Airline Without A Pilot - Leadership Lessons/Inside Story Of Delta's Success, Decline And Bankruptcy

The no holds barred, inside story of Delta's success, decline and path to bankruptcy...the lessons learned...and what it needs to do to take off again. It gives fresh answers to the often asked question,"What happened to Delta?" This book goes behind the incessant news stories for unique, never before published facts and insights into a classic success story and tragedy. It is based on extensive research, including behind-the-scenes information from 59 members of the "Delta family", the author's in-depth personal knowledge as a member of that family, and his broad experience as a business executive and management consultant. While giving poignant examples from many companies, Delta Air Lines is the book's poster child of a Board of Directors' and a leader's dramatic effects on tens of thousands of people. The book examines the leadership decisions by each of Delta's 7 CEO's and its Board of Directors and then highlights the decisions that built a highly profitable company for decades and those that have brought it to bankruptcy. The book is not the typical trip down 'memory lane', the template of many books about a corporation. Nor is it like the dozens of books today that focus on the airline industry. Instead, it is about leadership. There are profound and valuable lessons in this book for any leader, whatever the future brings for Delta. It guides them to answers to the questions, "What lessons can I learn from Delta to be more successful?" and "What can I learn from Delta to make sure it doesn't happen to my organization?". It is also about a remarkable group of people. As the book shows, Delta employees and retirees have been shining examples of commitment to its heritage - Service and Hospitality From The Heart - even when constrained by ineffective leaders. Part of the tragedy is the price they are now paying and will be paying for that ineffective leadership. The book is co-dedicated to the thousands of Delta employees and retirees who love what Delta once was and hope the current leaders have what it takes to restore it. This book is a fascinating inside look at a major U.S. corporation from both a business and a human perspective.

Reviews:

What an awesome book. I am a Delta employee with 18+ years and this is the best book I have read regarding my company. Although the Leadership would have us "little people" believe Delta is in bankruptcy because of us, this book places the Responsibility right where it belongs, with the CEO and Board of Directors. Thank you Mr. Nolan for disclosing the real facts! Those of us on the inside can relate to your book. It should be required reading, but instead, management at Delta has a prepared script to refute the truth disclosed in the book.

With a sharp eye and a keen analytical pen, Harry Nolan holds up a chronological mirror for the reader so we can see the step-by-step erosion of this once-fine company. It's a shame that Delta didn't hire advisors with his insight when the cracks in the company's armor started to appear. Acknowledging current CEO Gerald Grinstein's efforts now to 'row the boat ashore', Nolan does not cut him any slack for his past omissions/commissions as a member of this infamous Board of Directors. WHERE WAS THE BOARD? is a question asked often throughout the book. This book should be required reading for every Director, present and future, of every company, to witness what can occur when the Board relinquishes its responsibilities as Delta's Board did. A gripping story...and it's non-fiction too!

Once nationally recognized as one of the finest major corporations in the United States to work for, this book provides an insight into how a great company was led astray by an unfortunate string of incompetent leaders. This book should be required reading for anyone asked to serve on a company's Board of Directors or as a CEO/President. Lessons learned should be the ability to recognize a pattern of poor decisions and take decisive action before it is too late.

The book is an easy read. It is well organized and flows logically. In addition, it has slightly larger type with plenty of white space for improved readability.The author writes in a style similar to Peter Drucker, one of my favorite business writers. He expresses valuable key management points in a succinct, easy to understand way.The author brings his vast consulting experience together to very effectively relate to the issues that Delta faced. His perspective is how Delta's leaders - 7 CEOs and their Board - dealt with those issues and the leadership lessons we can all learn from the decisions of those leaders.From this leadership perspective, he chronicles the company history, starting with C.E. Woolman, founder of Delta and a great leader during the company's early decades. Nolan then graphically shows how the roots and a culture that caused a growing company to flourish and thrive were damaged or abandoned by later leaders, ultimately leading Delta into bankruptcy.The points made regarding the agenda of some management consultants are right on target. They deserve serious consideration by any CEO, Board or executive. The book is a valuable, textbook case study in how a great company can go awry when the leaders lose focus and depart from the values and culture that made it great.

While telling the fascinating story of Delta's rise and fall, the author effectively and poignantly presents the management lessons to learn (or relearn) from the story. The many valuable lessons include integrity, responsibility, leading by example, teamwork, and knowledge of the customer. This book should be required reading for every MBA student in America.

