Tracy Goss - The Last Word on Power: Executive Re-Invention for Leaders Who Must Make the Impossible Happen

W HILE I HAVE BEEN a lecturer and consultant in the field of transformation and transformational leadership for twenty years, until three years ago I had not expressed any of my work in writing. The fact that this book now exists, and has the possibility of being a catalyst for transformation for many more people than I might ever reach in person, is due to the extraordinary human beings with whom it has been my privilege to be associated. Specifically, I wish to express my appreciation to:

The wonderful thinkers, writers, and editors who played an essential role in turning the possibility of a book on Executive Re-Invention into a reality:

Gail Raben intentionally created the possibility of The Last Word on Power by introducing me to Betty Sue Flowers. When you two meet, there will be a book, she said.

Betty Sue Flowers continuously generated the opportunity for The Last Word on Power. Her commitment to the success of the book was and is never-ending, starting with bringing me to Harriet Rubin and then nurturing the process all the way through by making significant contributions as a scholar, editor, and coach. Having Betty Sue on your team is like having a fairy godmothersomehow whatever is needed magically appears at exactly the right moment.

Richard Christian is the only person I know who is truly an expert on all aspects of creativity, artistry, and politics. Richards work with me as a writer crystallized the focus and style of my voice, and with his assistance and coaching the manuscript moved to an entirely new level.

Art Kleiner, with great supportiveness and professionalism, helped me to cross the threshold that allowed the books draft to come into its final form. His expertise has been a creative signature for this and the many other books he has edited and coached. His artistic eye and unique creativity were sources of continued inspiration and contributed directly to bringing the manuscript to life. His patience, artistry, and sense of humor are gratefully appreciated. Finally, he is a brilliant, talented, and delightful human being with whom it was a pleasure to work.

During the initial stages of my work with Art, when we tore up and reassembled the manuscript in a very short time, we relied on Virginia OBrien for key editorial work. I appreciated her ear for language and diligence under pressure. She made an essential contribution to the final draft. Jennifer Breheny made time stand still.

Finally, and most important, there is Harriet Rubin, my editor at Doubleday Currency. Harriet is the future of the publishing industry. Just as when a first-time violinist plays a Stradivarius and recognizes that nothing else will do, as a first-time author I recognized immediately that Harriet was, without doubt, the only person with whom to create this book. Her instincts are always right. I am deeply grateful for her expertise as an editor and writer, her stand on me as an author, and her unshakable commitment to the possibility of this book being a catalyst for a revolution in leadership. Harriet is a rare combination of a true operatic diva and Glenda the Good Witch of the North; she can hold her own with anyone in the arena of making the impossible happen.

All those whose life work has powerfully impacted my thinking, my professional work, and my life, especially Philip Amato, Hubert Dreyfus, Charles Wesley Emerson, Werner Erhard, Fernando Flores, Buckminster Fuller, Michael Goldstein, Martin Heidegger, Joan Holmes, Randy MacNamara, Jim Selman, William Shakespeare, and Constantine Stanislavsky.

Distinguished colleagues all over the world who are engaged in one or another aspect of organizational transformation, many of whom have enthusiastically shared my work and the Executive Re-Invention Program with their associates, clients, and colleagues, particularly Nancy Dorrier and Judith Underwood; Mike Cook and Terry Miller; Allan Scherr; Maurice Cohen, Jerry Strauss, and David Spiwak; Bill Broussard, Bob Chapman, and Mike King; Vince DiBianca and Bob Berkman; Nathan Rosenberg; Marty Leaf; Rik Super; Harry Rosenberg, Barbara Holmes, and Brian Regniee; Joan Rosenberg, Tirzah Cohen, Michael Reid, and Arlene Reid; Mike McMaster; Jim Selman; and David Norris.

All of the executives and client organizations that we have had the privilege of engaging in Executive or Organizational Re-Invention, especially Jean-Luc Schwitzgubel, Head of Textile Dyes Division, Ciba-Geigy Limited, Peter Schutz, Head of Ciba Pigments Division, and Jean Schaefle, President of Ciba Pigments Division USA, and their executive teams; Bob Meers, Executive VP and President of Reebok Specialty Business Group; Charles Butt, Chairman and CEO of H. E. Butt Grocery Company in Texas, COO Fully Clingman, and the H. E. Butt and Pantry Division executive teams; Greg Thomson, SVP at Owens-Corning and his leadership team; Jerry Carr, Chairman and CEO of Rochester Tel, and his associates, Richard Smith, Controller, and Catherine Deagman, Corporate Materials Management; and the Honorable John Snobelen, Minister of Education and Training, Province of Ontario. I offer special thanks to Earl Lestz, President of the Studio Group at Paramount Pictures and his executive team, especially Larry Owens, VP Administration, Christine Essel, VP Planning and Development and Public Affairs, and Tom Bruehl, SVP Video Operations, for pioneering the Re-Invention work in its early stages.

All the members of the Leadership Center for Re-Inventions Executive Association for their willingness to create and demonstrate the reality of leaders operating in the mode of transformation and continuously pioneer the next level of making the impossible happen in their companies. As a group they are an important laboratory for transformation. I very much appreciate everyones input over the past year, and especially the valuable comments and critiques of Walter Kiechel and MaryBeth Rogers on the final draft.