Leaders don’t need more theory
They need language, frameworks, and decision tools they can use under pressure.
These books are written for CEOs and senior leaders accountable for outcomes—without the luxury of ideas that don’t travel into execution. Expect clear thinking, practical frameworks, and tools you can apply immediately.
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Explore practical tools you can use with your leadership team
How to focus on culture as performance and risk
Coming soon: Culture 4.0
Published by LID Publishing. Available April 2026.
"Culture 4.0 is a timely and compelling guide to rethinking corporate culture for a world of seismic change, and a practical roadmap for any leader serious about making culture their greatest competitive advantage."
Stephen M. R. Covey - New York Times
Culture Rules!
By John R. Childress
What the book is about
Culture Rules! explains why culture is not a slogan or a set of values on the wall, but a system that shapes decisions, performance, and risk. Drawing on decades of advisory work, John lays out the ten core principles that govern corporate culture—and how leaders can use them to improve execution and results.
The book challenges popular myths about culture, including the idea that it simply “eats strategy.” Instead, it shows how culture and strategy must work together through clear priorities, decision rules, incentives, and leadership behaviour.
What leaders take away
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The ten core principles that drive culture in any organisation
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A practical model for treating culture as a business system
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Clear links between culture, performance, and risk
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Questions senior leaders can use to diagnose culture issues
Flyfishing for leadership
By John R. Childress with Christian Bacasa
What the book is about
In Fly Fishing for Leadership, John uses the world of fly fishing to explore the realities of leadership under pressure. The book pairs leadership principles with stories from business leaders, guides, and professionals who have learned the same lessons on the water and in the boardroom.
It shows that leadership is situational, learned through experience, and shaped by behaviour—not titles. Just as there is no single fly for every river, there is no single leadership style for every situation.
The book focuses on character, decision-making, resilience, and the “shadow” leaders cast over their teams and culture.
What leaders take away
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Practical leadership principles illustrated through real stories
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The importance of feedback, experience, and adaptability
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How leadership behaviour shapes culture and performance
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Lessons on confidence, character, and decision-making under pressure
Leverage: The CEO’s Guide to Corporate Culture
By John R. Childress
What the book is about
LEVERAGE tackles the core culture and performance issues CEOs need to understand: what culture is, where it comes from, how it impacts financial and human performance, its role in strategy execution, and how to reshape and sustain a high-performance culture.
What leaders take away
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A clear definition of what culture is (and isn’t)
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How culture influences performance and strategy execution
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Practical guidance for reshaping and sustaining culture over time
Fastbreak: The CEO’s Guide to Strategy Execution
By John R. Childress
What the book is about
FASTBREAK focuses on why strategy implementation so often fails. It surfaces the non-obvious, rarely discussed reasons execution breaks down—and offers a line-of-sight framework leaders can use to improve delivery without relying on “an army of consultants.”
What leaders take away
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Why execution fails (beyond the obvious explanations)
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A clear framework that connects strategy to day-to-day delivery
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Practical steps for strengthening accountability and follow-through
A Time for Leadership
By John R. Childress
What the book is about
Based on direct interviews with 60 European CEOs and business leaders, A Time for Leadership explores how globalisation, EU dynamics, competition, social pressures, and technology are forcing a rethink of traditional leadership models.
What leaders take away
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Real-world leadership perspectives from across European markets
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How external forces reshape leadership expectations and capability
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Practical reflection points for leaders operating in accelerated change
The Secret of a Winning Culture
By John R. Childress and Larry E Senn
What the book is about
First published in 1999, The Secret of a Winning Culture helped bring the concept of corporate culture to life for CEOs and business leaders, laying the foundation for a practical business approach to building high-performance culture.
What leaders take away
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A practical, CEO-focused view of what creates a winning culture
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How leaders build the conditions for sustained performance
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Core principles that still underpin modern culture work
“ John Childress effectively tied together Strategy Execution and Corporate Culture so we could better understand the critical importance of how they reinforce each other. ”
Eric Rogers, Head of Strategy Execution
T D Williamson, Inc.
“ During our time together, he observed me in my role as the leader of a large organization, constantly coaching me and pointing out opportunities for leadership improvement. This guidance and coaching was invaluable to me during the successful business turnaround. ”
Raymond Osgood, Executive Managing Director
ANZ, CNH Industrial
“ John’s advice and insights were instrumental in the successful acquisition integration of two aerospace firms with product synergies but big cultural challenges. ”
Frank Tempesta, President
Textron Systems Co.