I was an executive at Delta during the pre-bankruptcy era, so I have the benefit of inside knowledge and perspective. Nolan's book is right on target in terms of facts, observations, analysis and recommendations.However, this is not just a story about another bankrupt airline. Instead, it really is about principal lessons of leadership as a value enhancer or destroyer. These lessons, when properly applied, lead to long-term sustainable growth for the company and secure retirements for employees. When the lessons are ignored or violated, they lead you straight to the bankruptcy court.Although this book is a fine human interest and business story, it is very unique. The author, Nolan, not only describes how Delta got itself into trouble, but also shows them a way out. He points out that a company's long-term strategic and financial success is dependent on selection of competent business leaders who understand how to plan for the unexpected, leverage and respect the value of human capital and respond to business challenges.Read this book!

This is an awesome book. It is easy to read and I could not put it down. My wife, friends and several of my business associates have also read it. Although each has a different level of business knowledge and interest, it appealed to everyone. We all enjoyed reading it and found it meaningful in different ways. The book effectively gives important lessons for a company to stay healthy. The author provides unvarnished information and recommendations. He does not gloss over any facts. His straightforward, no-nonsense manner is very refreshing. As a businessperson, I found the book quite meaningful in many ways - particularly in the well-documented lessons on leadership. In addition, my wife pointed out that the book is written so that even a non-business person can clearly understand it. For example, her eyes were opened to the job of a Board of Directors and what they are supposed to do in running a company. This book would make a great gift for a businessperson, a student or anyone who likes a good story.

As a current Delta Air Lines captain with many years invested with the company, I want to express my great appreciation for the book Airline Without a Pilot. I have long maintained that the story of Delta would be a model case study for any business school wanting to demonstrate how NOT to run a business, with a particular emphasis on the difference between "management" and "leadership". The book effectively does this and is "spot on" in so many areas, particularly in the discussion of the management/employee relationship necessary in a service industry. In the military, we used to say, "Take care of your troops, and they'll take care of you." Sadly, I have learned that all too often this adage does not transfer into the business world. This does seem strange, since everywhere that philosophy is tried, it meets with incredible success. Again, my experience with the "Harvard MBA's" (Leo Mullin, Michelle Burns, et. al.) has been that they merely learned how to transfer company assets into their pockets and then move on. The book also confirmed my negative instincts about many in the "consulting" industry, but the author's common-sense approaches truly bring a breath of fresh air into those discussions. I was absorbed as I progressed through the book (read in 1 evening), and I could not help but keep repeating to myself, "This guy GETS IT!" The author effectively recorded and discussed so many events that have been churning in my mind (and stomach) for so long, but had thus far evaded public scrutiny. My sincere hope is that this book will effectively shine a very bright light on the real causes for Delta's demise. My only (constructive!) criticism is that I wish that the author had dealt with Mr. Grinstein's ultimate responsibility and subsequent lack of accountability for his abdication of his duties for so many years as strongly as he did with Mr. Mullin's. I would like to think that our current "management" will take to heart the suggestions offered in the book's closing chapter. I wish the author much success with the book, and should he make the "book-signing" circuit, I hope to be first in line to shake his hand. I offer my heart-felt thanks and a commendation for a job well done.

This is the best business book I have read. It is also one of the best human interest stories I have read. The author's crisp writing style and reader-friendly formatting make this book an easy read, although his analysis, diagnosis and recommendations are quite sophisticated. The writer is a rare combination of a big league strategist who also has his feet in the real world. He intertwines facts, strategy and practical tactics in a remarkable way. Nolan has clearly done considerable research and the results show in the book. The author brings Delta's success, decline and path to bankruptcy alive for the reader. The lessons he provides, drawing on the Delta case history, will be valuable to any leader - or follower. The book is so engaging I had difficulty putting it down, so I read it in one sitting.

In describing the "rise and fall" of Delta Airlines, the writer did a great service to the people of Delta and honored their life's work without resorting to "trashing" the management in the process. His treatment of all the management was very even-handed constructive criticism. I have seldom seen a writer do both so well. In considering this as a case study for leadership, he adds practical solutions that can still be implemented as Delta faces its uncertain future.