Love works: seven timeless principles for effective leaders by Joel Manby

With just a little bit of irony, I finished Joel Manby’s book, Love Works, as my plane was touching down in Orlando, Florida for the 2015 ASUG Annual Conference and SAP SAPPHIRE NOW. Joel Manby was recently hired as an outsider CEO for the beleaguered SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, also in Orlando. He began his career at General Motors, first at Saturn then rising to CEO of Saab North America. Prior to his new SeaWorld appointment, Mr. Manby was president and CEO of Herschend Family Entertainment, a theme park operator probably best known for their operation of Dollywood. And he is probably best known for his appearance on Undercover Boss. Mr. Manby writes about “seven timeless principles for effective leaders” and punctuates these principles with examples (both good and bad) from his career at General Motors and Herschend Family Entertainment. Those seven principles are being patient, kind, trusting, unselfish, truthful, forgiving, and dedicated.

Lest you think all this talk about love is an excuse to avoid the hard truths about leading an organization, let me set your mind at ease.

The bottom line is essential.

If we don’t hit our financial goals, we cannot achieve the other objectives we have… However, we achieve profits by doing the right thing for customers and employees; profits are not an end in themselves. Profits are a product of doing the right thing- over and over again.

Joel Manby in Love Works

These management philosophies put Joel Manby in the company of CEO’s like Starbucks’ Howard Schultz, who places a high priority on treating both employees and the bottom line with great respect. The world will be watching as Joel Manby brings these principles to SeaWorld. This 208-page book is easy to consume, as I did, on an average airline flight. Love Works is a must-read for leaders who want “to be the same person all the time: at work, with my family, at my church, and when I [am] alone.”

• Purchase Love Works (hardcover edition) on Amazon.com
• Purchase Love Works (Kindle edition) on Amazon.com

Disclosure of Material Connection: I borrowed a copy of this book from a public library and did not receive it free from its publisher. Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”