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Quick and Nimble: Lessons from Leading CEOs on How to Create a Culture of Innovation - Insights from The Corner Office
More than two hundred CEOs reveal their candid insights on how to build and foster a corporate culture that encourages innovation and drives results
In Quick and Nimble, Adam Bryant draws on interviews with more than two hundred CEOs to offer business leaders the wisdom and guidance to move an organization faster, to be quick and nimble, and to rekindle the whatever-it-takes collective spark of a start-up workplace, all with the goal of innovating and thriving in a relentlessly challenging global economy. By analyzing the lessons that these leaders have shared in his regular "Corner Office" feature in The New York Times, Bryant has identified the biggest drivers of corporate culture, bringing them to life with real-world examples that reflect this hard-earned wisdom.
These men and women—whose ranks include Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn, Tony Hsieh of Zappos, Angie Hicks of Angie's List, Steve Case of Revolution (and formerly AOL), and Amy Gutmann of the University of Pennsylvania—offer useful insights and strategies for creating a corporate culture of innovation and building a high-performing organization that unleashes the passion and energy of its employees.
As the world shifts to more of a knowledge economy, the winners will be companies that can attract and retain the best and brightest employees by creating an environment where they can grow, contribute, and feel rewarded. Through the wisdom of these leading chief executives, Quick and Nimble offers a keen understanding of leadership, recruiting, and the forces that shape corporate culture and a clear road map to bring success and energy to any organization.
In Quick and Nimble, Adam Bryant draws on interviews with more than two hundred CEOs to offer business leaders the wisdom and guidance to move an organization faster, to be quick and nimble, and to rekindle the whatever-it-takes collective spark of a start-up workplace, all with the goal of innovating and thriving in a relentlessly challenging global economy. By analyzing the lessons that these leaders have shared in his regular "Corner Office" feature in The New York Times, Bryant has identified the biggest drivers of corporate culture, bringing them to life with real-world examples that reflect this hard-earned wisdom.
These men and women—whose ranks include Jeff Weiner of LinkedIn, Tony Hsieh of Zappos, Angie Hicks of Angie's List, Steve Case of Revolution (and formerly AOL), and Amy Gutmann of the University of Pennsylvania—offer useful insights and strategies for creating a corporate culture of innovation and building a high-performing organization that unleashes the passion and energy of its employees.
As the world shifts to more of a knowledge economy, the winners will be companies that can attract and retain the best and brightest employees by creating an environment where they can grow, contribute, and feel rewarded. Through the wisdom of these leading chief executives, Quick and Nimble offers a keen understanding of leadership, recruiting, and the forces that shape corporate culture and a clear road map to bring success and energy to any organization.
264 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2014
53 people are currently reading
1087 people want to read
About the author
Adam Bryant
20 books28 followers Adam Bryant, the deputy national editor of The New York Times, has been a journalist for more than two decades. He was a business reporter for The New York Times during the 1990s, covering a variety of industries and topics, including airlines, aviation safety, executive compensation and corporate governance. He joined Newsweek in 1999 as a senior writer, and was promoted to business editor. After six years at Newsweek, he returned to the Times' as an editor in the business section, where he oversaw coverage of the collapse of the Detroit auto industry, among other stories.
Adam was the lead editor for two prize-winning series: "Driven to Distraction," about the dangers of cellphone use behind the wheel, which won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 2010, and "Toxic Waters," about water pollution, which won a number of awards, including the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award, the Investigative Reporters and Editors' Medal, the National Academies' reporting award, the investigative reporting award from the Society of Environmental Journalists, and the 2009 Science in Society Journalism Award.
In March 2009, Adam started Corner Office in the Times' Sunday Business section, and it quickly attracted a large and loyal audience for its insights about leadership and management from prominent leaders. For his book, The Corner Office, Adam studied the transcripts from more than 70 interviews, and looked for patterns, broader themes and lessons. He wove together their candid and wise insights into a book that offers timeless advice on how to succeed, manage and lead.
Adam lives in Westchester County, New York, with his wife and two daughters.
Adam was the lead editor for two prize-winning series: "Driven to Distraction," about the dangers of cellphone use behind the wheel, which won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 2010, and "Toxic Waters," about water pollution, which won a number of awards, including the Scripps Howard National Journalism Award, the Investigative Reporters and Editors' Medal, the National Academies' reporting award, the investigative reporting award from the Society of Environmental Journalists, and the 2009 Science in Society Journalism Award.
