The Imperfectionists: Strategic Mindsets for Uncertain Times

Consistently effective strategic problem-solving has always been a challenging goal to achieve for leaders. And whether you operate in the business, nonprofit, or policy sector, you've undoubtedly noticed that the problems you face are becoming more complex, multifaceted, and difficult.

In The Imperfectionists, a team of veteran executives and strategists deliver an original and compelling examination of what sets exceptional problem solvers apart from the rest of us. In the book, authors Rob McLean and Charles Conn identify six mutually reinforcing approaches that power the problem-solving skills of some of the world's best leaders. From an ever-present curiosity about the problems they face to a high tolerance for ambiguity, the ability to see through multiple lenses, and relentless experimentation, you'll explore the techniques that form the foundation of expert problem-solving mindsets.

A powerful argument for the proposition that the world's best problem solvers are made, not born, the book demonstrates the radical and exciting possibilities that arise when leaders embrace imperfection, ambiguity, and experimentation in their daily lives. You'll discover how to crack the code of even the most stubborn and inscrutable problems as you learn to lean into the uncertainty and volatility that define your environment.

About the Author

Robert McLean, AM, is a Director Emeritus of McKinsey & Company, a Trustee of The Nature Conservancy in Australia and Asia, and a Director of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Australia’s largest philanthropic foundation. He is the former Dean of the Australian Graduate School of Management. He was a Fulbright Scholar to the Columbia University Graduate School of Business.

Charles Conn is an investor, environmentalist, and entrepreneur. He is co-founder of Monograph.bio, a venture firm, and was previously CEO of the Rhodes Trust in Oxford. He is Board Chair of Patagonia and sits on The Nature Conservancy European Council. He was founding CEO of Ticketmaster-Citysearch, and was a partner at McKinsey & Company. He is a graduate of Harvard, Oxford and Boston Universities.