Edmond Life and Leisure - December 19, 2024

Brent Douglas & David Woods

Duo pen book on leadership

Brent Douglas and David Woods, president and chief executive officer respectively of Magellan Executive Partners, Oklahoma City’s premier executive leadership consultancy, announce the release of their first book collaboration, Old-Fashioned Leadership: Lessons from the Patio.

Signed, limited-edition hardback copies of this practical book, infused with decades of personal and collective experience leading and coaching teams and companies toward success, are available for pre-order at OldFashionedLeadership.com and shipped Dec. 1, just in time for holiday giving.

Douglas and Woods are both seasoned executives who left corporate America almost two decades ago with one goal: to use everything they’d learned to make life better for other leaders.

In Old Fashioned Leadership , together they’ve packed careers worth of wisdom into an approachable, functional, and actionable book dense with take-home truth that leaders and managers can put to work immediately. Its 51 short, digestible lessons explore everything from building a strong culture and what to do when things go wrong, to nurturing employees and learning how to lead yourself.

“As I think about the leadership lessons that have impacted me most over the years, they were always short, actionable ‘nuggets’ that stuck with me,” says Douglas. “That was our goal in writing this book – compact, sticky wisdom that simplifies a complex idea in a way that will change the way leaders think and act in a positive way.” Regarding the book’s title, David and Brent explain that they crafted it in homage to their favorite beverage.

“Over the years we’ve developed a small, celebratory ritual,” says Woods. “When the clock strikes five at the end of a particularly rewarding day, we’ve made a habit of mixing up our favorite cocktail, the Old-Fashioned, and heading out to the patio to reflect and celebrate the small victories.”

As they say in the introduction to the book, “The best work happens when the boardroom empties, the sleeves roll up, and the people get real together – on a patio, with a drink of any kind in their hand, and a napkin someone just drew on to make a point. It’s in that space that the meaningful story is told, the complex becomes simple… and what rises to the top is what matters most.”

Early reviews have been exceptional. “I love the heart and soul and familiar words of David and Brent and how they shine through in this work,” says Valerie Sherrer, owner and chief strategist at Lean On Me. “With each chapter it feels classy, confident, and clear.” Brian Gareau, former executive at Caterpillar, Inc., agrees.

“In a world where everyone is looking for the next ‘new’ thing, this new book is packed with terrific reflections on the actions we should already be taking.” For more information or to book an interview or speaking engagement, visit OldFashionedLeadership.com or contact Alexis Wade at 405-286-2816.