In March 2009, Adam started Corner Office in the Times' Sunday Business section, and it quickly attracted a large and loyal audience for its insights about leadership and management from prominent leaders. For his book, The Corner Office, Adam studied the transcripts from more than 70 interviews, and looked for patterns, broader themes and lessons. He wove together their candid and wise insights into a book that offers timeless advice on how to succeed, manage and lead.
Adam lives in Westchester County, New York, with his wife and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
January 26, 2022
This was generally an interesting collection of insights into the minds of America’s corporate elite. The low rating in this case comes from the lack of insight outside the C-suite. How did the people who report to these suits feel about the leadership practices? Did they actually improve culture from everyone’s perspective? Or did it just seem like culture improved to the executives? There are good lessons in here, I’m sure of it, but they’re hard to discern when the perspectives are so similar and narrow.
April 18, 2014
Book on general management, but unfortunately very little to do with 'innovation'. Stories/wisdom from CEOs that are mix of self congratulation and management 101 with little insight. The author completely missed the lesson learned during great recession - management by fear (of mass lay off) for employees and by greed for executive ranks works better then anything. No other management technique compares.
April 30, 2015
Adam Bryant offers a collection of interesting tips generated as a product of numerous conversations author had with more than 200 company directors...what indeed resembles "a dinner party conversation with a large group of CEOs.
Most of the expert's advice is nothing but platitudes. If you like to read a lot of ideas and pick out the ones you like for further thought, this book might work for you. Overall, a quick read that has some insights sprinkled throughout the book.
Most of the expert's advice is nothing but platitudes. If you like to read a lot of ideas and pick out the ones you like for further thought, this book might work for you. Overall, a quick read that has some insights sprinkled throughout the book.
February 5, 2023
Overall great business book about keeping organizations nimble, innovative, and forward-thinking. While there's nothing earth-shattering in the content, the style of delivery is very engaging. The author presents the themes as interview snippets and it makes the themes come alive. It's much more engaging to hear the CEO of a company speak directly about having difficult conversations with staff than it is to read third-hand accounts of that, or academic language about that.
All in all, a quick read that is easily digested, and a good reminder for managers as to how to stave off complacency and inertia in their company.
All in all, a quick read that is easily digested, and a good reminder for managers as to how to stave off complacency and inertia in their company.
July 1, 2018
Corporate C-suite focused but some universal lessons and advice on team building, innovation, and management from successful executives.
February 1, 2019
A helpful read. A lot of good, practical snippets about leadership from a good variety of CEOs.
June 28, 2019
I read a lot of organizational self-help books, and this one is really good. Many specific examples that can be applied rather than only high-level talk and philosophy. That's my kind of book.
July 16, 2019
I LOVE this book. I highly recommend it. If you work or manage or own a company - public or private - you will love this book.
August 1, 2021
Not bad"
August 11, 2022
Required reading for work.
February 8, 2014
“Quick and Nimble” written by Adam Bryant is collection of interesting tips generated as a product of numerous conversations author had with more than 200 company directors.
The book provides many useful advices for any business owner or executive in terms of attracting quality people who will in turn result in work well done and your satisfaction.
Bryant offers help and guidance how to move your organization faster, or in his words “how to be quick and nimble”, how to be innovative and supportive in order to be seen as company that supports creativity – in that way your company will become a preferred destination recognized by the capable and smart people who will want to work with you, enjoying their job.
It’s nice when you realize that on its pages you will not only find some new revolutionary concepts and ideas, but things that seem to be extremely well-known, though the author managed to present them in a different way that makes them meaningful, applicable and instantly usable.
The author is using the attractive idea that each chapter is structured as dinner party conversation with a numerous CEOs - Bryant introduces the themes, makes some remarks to steer the discussion that follows, and then let the participants discuss their stories and lessons.
Therefore, “Quick and Nimble” is a good-read for people who manage organizations, large or small all the same because their challenges and thinking in general are similar - using its tips, most important innovation that author advocates you will be able to improve you as a manager and organization you lead.
This book could have been very good if the author would have taken more time to develop a real thread and not just a loose aggregation of advice. While helpful, feels like a lost opportunity.
