summarize it with "avoid being leader as a reward" but the details make it more intuitive， and once concepts are more intuitive， they are more practical。 Lencioni did a great job （as did the narrator）。 Great book on the core of leadership。 It's succinct too， and the focus （without the fluff） is very appealing to me。 One could summarize it with "avoid being leader as a reward" but the details make it more intuitive， and once concepts are more intuitive， they are more practical。 Lencioni did a great job （as did the narrator）。 。。。more
Nicholas Worth
，
Such a powerful book， organized masterfully。 The fable is so captivating for anyone who has experienced leadership abdication on any level， yet the directness of two experienced CEOs allows the author to make his point quickly and loudly。 In addition， the table really paved the way for the application making the “leadership material” clear， concise， and convicting in a digestible way。 This is a must read for any leader， especially because it’s short， and fiction-esque enough that there is no rea Such a powerful book， organized masterfully。 The fable is so captivating for anyone who has experienced leadership abdication on any level， yet the directness of two experienced CEOs allows the author to make his point quickly and loudly。 In addition， the table really paved the way for the application making the “leadership material” clear， concise， and convicting in a digestible way。 This is a must read for any leader， especially because it’s short， and fiction-esque enough that there is no reason to put it off。 。。。more
David Drummond
，
Another solid book， especially on a "pound for pound" basis。。。 though it doesn't raise anything particularly revelatory。 Another solid book， especially on a "pound for pound" basis。。。 though it doesn't raise anything particularly revelatory。 。。。more
Sebastian Mierau
，
Great book， easy to understand dialectics between two leaders which different motives。 I helps tremendously to see what different impact a leader has in their organisation if there priorities and focus is reshuffled。 Super power。 Loved it。
Abbi
，
I read this book in two hours！ Short and to the point， this book is a strong reminder of the importance of servant leadership and the implications of its absence。 Would recommend！
Cassandra
，
There was noting new or especially earth shattering in this book but it was a good reminder on what a leader needs to work at。 I had some good takeaways I will defiantly use with my own team。
Robin S Manweiler
，
Outstanding read！
Lindsey Boyington
，
This is a no fluff， thought-provoking look at the things leaders should not do。 Leadership is a challenging endeavor and is a responsibility。 The author writes that the leadership role should not be a reward for hard work。
Cristina Bica
，
Short and distilled ideas about how to lead。 Pretty awesome， makes a list if 4-5 must do for CEOs like having uncomfortable discussions， team building in the right sense， including effective meetings。
Joseph L。
，
Watch a detailed review along with my favorite ideas and takeaways at:https://youtu。be/qm1ffl6iJ8E Watch a detailed review along with my favorite ideas and takeaways at:https://youtu。be/qm1ffl6iJ8E 。。。more
Jens
，
Came here after listening to Andy Standley's interview about it on his podcast。 Really great reminder for every leader that especially you can't escape the hard conversations or the unpleasant troops。 A leadership position does not exist， but has to be executed。 Came here after listening to Andy Standley's interview about it on his podcast。 Really great reminder for every leader that especially you can't escape the hard conversations or the unpleasant troops。 A leadership position does not exist， but has to be executed。 。。。more
Amy
，
My brother is a huge Patrick Lencioni fan so I'm pretty sure I put this one on my to-read list to appease him。 But turns out。。。he was right。 （This time。）I would give this book 5 stars for the leadership content。 It was both practical and insightful。 Despite the fact that the information is "aimed" at CEOs， I took away a bunch of insights for managing my one direct report。 And as a direct report， I feel more equipped to identify what my bosses and the organization I work at do well （and not so we My brother is a huge Patrick Lencioni fan so I'm pretty sure I put this one on my to-read list to appease him。 But turns out。。。he was right。 （This time。）I would give this book 5 stars for the leadership content。 It was both practical and insightful。 Despite the fact that the information is "aimed" at CEOs， I took away a bunch of insights for managing my one direct report。 And as a direct report， I feel more equipped to identify what my bosses and the organization I work at do well （and not so well。） But the writing was just so cheesy。 It doesn't say so in the title on Goodreads but the majority of this book is a "fable。" So， you learn about leadership motive by reading two CEOs discussing what makes their companies succeed。 Then Lencioni unpacks the lesson in the last chapter or so。 I get the use of fable--sometimes， fiction helps convey a truth easier than straight up essay。 But I don't understand why the fable has to come across so over the top。 It was like bad fiction writing 101。 I started highlighting lines for their sheer absurdity， such as: "Everyone laughed， but genuinely， not in a sitcom kind of way。" One page， I just tracked reactions: * Shay demanded， a little impatiently。 * Shay laughed* Liam said， then smiled as he corrected himself。 * Shay nodded* Shay acknowledged * Liam smiled * Shay nodded， partially sold。 AND SO ON。 Are you exhausted with all the nodding and smiling？ I am！But I guess what makes this book so impressive is that even with all the annoying chatter， I walked away feeling like I gleaned some wisdom。 I would absolutely buy this book and give it another re-read or ten if it wasn't so dang expensive。 （But seriously， why is the Kindle $15 for 165 pages？） I definitely want to read more Lencioni， though I'm still not sold on his "fables。" 。。。more
Becky L Long
，
