Praise for The Offsite "The Leadership Challenge is one of my all-time favorite books. The Offsite goes one step further by showing how great ideas can be put into practice. We can all lead from the heart. The Offsite shows how-- it's a wonderful book!"
--Marshall Goldsmith, author of What Got You Here Won't Get You There
"Robert Thompson has written a gem. Reading this work you are a voyeur at the best 'offsite' you've ever attended, yet he allows us to experience the true essence of leadership without ever leaving home. If you are interested in the practice of leadership rather than just theory, then you'll use every word you read here."
--Terry Pearce, author, Leading Out Loud and founder/president, Leadership Communication and Forum on Cross-Cultural Inspiration
"Robert Thompson brings a fresh, provocative voice to the leadership discussion. The Offsite is a fabulous debut, and I'm eagerly awaiting the next installment of Mr. Thompson's 'thought grenades.' Read The Offsite before your next offsite and prepare to emerge with a whole new level of passion and commitment."
--Steve Farber, president, Extreme Leadership, Inc. and author, The Radical Leap and The Radical Edge
"Robert Thompson nailed it! Entertaining and on point, this compelling story unpacks the groundbreaking Kouzes/Posner model in an inspiring tale that will make you laugh, cry, and understand that leadership is a choice, not a position. Read this book and be prepared to make a mark in the world!"
--Drs. Kevin and Jackie Freiberg, coauthors, BOOM! 7 Choices for Blowing the Doors off Business-as-Usual and NUTS! Southwest Airlines' Crazy Recipe for Business and Personal Success
"TheOffsite is an engaging, well-written fable that will enable anyone to experience what's involved in making the difficult transition from manager to leader."
--Stephen Denning, author, The Secret Language of Leadership
Drawing on the leadership theories in the management classic "The Leadership Challenge," Robert Thompson effortlessly incorporates these ideas into a fable of leadership and growth. Based on a company's three-day offsite meeting, we follow this tale of transition through the eyes of two former rival pharmaceutical companies creating a joint sales strategy. The characters ultimately learn how to adopt the five practises that form the "Leadership Challenge" Model the WayInspire a Shared VisionChallenge the ProcessEnable Others to ActEncourage the Heart.
The book also explores the dynamics of a company off-site and addresses the fears and concerns participants may have especially around 360 degree feedback, the key component of the Leadership Challenge model and workshops.
For anyone preparing to attend a leadership training off-site, human resource professionals or trainers planning an offsite, leadership developers, program planners, or for professionals looking to hone their leadership skills, this book will be an invaluable resource and a succinct introduction to "The Leadership Challenge."
