Mighty Midsized Companies: How Leaders Overcome 7 Silent Growth Killers

Consultant Sher, formerly the longtime CEO of a midsize company, worries about the state of the American midsize firms. As the founder of CEO to CEO, Inc., he works with business leaders to help medium-size companies grow and expand. This primer is aimed at the leaders of midsize companies, which make up a significant portion of the American economy; there are nearly 200,000 companies with revenues between $10 million and $1 billion, some privately or family-held, and some publicly funded. Problems specific to midsize companies are not always visible or widely discussed in M.B.A. courses or the media, he argues. These companies struggle with low tolerance for risk, few ways to develop talent, less strategic thinking, and less seasoned talent. The titular seven silent killers are letting time slip-slide away; strategy tinkering at the top; reckless attempts at growth; fumbled strategic acquisitions; operational meltdown; the liquidity crash; and tolerating dysfunctional leaders. Using numerous case studies and presenting thorough plans for overcoming each of the silent killers, Sher writes passionately about the ways in which leaders can become aware of these challenges and rally their management teams. This is a quiet but hard-hitting game plan. [em](Sept.) [/em]