Lessons from a Warzone: How to be a Resilient Leader in Times of Crisis
A STORY OF HOPE, PERSEVERANCE AND RESILIENCE IN THE MIDST OF WAR

Louai Al Roumani was head of finance and planning at one of the largest banks in Syria, when the war broke out in 2011.

In Lessons from a Warzone, Al Roumani shares his very personal account of coping with the day-to-day realities of leading an organization in dangerous and hostile conditions. His story shows how inspiration can come from the unlikeliest of places - from the timeless wisdom of merchants in ancient souks to the changing patterns of military checkpoints. During that time, not only did the bank remain robust when others faltered - it thrived and became the undisputed leading bank as people's trust in its capability to safeguard their lifelong savings strengthened.

In this book, Al Roumani distills the knowledge and skills he and his colleagues developed while steering the bank through four impossible years into ten lessons applicable to any leader facing a crisis today. His valuable, and often counterintuitive, advice - ranging from resisting over-planning to hacking your own IT department to cutting costs (but not morale) - will help anyone understand how to be resilient even in the most challenging of times.
 

1133495947
Lessons from a Warzone: How to be a Resilient Leader in Times of Crisis
A STORY OF HOPE, PERSEVERANCE AND RESILIENCE IN THE MIDST OF WAR

Louai Al Roumani was head of finance and planning at one of the largest banks in Syria, when the war broke out in 2011.

In Lessons from a Warzone, Al Roumani shares his very personal account of coping with the day-to-day realities of leading an organization in dangerous and hostile conditions. His story shows how inspiration can come from the unlikeliest of places - from the timeless wisdom of merchants in ancient souks to the changing patterns of military checkpoints. During that time, not only did the bank remain robust when others faltered - it thrived and became the undisputed leading bank as people's trust in its capability to safeguard their lifelong savings strengthened.

In this book, Al Roumani distills the knowledge and skills he and his colleagues developed while steering the bank through four impossible years into ten lessons applicable to any leader facing a crisis today. His valuable, and often counterintuitive, advice - ranging from resisting over-planning to hacking your own IT department to cutting costs (but not morale) - will help anyone understand how to be resilient even in the most challenging of times.
 

29.95 In Stock
Lessons from a Warzone: How to be a Resilient Leader in Times of Crisis

Lessons from a Warzone: How to be a Resilient Leader in Times of Crisis

by Louai Al Roumani
Lessons from a Warzone: How to be a Resilient Leader in Times of Crisis

Lessons from a Warzone: How to be a Resilient Leader in Times of Crisis

by Louai Al Roumani

Hardcover

(Not eligible for purchase using B&N Audiobooks Subscription credits)
$29.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 6-10 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

A STORY OF HOPE, PERSEVERANCE AND RESILIENCE IN THE MIDST OF WAR

Louai Al Roumani was head of finance and planning at one of the largest banks in Syria, when the war broke out in 2011.

In Lessons from a Warzone, Al Roumani shares his very personal account of coping with the day-to-day realities of leading an organization in dangerous and hostile conditions. His story shows how inspiration can come from the unlikeliest of places - from the timeless wisdom of merchants in ancient souks to the changing patterns of military checkpoints. During that time, not only did the bank remain robust when others faltered - it thrived and became the undisputed leading bank as people's trust in its capability to safeguard their lifelong savings strengthened.

In this book, Al Roumani distills the knowledge and skills he and his colleagues developed while steering the bank through four impossible years into ten lessons applicable to any leader facing a crisis today. His valuable, and often counterintuitive, advice - ranging from resisting over-planning to hacking your own IT department to cutting costs (but not morale) - will help anyone understand how to be resilient even in the most challenging of times.
 


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780241404850
Publisher: Penguin Random House UK
Publication date: 09/01/2020
Pages: 192
Product dimensions: 6.14(w) x 9.45(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Louai Al Roumani was the head of finance and planning at Banque Bemo Saudi Fransi (BBSF), the largest privately-owned bank in Syria when the conflict broke out in 2011. He has over 14 years' experience in various finance and strategic planning roles across the Middle East and UK. Louai studied in Beirut and Boston and now lives in London with his wife and works for UNICEF UK as Finance Business Partner.

Table of Contents

Foreword: The Ides of March xi

Preface: Pre-crisis xv

1 Don't do things right; do the right thing 1

Many turning points, but no turning back

To bank or not to bank?

The counterfeit-banknote dilemma

Why we offered our competitors' staff a bus ride

Why it sometimes pays to hack your own IT department

2 Transform your concept of time 21

Old State House in Boston versus my grandfather's house in Damascus

Time goes beyond fiscal years

Why we stopped asking when the war would end

It's not always about the money

Play the long game like a third-generation family business does

3 Chase opportunities relentlessly and don't die until death comes to you 33

The souq must go on

Why we embraced our clients' panic to withdraw their money

First-timers

Why we offered housing loans when Syrians were escaping the country

Don't die until death comes to you

The 80/20 rule becomes a 95/5 rule in a crisis

4 Now could be the best time to create a strategic rift 49

No one likes a crisis

Soar amidst the disruption

Redefine your Critical Success Factors

Understand the changing competitive landscape through Porter's Five Forces Model

Focus on what matters

5 Be a situational leader 69

Glorified leadership and false dichotomy

Leadership: back to basics

Situational leadership

Strategic, yet always on the ground

Persistent, yet knowing when to stop digging

Focused, but not restrained

Adaptive, yet not submissive in stakeholder management

Leading change, but not changing everything

6 Change, but don't rush to change everything 83

The importance of assessing the need for change

Being mindful of opposing forces in a changing context

Rewiring their thinking: from temporary and permanent changes, to changes mapped against the CSFs

Having a strong sense of the organization's core values

Always asking the 'five whys'

The five outcomes of change

Change to less

Change to more

Remain still

Remain passive; don't do anything

Change things half-heartedly

7 Cut costs, but don't slash morale 109

The tempting nature of cost-cutting

Know your cost-appetite culture

Understand your cost drivers

Motivate your good staff; lay off your bad ones

Keep some leeway: don't operate at the bare minimum

8 Do more and speak less 123

When our main founder abandoned us

As actions become harder, talk becomes cheaper

Even your name is not important

Never let your words confine you

Be wary of unwarranted signalling and implicit commitment

9 Don't overplan 139

Let it snow

All is fair in love and war; except for planning

Don't show me the numbers

The Crisis Planning Model

10 Align motivation and never become lax 157

Never become lax

Never budge to pressure

Always align your goals, in good times and bad

Enhance your bulls**t-detecting capability

Epilogue: Post-crisis 171

Acknowledgements 187

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews