I Never Finish Reading Business Books. Here’s Why I Wrote One.
I always knew that I would write a book. My dad was a historian, and he wrote a number of books. His biggest work was published when he was 75 (which gives me hope at age 52!). My grandfather also wrote several books that are still in print, even though he passed away in 1950.
But I wasn’t sure what the book I would write would be about. For about 20 years, my executive coaching and consulting business existed to support my rugby coaching habit. I needed to take three months off each year to prepare teams for the Olympics or World Cup—which was not something that a “regular” job would allow for. So when I graduated from business school, I started my own company so that I could have complete flexibility over my time.
But in 2017, after having led the U.S. women’s rugby team at the World Cup in Ireland to the semi-finals for the first time in two decades, I hung up my coaching whistle. My daughter was a baby, and I wanted to be at home more. As she (and my son) grew up, I was ready to grow my consulting business.
After years of working one-on-one with leaders, I wanted to share what I learned with more people. I wanted to capture the Authentic Leadership Model I created so that more leaders could benefit from it. That’s when thinking about writing a book started to snowball. I was fortunate enough to partner with a talented writer named Jonathan Gifford, and we spent a couple of years putting the manuscript together.
When I started writing, I thought long and hard about the fact that I never finish reading business books. It’s not that I don’t find them interesting; many business books have challenged me and helped me to grow. But the reality is that about a third of the way through these books, I feel like I’ve learned what I need to know about the framework presented. I didn’t want that to be the case for Leadership Shock. I wanted to write something that you would be compelled to read all the way through.
Let me tell you, it was not easy! I had spent 20 years developing the Authentic Leadership Model, but it was a challenge to define in concrete steps on paper. In executive coaching, I could be agile and tailor the principles to the client’s unique path. But I wouldn’t have that ability to do that for you, as the reader. I had to think hard and systemize my approach. That’s what you will find in Leadership Shock.
Jonathan and I thought about how to bring the model to life. Originally, we planned to use a different client story in each chapter to illustrate each part of the Authentic Leadership Model. But we realized that telling many stories was actually making the model harder to follow. So instead, we decided to create a single narrative of one leader, Michael. You will get to know him well throughout the book.
Every chapter of Leadership Shock builds upon the previous one. As you read the book, you’ll simultaneously develop yourself as a leader. By the time you've reached the end (and I promise, you will want to get there!), you'll have a whole new set of skills under your belt.
Since I had already engaged with a number of clients to collect their stories by the time we decided to zero in on Michael’s narrative, I decided to include those as case studies for you. At the end of Leadership Shock, you’ll find those real-life examples of how the Authentic Leadership Model works. My hope is that hearing from different leaders at different points in their careers will allow you to see yourself in their stories.
Leadership Shock will be published in just one week (April 16, 2024). I can’t wait for this book to be in your hands!
Pete Steinberg is an elite rugby coach, leadership consultant, and author. He can help you and your organization overcome challenges and achieve unparalleled success. Pete’s first book, “Leadership Shock,” will be published on April 16, 2024. You can connect with Pete on LinkedIn and at PeteSteinberg.com.