Getting Naked: A Business Fable about Shedding the Three Fears That Sabotage Client Loyalty

by Patrick M. Lencioni

Overview

Another extraordinary business fable from the New York Times bestselling author Patrick Lencioni

Written in the same dynamic style as his previous bestsellers including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, Lencioni illustrates the principles of inspiring client loyalty through a fascinating business fable. He explains the theory of vulnerability in depth and presents concrete steps for putting it to work in any organization. The story follows a small consulting firm, Lighthouse Partners, which often beats out big-name competitors for top clients. One such competitor buys out Lighthouse and learns important lessons about what it means to provide value to its clients.

• Offers a key resource for gaining competitive advantage in tough times
• Shows why the quality of vulnerability is so important in business
• Includes ideas for inspiring customer and client loyalty
• Written by the highly successful consultant and business writer Patrick Lencioni

This new book in the popular Lencioni series shows what it takes to gain a real and lasting competitive edge.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780787976392
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	02/02/2010
Series:	J-B Lencioni Series , #33
Pages:	220
Sales rank:	156,580
Product dimensions:	5.70(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Patrick Lencioni is a New York Times best-selling business author of eight books including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The Three Signs of a Miserable Job. As president and founder of The Table Group, Pat has consulted to CEOs and leadership teams in organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies and start-ups to churches and non-profits. In addition to his books, Pat and his work have been featured in publications like Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, BusinessWeek, and USA Today.

To learn more about Patrick Lencioni and his other books and services—including his newsletter—please visit www.tablegroup.com.

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Table of Contents

Introduction vii

The Fable

Part One: Theory 3

Part Two: Practice 17

Part Three: Research 69

Part Four: Testimony 119

The Model

The Origins of Getting Naked 195

Naked Service Defined 197

Shedding the Three Fears 201

Broader Applications of Nakedness 214

Acknowledgments 215

About the Author 219

Editorial Reviews

Author, speaker and management consultant Lencioni (The Three Signs of a Miserable Job) preaches a business model that may seem antithetical to many, which he calls "getting naked": being unafraid to show vulnerability, admit ignorance, and ask the dumb questions when dealing with clients. Lencioni's central argument is that by focusing on sales, rather than communication, consultants miss the key part of their job-consulting-and therefore lose out on valuable long-term client relationships. Presented mostly as a parable about a management consultant trying to reconcile two firms in a merger, Lencioni's latest is entertaining as well as informative, with a message that sticks (heavy-handed though it may be). Straightforward and widely applicable, Lencioni's advice should prove useful not only for business consultants, but anyone trying to build long-term client relationships.

Publishers Weekly

Author, speaker and management consultant Lencioni (The Three Signs of a Miserable Job) preaches a business model that may seem antithetical to many, which he calls "getting naked": being unafraid to show vulnerability, admit ignorance, and ask the dumb questions when dealing with clients. Lencioni's central argument is that by focusing on sales, rather than communication, consultants miss the key part of their job-consulting-and therefore lose out on valuable long-term client relationships. Presented mostly as a parable about a management consultant trying to reconcile two firms in a merger, Lencioni's latest is entertaining as well as informative, with a message that sticks (heavy-handed though it may be). Straightforward and widely applicable, Lencioni's advice should prove useful not only for business consultants, but anyone trying to build long-term client relationships. (Feb.) (PublishersWeekly.com, February 22, 2010)

From the Publisher

Dan Woren’s everyman voice sounds appealingly optimistic and energetic. It’s a sound that will encourage confidence in most listeners as they learn how they might use Lencioni’s transformative principles in all types of consulting relationships. His compelling fable describes how being vulnerable, authentic, and client centered—that is, getting naked—leads to more trust and loyalty than being fearful of losing business, being embarrassed, or feeling inferior. The hero of the fast-moving story, a likable business consultant at a prestigious and rigorous firm, is dumbfounded by the success of an acquired company whose operating culture is more informal, authentic, and intuitive. Applying what he learns to his own practice, he finds the inner strength to become more transparent and generous with his clients. T.W. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

JULY 2011 - AudioFile