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found DIRECTORS & BOARDS

How Leaders Learn

Description

When considering books that are attractive candidates for the “director’s bookshelf”, it is especially
interesting when the author has been the CEO of a leading company. David Novak is the former
chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands, which, according to its website, operates over 55,000 restaurants
in 155 countries. Leading fast-food restaurant chains under its umbrella include KFC, Pizza Hut and
Taco Bell. He has written How Leaders Learn: Master the Habits of the World’s Most Successful People
, a book about leadership that will appeal to board members since a central focus of boards is the
strength and development of leaders within their company, as well as the leadership of the board itself.

In his book, Novak details the broad range of sources from which learning is possible, in each case
citing CEOs and other leaders who exemplify the opportunity for learning under discussion. Each of the
book’s 27 chapters explores a different area of potential learning, with real-life examples that illustrate
the points being made.

In chapter three, which is titled “Fill Your Gaps: Learn From People Who Know What You Don’t”,
Novak encourages the reader to begin by identifying and acknowledging the gaps in their own
experience that might be relevant to the success of the company and its management. For Novak, this
opportunity arose when he moved from a marketing role to one in operations at PepsiCo’s beverage
business, the parent of Yum! Brands. He cites examples that were shared with him by Maritza Montiel,
former deputy CEO and vice chair of Deloitte, with whom Novak served on the board of Comcast.
These include seeking valuable knowledge from those whose areas of experience are different from
one’s own. The author also shares examples from Patrick Lencioni, president of The Table Group,
which supports organizational health and teamwork; John L. Weinberg, former chair of Goldman
Sachs; and Warren Buffett.

Another chapter, “Ditch the Blinders”, calls upon leaders to recognize and identify their own limitations,
based upon the unconscious bias that all humans have, and to transcend such boundaries through
how they interact with others. The author again invokes the examples of other notable parties, such as
Bernie Marcus, cofounder of The Home Depot, to illustrate how to get beyond our own natural
limitations.

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All of the 27 chapters include valuable input from the author, along with examples and comments from
others who are noteworthy in their own right. The author’s down-to-earth approach to leadership and
his remarkable network of contributors make the book especially relatable and worthwhile to the
reader.

Board members will gain valuable takeaways from How Leaders Learn, which they can share in the
boardroom and directly apply in their support and oversight of management. This book therefore
belongs on every director’s bookshelf.

Date Created
June 17, 2024
Author
hbrownstein

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