Review: Management Practices of Successful CEOs by James P. Armatas, Ph.D.

Author James P. Armatas invites readers into the heart of company culture and the psychological landscape of leadership in his thought-provoking memoir Management Practices of Successful CEOs.

From the unique vantage point of a trusted consultant, a fly on the wall, and in some cases, a therapist or friend, Armatas gained access to impactful leaders of major global corporations over the past 50 years. In many cases, he aided them in their rise to the top, but more importantly, he often helped them remain in dominant positions for decades.

In today’s rise-and-fall corporate culture, longevity is valuable, but the variables that lead to such consistent success can be difficult to pin down. Through the vignettes and anecdotal stories from leaders like Gary Drummond, Joe Burstein, and Dave Noble, readers are allowed to peek behind the curtain, to witness a leader at their most vulnerable, and see how they overcame uncertainty and self-doubt.

For those currently in charge of companies, this book breaks down complex jargon and modern best practices and frames it in the reality of an older generation. The world of business has changed immensely, but the fundamental aspects of leading a company, inspiring employees, and respecting your communities remain just as relevant today as in the 1970s.

The level of detail in many of these biographical snapshots is incredible. Armatas either has a razor-sharp memory or a very efficient note-taking system that dates back decades. Not only are readers given the pedigree of the highlighted individuals and companies, but also some personal details, and a summary of the specific issues they faced in their respective companies. Reading the subsequent analysis and strategies suggested by the author is intriguing for a layman, and provides a great deal of insight about corporate structure, control vacuums, politicization in the work place, the deep ties between profit and risk-taking, and many other unique elements of running a business.

There is a also a good amount of personality on display, particularly with those long-time clients who became Armatas’s friends; it is clear that the author sincerely loved his job, and sees the value in his work and effort. This creates an authentic tone, one that makes the story interesting, even when the exposition is lengthy. Some of the explanations of different featured leaders do drag on, and the anecdotes can become tangential, leading readers away from the point of a given story, so much of these rambling sections could be redirected or edited down. Technically speaking, there are few mistakes, but there is repetition in some of the accounts.

The interspersed self-reflective passages are touch points in the author’s larger message, and more of these personal insights and nuggets of wisdom would be appreciated, rather than so much procedural storytelling of boilerplate details and exhaustively outlined connections. That being said, this book represents an impressive collection of professional experience, providing interested readers with a glimpse into a rapidly disappearing past, while reaffirming timeless qualities of leadership, strategic growth, and interpersonal skills that can stimulate success in the future.