The Illusion of
Invincibility
Andreas Krebs / Paul Williams
The Illusion of
Invincibility
The Rise and Fall of Organizations—
Inspired by the Incas of Peru
Forewords by Nik Gowing and Dr. Peter May
Copyright © 2019 Andreas Krebs and Paul Williams.
Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.
Originally published by GABAL Verlag GmbH, Offenbach, Germany under the title:
Die Illusion der Unbesiegbarkeit–Warum Manager nicht klüger sind als die Incas vor 500 Jahren
Translated from German by Christopher McGinty (www.bgbn.de) and Paul Williams
Cover design: Martin Zech Design, Bremen
Set and Layout: The Manufacturing Office, Hamburg
Cover Photos of the Authors: Birgit Schmuck/Michael Kranz
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The Illusion of Invincibility: The Rise and Fall of Organizations – Inspired by the Incas of Peru
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication number: 2019944127
ISBN: (print) 978-1-64250-143-8, (ebook) 978-1-64250-144-5
BISAC category code BUSINESS & ECONOMICS / Leadership
Printed in the United States of America
Table of Contents
Foreword by Prof. Dr. Peter May
The Unexpected Outcome of a Trip to Peru
What Goes Up Must Come Down? A Look at the Fortune 500
1 A Compelling Vision (or the Pitfalls of Ambition?)
“We Don’t Need a Vision—Just Reliable Delivery!”
On Eagles Flying through Circus Tents
Why Striving for Increased Market Share Is Not a Vision
Anything Is Better than Bullshit Bingo
2 Talent before Seniority (or the Creeping Danger of Mediocrity?)
What Happens When the Prince Automatically Becomes King?
Dilettantism, Disinterest, and Delegation
Rule Number 1: No Compromises!
Prognosis, Not Potential
A Stress Test for Key Aspects of Your Human Resources Policy
3 Achieving Results through Others (or the Case of the Leader-Sham?)
On Rock and Roll Women and Jars of Honey
Personal Responsibility: The Last Table
Beyond Delegation: Pull Leadership
Complete Leadership: More Than a Question of Style
1:10 or 1:10,000? Leadership ≠ Leadership
A Stress Test for Leadership
4 Fair Play (or Just Pretending?)
Sweet Talk, Empty Promises?
Undercover Investigation, Bottom-up!
It Might Be Legal, but Is It Legitimate?
Different Countries, Different Values
A Stress Test for Your Values—and Those of Your Company
5 Tackling the Real Opponent (or Are You Taking Your Eye off the Ball?)
When Alphas Collide
When Patriarchs Are Blind to the Future
When the Problem Is in the System
Don’t Underestimate the Power of Underestimation!
The Focused Organization
A Stress Test for Your Effectiveness
6 A Farsighted M&A Strategy (or a License to Lose a Fortune?)
The Usual Merger Mania—and a Positive Example
A Master Plan—or All Based on Hope?
Rational? You Must Be Joking!