Do Nothing!

Discover the Power of Hands-Off Leadership

By J. Keith Murnighan | Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group

About the book

Imagine you’ve just come back to work after a two-week vacation during which you actually relaxed, without calling in or checking e-mail. You discover that there are no pressing issues and that, on the contrary, your team scored a big new customer and fixed a nagging problem during your absence. No red flags or fires to put out.

Sadly, for most leaders this scenario is only a dream. They constantly check on what’s happen­ing because they expect the worst (and usually get it). But Keith Murnighan shows that not only is “do nothing” leadership possible, it is also far more effective than doing too much.

Great leaders don’t work; they facilitate and orchestrate. They think of great strategies and help others implement them. They spend their time preparing for the future. They take a comprehensive view of their terrain while also noticing key details so they can confidently choose the right forks in the road.


In other words, great leaders don’t do any­thing—except think, make key decisions, help people do their jobs better, and add a touch of organizational control to make sure the final recipes come out okay. In sharp contrast, most leaders are too busy actually working to do these things—and their teams suffer as a result.

Do Nothing!’s practical strategies and true stories will show you how to set high expec­tations for your team and watch it rise to the challenge. It will help you establish a healthier culture by trusting people more than they expect to be trusted. And it will help you overcome your natural tendencies toward micromanagement so you can let people do their jobs—even when you know you could do their jobs better.

As Murnighan writes, “My experience suggests that you will be surprised—wildly surprised. Peo­ple on your team will reveal skills you never knew they had and will accomplish things that go far beyond your estimate of their capabilities. They might not do things the way you would do them, but they will get results you never expected. Every­one has hidden talents, and most leaders never discover them. Before you reject this approach, ask yourself: what if you did nothing and it actu­ally worked?”

Editions of Do Nothing!

Hardcover
ISBN 9781591845300
Paperback
ISBN 9780143108566
EBook
ISBN 9781101571965

Read an Excerpt

Imagine you’ve just come back to work after a two-week vacation during which you actually relaxed, without calling in or checking e-mail. You discover that there are no pressing issues and that, on the contrary, your team scored a big new customer and fixed a nagging problem during your absence. No red flags or fires to put out.

Sadly, for most leaders this scenario is only a dream. They constantly check on what’s happen­ing because they expect the worst (and usually get it). But Keith Murnighan shows that not only is “do nothing” leadership possible, it is also far more effective than doing too much.

Great leaders don’t work; they facilitate and orchestrate. They think of great strategies and help others implement them. They spend their time preparing for the future. They take a comprehensive view of their terrain while also noticing key details so they can confidently choose the right forks in the road.


In other words, great leaders don’t do any­thing—except think, make key decisions, help people do their jobs better, and add a touch of organizational control to make sure the final recipes come out okay. In sharp contrast, most leaders are too busy actually working to do these things—and their teams suffer as a result.

Do Nothing!’s practical strategies and true stories will show you how to set high expec­tations for your team and watch it rise to the challenge. It will help you establish a healthier culture by trusting people more than they expect to be trusted. And it will help you overcome your natural tendencies toward micromanagement so you can let people do their jobs—even when you know you could do their jobs better.

As Murnighan writes, “My experience suggests that you will be surprised—wildly surprised. Peo­ple on your team will reveal skills you never knew they had and will accomplish things that go far beyond your estimate of their capabilities. They might not do things the way you would do them, but they will get results you never expected. Every­one has hidden talents, and most leaders never discover them. Before you reject this approach, ask yourself: what if you did nothing and it actu­ally worked?”

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Do Nothing! about?

Imagine you’ve just come back to work after a two-week vacation during which you actually relaxed, without calling in or checking e-mail. You discover that there are no pressing issues and that, on the contrary, your team scored a big new customer and fixed a nagging problem during your absence. No red flags or fires to put out.

Sadly, for most leaders this scenario is only a dream. They constantly check on what’s happen­ing because they expect the worst (and usually get it). But Keith Murnighan shows that not only is “do nothing” leadership possible, it is also far more effective than doing too much.

Great leaders don’t work; they facilitate and orchestrate. They think of great strategies and help others implement them. They spend their time preparing for the future. They take a comprehensive view of their terrain while also noticing key details so they can confidently choose the right forks in the road.


In other words, great leaders don’t do any­thing—except think, make key decisions, help people do their jobs better, and add a touch of organizational control to make sure the final recipes come out okay. In sharp contrast, most leaders are too busy actually working to do these things—and their teams suffer as a result.

Do Nothing!’s practical strategies and true stories will show you how to set high expec­tations for your team and watch it rise to the challenge. It will help you establish a healthier culture by trusting people more than they expect to be trusted. And it will help you overcome your natural tendencies toward micromanagement so you can let people do their jobs—even when you know you could do their jobs better.

As Murnighan writes, “My experience suggests that you will be surprised—wildly surprised. Peo­ple on your team will reveal skills you never knew they had and will accomplish things that go far beyond your estimate of their capabilities. They might not do things the way you would do them, but they will get results you never expected. Every­one has hidden talents, and most leaders never discover them. Before you reject this approach, ask yourself: what if you did nothing and it actu­ally worked?”

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Do Nothing!?

Economics, Finance, Business and Management > Business and Management > Management and management techniques > Management: leadership and motivation

Where can I read a sample of Do Nothing!?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781591845300

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Do Nothing!?

J. Keith Murnighan

Who is the Publisher of the book Do Nothing!?

Penguin Publishing Group

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Do Nothing! is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781591845300) and paperback(ISBN 9780143108566) and ebook(ISBN 9781101571965)

Where can I buy Do Nothing! online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Do Nothing! from below

Where can I buy Do Nothing!?