Audiobook Jim Frangione narrating。 Really good book。 I may have to add Patrick Lencioni to my list of "read everything by this author"。 I've been wanting to listen to his books for a while。 This one came up as audible daily deal so I snatched it up。 Good choice。 I had come to the conclusion a couple years ago that marrying story narrative with a typically non-fiction topic would be a great way to teach the topic。 When I heard that's what Patrick Lencioni had been doing for a while I was jealous Audiobook Jim Frangione narrating。 Really good book。 I may have to add Patrick Lencioni to my list of "read everything by this author"。 I've been wanting to listen to his books for a while。 This one came up as audible daily deal so I snatched it up。 Good choice。 I had come to the conclusion a couple years ago that marrying story narrative with a typically non-fiction topic would be a great way to teach the topic。 When I heard that's what Patrick Lencioni had been doing for a while I was jealous at first but then decided I needed to get good books into my must read list。 I wasn't disappointed。 Granted it's not an edge of the seat page turner。 。。。。 but come on its pretty good for being a business leadership book。 。。。more
Carolyn
，
The main takeaway from the newest （I think） of Lencioni's books can be summed up in the concept of how being a CEO （or a VP or even a manager） is a verb。 Many think of arriving at a career destination as a reward for having worked so hard。 To be GOOD at the job， you need to realize that the hard work is just about to begin。 If someone were to say "I want to be promoted to a manager！" the response is "Oh！ So you want to have to have difficult conversations with problem employees， you want to pick The main takeaway from the newest （I think） of Lencioni's books can be summed up in the concept of how being a CEO （or a VP or even a manager） is a verb。 Many think of arriving at a career destination as a reward for having worked so hard。 To be GOOD at the job， you need to realize that the hard work is just about to begin。 If someone were to say "I want to be promoted to a manager！" the response is "Oh！ So you want to have to have difficult conversations with problem employees， you want to pick up the slack when others don't get things done because you are ultimately responsible and you want to work long hours doing things you don't even realize you are going to have to do？" If you think of becoming as manager as "now I can set my own hours， fire whoever I want， give all the work I don't want to do to other people and think that you have just earned a cushy job， you might be in it for the wrong week。A good analogy they make is "I want to be a parent！" Oh， so you want to be sleep deprived， have a lot less money and change poopy diapers？ It's not just about having a person who has not choice but to love you but to be a good parent， you have to do a lot of things you otherwise would not choose。 I heard of this book through a podcast where he was being interviewed and he talked about in his coaching he would sometimes hit a wall with certain CEOs。 Why don't they get it？ Because their motive is wrong。 Being the CEO is not about being the top dog。。。。if you truly care about the success of your company， you are a servant to everyone who works for your company。 。。。more
Michael Sanderson
，
Short， pithy and practical。 Classic Lencioni。 Worth a couple hours。
Tom Buratovich
，
Oh my goodness what a good book。 Patrick is concise， clear， blunt， and dead pan serious。 He wants you to make a decision when you read this book-lead sacrificially or stop， just stop。 If leadership is anything it is not about you。 If you cannot make it not about you， stop being a leader because the damage you do is irreparable and untold masses will suffer the consequences of your selfishness。 That is a heavy rap， but Patrick means business。 He thinks we should too。
Vernon Stinebaker
，
Servant leadership， as if there's any other kind。 Nice！ Servant leadership， as if there's any other kind。 Nice！ 。。。more
Marion Schloemer
，
Short and to the point。 Engaging style。 He blew up a long-held belief about leadership and left us with what I see as the model of the future。 It’s a must-read for anyone in middle management and recent MBA grads， primarily because he helps you check yo’ self before you wreck yo’ self。
Romans Karpelcevs
，
It's a great book。 The thing is， it raised too many questions for me。 Now I'll have to figure them out。 It's a great book。 The thing is， it raised too many questions for me。 Now I'll have to figure them out。 。。。more
Emily Chang
，
A good framework， practical。
Rick Yvanovich
，
I’m excited to have read this latest book from Lencioni。 Similar to his others it strikes right to the root cause of the issue and I feel it resonates so well。 I’m curious as to why the concept of motive has not been written more about around leadership as Lencioni spells out clearly it’s a potential issue I also agree this would be better to read before some of the others like the advantage et al Fantastic read loved the content， but as a Brit I did not like the narrator and the attempt at a Br I’m excited to have read this latest book from Lencioni。 Similar to his others it strikes right to the root cause of the issue and I feel it resonates so well。 I’m curious as to why the concept of motive has not been written more about around leadership as Lencioni spells out clearly it’s a potential issue I also agree this would be better to read before some of the others like the advantage et al Fantastic read loved the content， but as a Brit I did not like the narrator and the attempt at a British accent 。。。more
Łukasz Słonina
，
A short book， but definitely worth reading。 If you are a manager， you should be aware of what is important in your job （team management， people management， conducting good meetings）。 The author also presents two motives why we become managers: reward based and responsibility based。
Justin Tan
，
A rather engaging read and while it does not express any new concepts with Servant Leadership， it does bring across the message in a way that provokes the reader to reflect deeply。 Well worth the time。
Valerie
，
The fable was eh， but the points at the end were very helpful。
Ryan
，