Tom Rieger - Author of Breaking the Fear Barrier

Fear. Our own worst enemy may not be the economy or the federal deficit. Our own worst enemy may be fear. That's the fear that lives in our hearts and stalks our lives.

A company's worst enemy is not always the competition, even today when its sources are global competitors companies often can't see are coming. Sometimes it's the fear that lives within its own walls.

In companies, fear can take many forms: fear of not meeting a goal, of not getting a bonus, of losing decision rights and respect. Fear compels employees and managers to protect themselves by creating seemingly impenetrable barriers fortified by rules and practices that benefit one group while harming others.

Tom Reiger is the author of Breaking the Fear Barrier: How Fear Destroys Companies from the Inside Out and What to Do About It.

Rieger has studied fear and the decisions fear inspires in organizational behavior. From corporate offices to battlefields he has documented how fear, when left unchecked can can spread at an alarming rate.

He's compiled real-world lessons from his studies in his book. And he's included solutions that leaders at any level can use to overcome the barriers created by fear. While these steps require courageous leadership their results can be transformational for the organizations and those within.

"If you struggle with bureaucracy, this book is required reading. Tom Rieger's diagnosis of all-too-familiar organizational problems and his clear plan to solve them will help executives put an end to handwringing, and provide a jumpstart in transforming their organizations." -- Mike Mears, Chief of Human Capital, CIA (retired)