The book provides many useful advices for any business owner or executive in terms of attracting quality people who will in turn result in work well done and your satisfaction.
Bryant offers help and guidance how to move your organization faster, or in his words “how to be quick and nimble”, how to be innovative and supportive in order to be seen as company that supports creativity – in that way your company will become a preferred destination recognized by the capable and smart people who will want to work with you, enjoying their job.
It’s nice when you realize that on its pages you will not only find some new revolutionary concepts and ideas, but things that seem to be extremely well-known, though the author managed to present them in a different way that makes them meaningful, applicable and instantly usable.
The author is using the attractive idea that each chapter is structured as dinner party conversation with a numerous CEOs - Bryant introduces the themes, makes some remarks to steer the discussion that follows, and then let the participants discuss their stories and lessons.
Therefore, “Quick and Nimble” is a good-read for people who manage organizations, large or small all the same because their challenges and thinking in general are similar - using its tips, most important innovation that author advocates you will be able to improve you as a manager and organization you lead.
This book could have been very good if the author would have taken more time to develop a real thread and not just a loose aggregation of advice. While helpful, feels like a lost opportunity.
December 30, 2016
"“Quick and Nimble"” written by Adam Bryant is collection of interesting tips generated as a product of numerous conversations author had with more than 200 company directors.
The book provides many useful advices for any business owner or executive in terms of attracting quality people who will in turn result in work well done and your satisfaction.
Bryant offers help and guidance how to move your organization faster, or in his words "“how to be quick and nimble"”, how to be innovative and supportive in order to be seen as company that supports creativity -– in that way your company will become a preferred destination recognized by the capable and smart people who will want to work with you, enjoying their job.
It'’s nice when you realize that on its pages you will not only find some new revolutionary concepts and ideas, but things that seem to be extremely well-known, though the author managed to present them in a different way that makes them meaningful, applicable and instantly usable.
The author is using the attractive idea that each chapter is structured as dinner party conversation with a numerous CEOs - Bryant introduces the themes, makes some remarks to steer the discussion that follows, and then let the participants discuss their stories and lessons.
Therefore, "“Quick and Nimble"” is a good-read for people who manage organizations, large or small all the same because their challenges and thinking in general are similar - using its tips, most important innovation that author advocates you will be able to improve you as a manager and organization you lead.
The book provides many useful advices for any business owner or executive in terms of attracting quality people who will in turn result in work well done and your satisfaction.
Bryant offers help and guidance how to move your organization faster, or in his words "“how to be quick and nimble"”, how to be innovative and supportive in order to be seen as company that supports creativity -– in that way your company will become a preferred destination recognized by the capable and smart people who will want to work with you, enjoying their job.
It'’s nice when you realize that on its pages you will not only find some new revolutionary concepts and ideas, but things that seem to be extremely well-known, though the author managed to present them in a different way that makes them meaningful, applicable and instantly usable.
The author is using the attractive idea that each chapter is structured as dinner party conversation with a numerous CEOs - Bryant introduces the themes, makes some remarks to steer the discussion that follows, and then let the participants discuss their stories and lessons.
Therefore, "“Quick and Nimble"” is a good-read for people who manage organizations, large or small all the same because their challenges and thinking in general are similar - using its tips, most important innovation that author advocates you will be able to improve you as a manager and organization you lead.
April 7, 2014
Though this book was written with an nod toward tech companies and start ups, there was a great deal I found to be useful in my current pursuits. Quick and nimble seem like words that are counter to the dynamics I find. The core of this book focuses on the culture of an organization and reflects on what we, as leaders are doing to address he formation of the culture, or if we are ignoring it and allowing it to form on its own. Too often we allow the culture to grow organically, then get frustrated when it doesn't form in the most effective way. Leaders wonder why he staff do not trust them, but do nothing to foster a culture of honesty and respect. A top down approach does not lead to employee engagement. The book also addresses such things as the importance of fun in the work place and the value of employee participation in innovation initiatives. An important read for any leader.
January 21, 2015
I really should stop reading leadership books, no matter who recommends them to me. This is a quick, easy read with lots of real life examples from many leaders in the business world about their successes (and a few failures, which are far more interesting).
