cover image Do Nothing!: 
How to Stop Overmanaging and Become a Great Leader

Do Nothing!: How to Stop Overmanaging and Become a Great Leader

J. Keith Murnighan. Penguin/Portfolio, $26.95 (240p) ISBN 978-1-59184-530-0

Harking back to concepts similar to Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching, this thoroughly researched approach from Murnighan, a professor at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, advocates effective leadership via “doing nothing”—allowing and encouraging certain potential present in the members of a team. In addition to discussing the importance of dynamic interplay between a leader and her team, Murnighan offers techniques for leading a team to certain defined goals, including the potent idea of de-emphasizing profits. Murnighan contributes his ideas on the character traits of a great leader, which include transparency, trust, and proper values. This engaging and quirky book, with plenty of practical takeaways, will suit anyone in a leadership position. Agent: James Levine, Levine Greenberg Agency. (June)