When I see a self-development book that promises to make you more successful in your life and career I naturally get sceptical.
I thumb through the introduction and sleeve to see what panacea they are selling this time.
However, after reading the Naked CEO I must admit to being pleasantly surprised by the simplicity and insight of the advice offered. Mr Malley is a well-known TV personality in his native Australia and the founder of the Naked CEO website, and brands himself as the disruptive schoolboy who became chief executive of a major global organisation.
This is a very personal book which makes it more powerful, as it shows this is not just theory but it works.
Naked CEO is structured into five sections that cover the themes of each of the author’s experiences on the leadership journey.
It begins with that of daring to dream and ensuring you develop a personal brand. This is sage advice, because while many may share the same skills we are all unique and it is up to us to make sure we grow as individuals rather than stagnate.
Mr Malley then looks at the importance of developing networks and people skills such as remembering people’s names.
Having a structure is key in any good read and the Naked CEO uses two excellent techniques that enhance the reader’s experience and convey a strong message.
Alex shares his experience of having been a mentor to many budding chief executives, giving examples of how his advice has actually been implemented and has helped the career of each mentee. Each chapter ends with a short summary of the key points outlined.
The only negative I would say about the Naked CEO is that at first glance you would assume it was written for the budding Apprentice candidate or the graduate starting off on his career journey.
However, I would urge you to persevere and read on, because the power of the advice offered by Mr Malley is such that everyone can take something from this book. I firmly believe if you want to change you should do so.
John Joe McGinley is principal business consultant of Glassagh Consulting
