How To Lead Breakthrough Change Against All Odds

David S. Pottruck's new book, Stacking the Deck, teaches readers a nine-step course of action leaders can follow from the first realization that change is needed through all the steps of implementation, including assembling the right team of close advisors and getting the word out to the wider group.

This book tells the in-the-trenches stories of individuals who led bold, sweeping change. Stories that walk you through the social and emotional reality of leading others -- many of whom are fearful of change.

Stories from eBay President and CEO John Donahoe; Wells Fargo former CEO and Chairman Dick Kovacevich; Starbucks Chairman, President and CEO Howard Schultz; San Francisco Giants President and CEO Larry Baer; and Pinkberry CEO Ron Graves.

Part one of the book outlines the Stacking the Deck process -- the nine steps through which nearly every breakthrough change inevitably goes:

1. Establishing the need to change and creating a sense of urgency.
2. Recruiting and unifying your inner team.
3. Developing and communicating a clear and compelling vision of the future.
4. Anticipating, understanding, and planning to overcome potential barriers to success.
5. Developing a clear, executable plan.
6. Breaking the change initiative into manageable pieces.
7. Defining metrics, developing analytics, and sharing results.
8. Assessing, recruiting, and empowering the broader team.
9. Piloting the implementation.

Part two covers the higher-order skills that are necessary for success in the process of leading breakthrough change.

This book will help you lead through any of these major changes:

• Introduction of a new product.
• Expansion into a new territory.
• Downsizing.

Most important, Pottruck teaches readers how to learn to anticipate and to analyze logically and carefully; think creatively and embrace possibilities; learn what to prioritize, where to concentrate energy, and how to move forward while bringing others along with you.

David S. Pottruck

Pottruck is coauthor of the bestselling Clicks and Mortar.

Thanks to the book's publisher for sending me an advance copy of the book.