I took away two main points from this book. First, there is surprisingly little diversity in leadership, or at least among the leaders selected for this book. Second, there's even less diversity in problem-solving or strategy among business leaders. Because of these two factors, the book comes off as repetitive and dull. If you enjoy platitudes, mostly from old white guys, you'll eat this up.
I took away two main points from this book. First, there is surprisingly little diversity in leadership, or at least among the leaders selected for this book. Second, there's even less diversity in problem-solving or strategy among business leaders. Because of these two factors, the book comes off as repetitive and dull. If you enjoy platitudes, mostly from old white guys, you'll eat this up.
April 30, 2015
Quick and Nimble: Lessons from Leading CEOs on How to Create a Culture of Innovation was an insightful book about how the corporate world works to attract the best employees. Some of the ideas were things that would be expected and some were slight surprises but all were interesting; one thing is for sure, they would help any business executive to make better decisions and do a better job.
I want to thank the author and Goodreads First Reads giveaway program for the copy of Quick & Nimble: Lessons from Leading CEOs on How to Create a Culture of Innovation that I won in the Giveaway.
I want to thank the author and Goodreads First Reads giveaway program for the copy of Quick & Nimble: Lessons from Leading CEOs on How to Create a Culture of Innovation that I won in the Giveaway.
September 13, 2018
I picked this up and put it down several times. It's not necessarily a reflection on the book's content.
With interviews from more than 200 CEOs, Adam Bryant discusses culture-setting and next-level leadership. While this book is not a hard read, and the anecdotes from CEOs are certainly engaging, it will difficult to identify the themes that tied it all together. Broadly, it was about culture and innovation, but (for me), it lacked a building narrative or central idea that moved the reader from chapter to chapter. Again, I read it in a disjointed fashion - which I am sure contributes to my sense of the overall book.
With interviews from more than 200 CEOs, Adam Bryant discusses culture-setting and next-level leadership. While this book is not a hard read, and the anecdotes from CEOs are certainly engaging, it will difficult to identify the themes that tied it all together. Broadly, it was about culture and innovation, but (for me), it lacked a building narrative or central idea that moved the reader from chapter to chapter. Again, I read it in a disjointed fashion - which I am sure contributes to my sense of the overall book.
January 15, 2015
Very good. i especially liked how it was told, essentially letting the CEOs do all the talking while the author guided the discussion & connected key points. Very valuable information on how to run a big company like a small start up. A lot of the points seem almost 'duh' obvious, but i think thats natural. Just like a great invention seems obvious after invented and a hiding spot is always right under your nose.
April 8, 2015
I got a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway in return for a honest review.
While I find that there is a lot of information regarding start-ups I found it difficult to apply to a small business. If you are looking to start a larger company and have no management classes under your belt, this book would be great.
While I find that there is a lot of information regarding start-ups I found it difficult to apply to a small business. If you are looking to start a larger company and have no management classes under your belt, this book would be great.
February 5, 2014
Wonderful book for anyone that is looking at how to influence the culture of their company. Lots of great insights from a variety of leaders. This is a book I will probably read again in a few years.
January 14, 2015
This had some great advice in it, particularly the last 1/3rd of the book. It felt like the first 1/2 was just so-so, but I persevered and then he hit his stride. I particularly like his quote "vision without execution is an hallucination". Funny, but true.
July 6, 2015
This was a disjointed mess. A collection of quotes from CEO 's of some companies that I would question why you would want to follow what they do? Really a rehash of other, better business books. Pass.
Want to read
August 27, 2016
Want to read
January 5, 2014referred in Adam Grant's list "The 12 Business Books to Read in 2014": http://www.huffingtonpost.com/adam-gr...
May 7, 2014
This was a good book full of practicle ideas for maintaining change....I will revisit.
September 11, 2015
These ideas won't all work in every organization, but there is excellent wisdom here from dozens of CEOs of companies of all sizes. Worth a look from anyone in a management position .
June 5, 2014
I LOVE this book. I highly recommend it. If you work or manage or own a company - public or private - you will love this book.
September 9, 2017
Inspiring
November 17, 2015
Started 1DG goals thanks to this book.
January 29, 2016
Started strong, but finished not as well...
December 10, 2015
A great read and perfectly crafted by Adam Bryant on the insights of the corporate world
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews