My new book will provide insights from sports, health care, business and government to help leaders get better outcomes.  The publication date will be announced soon.  (For inquiries, write me at Goalplayleadership [at] gmail [dot] com.)

But it is already getting great reviews.  For example:

This book is a great coach. Whether you learn by data, story, or analogy, you will find good information. . .  And even better, life lessons.

We all are called to lead. How we work with others matters as much as what shows up on the scorecard. Levy’s insights from many examples of great wins… And painful failures on the pitch and even more so across healthcare and business provide a very practical guide for all of us

“Levy draws insights from sports, healthcare, business and government to not only help teach us how to get better outcomes, but to be better guides for those we are responsible for. A ton of substance for such an enjoyable read.

Jeff E. Thompson, CEO, Gundersen Lutheran Health System.

Levy’s metaphorical soccer book on business management provides those of us in leadership positions an opportunity to hit the reset button, while we assess our own effectiveness in today’s ever changing world.

Roger Berkowitz, CEO, Legal Seafoods.

Levy draws on the compelling leadership lessons he has distilled from “coaching” in the public sector, in educational and medical administration, and in soccer leagues.  Across these respective domains, he shows a common denominator for team success.  In the process Levy shows his familiarity with the literature and at the same time makes theory relevant through his abundant use of compelling encounters.

David P. Boyd, Professor of Management at Northeastern University, former Dean of the Northeastern University Business School.

In this book, Levy thoughtfully interlinks lessons learned on the soccer field, in the C-suite and at the gemba. Leadership is indeed a balance of offense and defense, risk and responsibility. His perspectives on the importance of servant leadership, building an environment of transparency, accountability and respect, and institution-wide commitment to ongoing quality improvement clearly reflect the future of health care. Perhaps the most valuable lesson Levy offers is that leaders at all levels are constantly growing, evolving and learning from their mistakes and their successes.

Ora Peskovitz, Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, University of Michigan, & CEO, University of Michigan Health System.

Written by a highly successful practitioner who has led several major organizations, this book is filled with battlefield insights on what it takes to be an effective leader.  Beguilingly, the book comfortably moves from issues in leading a sixth grade girl’s soccer team to running a world-class medical facility in a seamless way. For a new CEO, this is a particularly relevant piece of work.

F. Warren McFarlan, Albert H. Gordon Professor of Business Administration, Emeritus, Harvard Business School.

This is an inspiring read. Paul Levy offers the business executive insights in to achieving success as leader.  He provides first-hand examples of how inspirational leadership can have a profound impact on an organization, its people, its culture and its success. This book was so good I read it twice.  It was the first time I have ever wanted for the flight to be sent in to holding pattern, so engrossed was I.

Bill Taylor, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Boston.

Paul stresses the benefits of basic thinking about the necessity of organizational purpose, the centrality of the customer, the benefit of empathy over control, the power of the respect for the opinions of every employee, the true meaning of quality, the benefits of Lean as a tool for continuous improvement, and the joy of a learning organization. The unique juxtaposition of soccer and the leadership lessons makes the advice memorable and the book an enjoyable read. I hope that anyone who wants to be a leader in healthcare will read Paul’s book and benefit from the wisdom it contains and the lessons to be learned on the difficult journey to greater quality and the elimination of harm.

Eugene Lindsey, President and CEO, Atrius Health.

Time is extremely precious – only more so when you’re out trying to change the world.  This book is a good use of that precious time – offering hard won insight into how we can nurture the leader in ourselves – and as importantly in those around us.  Learning from what hasn’t worked is as critical to that end as what has, and Paul offers inspiring – even entertaining – perspectives culled from the soccer field.  It takes a certain amount of bravery to admit that we could stand to improve our own leadership styles, but as Paul’s words (and actions) have shown, when it comes to leadership, bravery is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and those around us.

Alexandra Drane, Chairman and Chief Evangelist of Eliza Corporation.

The idea to make a comparative analysis between soccer coaching and management is unique, remarkable and as a sports fan, especially soccer, I must say very close to my heart. Observing the CEO’s character as that of a coach is indeed unusual; however the key uniqueness that I found in the book is the empowerment of the employee at every level, the desire and willingness of the CEO to learn from any employee, in any position, and to run an organization that is completely transparent, including transparency regarding errors. This in the end is what makes the CEO not just a manager but also a leader.

Shlomo Mor-Yosef, MD, MPA, Director General, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem 2001-2011