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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
