Exception to the Rule: The Surprising Science of Character-Based Culture, Engagement, and Performance

The antidote to navigating turbulent times isn’t more rules.  It is timeless virtue that creates sustainable value.  

Thoughtful leaders are keenly aware of the enormous challenge they face to drive high performance in a world that continues to ratchet up pressure and uncertainty.  Some leaders respond by getting tough and establishing strict rules. They get people in line, but they don’t inspire excellence. Wise leaders, on the other hand, help their people practice character to navigate their way through the turbulence—without lowering performance expectations. As a result, their people are more reliable under pressure. 

Exception to the Rule links ancient wisdom with contemporary science on high performance, teamwork, and engagement. Building an organizational culture based on classical virtues– of trust, compassion, courage, justice, wisdom, temperance and hope - is both strategically smart and a better way to live. 

Exception to the Rule walks you through the steps of helping everyone in your organization focus on character defined by virtue.  The word virtue means excellence, which is why each one is essential to help people perform at a high level despite uncertainty and pressure.  Under character--based leadership, teams work better together, creativity flourishes and engagement increases.  

The most powerful idea of Exception to the Rule is this: character defined by virtue is not based on birthright; it can be learned and practiced. Everyone can develop habits to become better than they were. While character cannot be legislated, character can be cultivated.   

As virtue proves its value, the culture you have can evolve into the culture you need.

Peter J. Rea is Vice President, Integrity and Ethics at Parker Hannifin, Baldwin Wallace University Business Professor, and Co-Founder, Center for Innovation and Growth.

James K. Stoller, MD, MS, is Professor and Chairman, Education Institute, Cleveland Clinic, and Samson Global Leadership Academy Endowed Chair.

Alan Kolp is Baldwin Wallace University Endowed Chair in Humanities and Co-Founder of the Center for Innovation and Growth.

"This book presents a persuasive case that you don''t have to choose between virtue and success: it''s possible to be both a good leader and a great leader."-- Adam Grant , New York Times bestselling author of ORIGINALS and GIVE AND TAKE, and coauthor of OPTION B "The noble profession of business has never been under more intense criticism than we face today despite the existence of more laws and regulations. Exception to the Rule presents a compelling case for the return to a marketplace inspired by a commitment to virtues rather than rules while recognizing the rule of law can''t be ignored. The reader comes away from this book with an inspiring urgency to examine personal leadership styles and practices." - -Steve Reinemund , Retired Chairman and CEO, PepsiCo, and Former Dean of Business, Wake Forest University "There''s no way to over-emphasize the importance of virtue in daily life and business. Exception to the Rule , first treats us to stories that inspire us to be virtuous. Then the text backs up those stories with compelling data to prove the business case for virtuous corporate leadership. Finally, and perhaps most provocatively, the authors propose that practicing virtue must apply to self and allothers. Quite a challenge - but a worthy one! That''s virtue. Read the book, then become the exception." -- Jack Hoban , retired Marine Corps Captain who helped create the Marines Martial Arts Program and author of Ethical Warrior . "This book challenges the reader to understand the limitations of rules. Focus on virtues, instead, to see the risks of slippery roads and pitfalls. Mistakes are common and acceptable. They are not failures, if they lead to better and stronger leadership. Once more in their new book with Jamie as a new partner, Alan and Peter spoil us with many stories and techniques to remember ." --Pierre Jean Everaert, Chairman Emeritus Anheuser-Bush InBev "Rea, Stoller and Kolp offer a compass to leaders like me who strive to create a high performing culture that is also a meaningful and fulfilling place to work without compromising values. Having spent my life in the results driven business of professional sports, Peter and Alan have always inspired me to continue to build cultures founded on values similar to the virtues. This most recent work is comprehensive and provides supportive evidence that sustained success models exist. I highly recommend Exception to the Rule for leaders looking for guidance, inspiration or reinforcement in the journey to create a values driven organization that performs at elite levels." -- Mark A. Shapiro , President & CEO, Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club "I was delighted to read this work, which captures the authors'' deep experience and many years of teaching of leadership. Exception to the Rule offers unique, practical principles of leadership which we have fully embraced in the Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos Aires. The clarity of the book, nicely captured in the iconic metaphor of the parthenon and pillars of the supporting virtues, and the emphasis on culture and leadership character recommend it highly. I congratulate the authors!"-- Jorge Belardi, M.D., Chief Executive Officer, Instituto Cardiovascular de Buenos AiresArgentina "Parker Hannifin is a Fortune 200 public company. Parker invested in the ideas described in Exception to the Rule to preserve our reputation and to protect our financial strength. The virtues provided us with a common language to protect our culture as a competitive advantage. Our evidence revealed a strength-based approach to applying the virtues increased engagement and teamwork. Among the most fascinating insights from this work is that the virtues were universally embraced by our 50,000 people operating in 50 nations. Our people want to practice virtue not because they have to, but because they want to."-- Jon Marten , Chief Financial Officer, Parker Hannifin, 2010-2017. "At the Cleveland Clinic, we observed a simple and important result when teams practiced ideas detailed in Exception to the Rule . Virtue encourages prosocial behavior, which strengthens engagement and teamwork. Rules are designed for a fixed world. Virtue unites caregivers to navigate a rapidly changing health care world."-- Brian Donley, M.D., Chief of Staff, Cleveland Clinic "Since we have been practicing the seven classical virtues with our team in China; we have noticed improved working relationship and collaborations, which increases our resilience as a team. Trust and compassion are also more pronounced, even as we''ve had to take on difficult circumstance/challenges over the last couple of years. Clearly, we''re journeying on & sincerely hope that as a leadership team, we will continue to positively impact our colleagues, customers & stakeholders by putting these virtues into action." -- Michael Wee , Country Leader, Greater China, Parker Hannifin

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.