Reboot Leadership and the art of growing up

In his inaugural book, Colonna (best known as a venture capitalist, an executive coach, and co-founder of the coaching firm Reboot) offers readers a personal coaching session through Zen-like writing and chapter-end questions. Unlike many current leadership books that focus on the techniques of leadership and how to lead well, Colonna grounds his work in the belief that "better humans are better leaders" and encourages readers to pursue radical self-inquiry paying special attention to childhood fears, hurts, and joys. In this story-filled saga, he bares his soul in an effort to lead up-and-coming CEOs into a place of equanimity. Stories of a broken and abusive childhood mingle with adult insights gained through Buddhist meditation. The work is extremely personal. Though slightly confusing because of abrupt transitions between topics, it is well written and highly engaging thanks to numerous narratives about Colonna's and others' lives. Less appropriate for undergraduates because their lack of lived experience makes them less likely to relate to his insights and intuitions. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Graduate students through professionals. --Lorelle Beth Jabs, Seattle Pacific University

Former Venture capitalist turned executive coach Colonna has used the principles he shares here as guideposts to life, in ways that will make sense to those questioning and/or defining their leadership path. In a few words, he advocates radical self inquiry, doing so by a ruthless examination of who you are and where you're going. Nine chapters set up a series of progressively more difficult questions to answer through end-of-chapter prompts and an invitation to journal. In that sense, he's a far different coach than Marshall Goldsmith, who favors a more practical and immediate approach. Real-life stories help concretize the unknowable , such as an anecdote from Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson, on the eve of his firing, that will resonate with anyone who's experienced a work heartbreak of any sort. Readers are also invited to ponder questions like, Where am I running from and where to? Why are relationships so difficult? What's my purpose? How will I know my work is done? A thinking person's guide to the self at work.--Barbara Jacobs Copyright 2019 Booklist