The Synergist

In The Synergist, author Les McKeown delivers a model that shows leaders where they fall in his model and then provides a roadmap for improving leadership that does not lead to compromise rather leads to success. In the first part of the book McKeown describes each of the three 'natural' styles in detail and illustrates how and why they best work together (and when and why they don't). Part 2introduces us to the crucial fourth style - The Synergist. In distinction to the 'natural' VOP styles, we see that The Synergist is a learned style that anyone can develop and use in a group situation. We are shown that while great leaders intuitively act as Synergists in order to lead their groups to great success, in fact anyone who understands the VOP roles can transcend their own natural style, learn to be a Synergist and lead their business, division, department, project, group or team to Predictable Success. Part 3of the book provides the reader with a detailed step-by-step guide to developing their Synergist skills, and shows how to use them to lead any group to Predictable Success.

Les McKeown is the president and CEO of Predictable Success, a consulting firm with clients that include T-Mobile, Microsoft, The US Army, Harvard University, Bose, British Aerospace and many more. McKeown's previous book, Predictable Success, hit the Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-seller lists in 2010. McKeown is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and has appeared on CNN, ABC, BBC, Inc, Entrepreneur magazine, USA Today and The New York Times. Les speaks to businesses around the country helping management achieve a systematic approach to success.

Introduction: Herding Cats: Why groups so often fail to achieve their goals, and how to prevent it happening to you * Chapter 1: Overview: The failure gene that’s baked into the DNA of every group and how to escape it * PART I: The Unstable Triangle: The 3 naturally ocurring group interaction styles * Chapter 2: The Visionary: Hold on tight, we’re going to Mars * Chapter 3: The Operator: Yay...let’s build a rocket ship * Chapter 4: The Processor: Not so fast. Where’s your requisition slip? * Chapter 5: Gridlock: The hidden death-grip that silently paralyses every group * PART II: The Synergist: Transforming the group by transcending personal agendas * Chapter 6: Limping to the End Line: How and why Visionaries, Operators and Processors hobble the success of their group * Chapter 7: From Triangle to Pyramid: Bringing a new dimension to the group dynamic - The Synergist * Chapter 8: Dancing With the Stars: How the Synergist releases cohesion and flow in the group * Chapter 9: Starting Fast, Finishing Strong: The lifecycle of a highly successful group * PART III: Becoming a Leader of Leaders: Developing the Synergist mindset * Chapter 10: This is not that: Teaching the Visionary, Operator and Processor to understand each other * Chapter 11: We, not me: Building the groups’ agenda and ensuring it’s precedence * Chapter 12: And, not or: Moving the Visionary, Operator and Processor from competition to co-operation