Most businesses rely on talent to succeed, but none so much as professional service firms. Within this rapidly expanding, trillion-dollar industry, professionals—and how they're managed—are the primary source of competitive advantage.

What separates the best professional firms from their less successful competitors? And what lessons do their experiences hold for other talent-driven businesses?

In their comprehensive book, respected academic Jay W. Lorsch and accomplished practitioner Thomas J. Tierney draw from rigorous research and decades of experience to provide a practical perspective on how to win in professional services. Their work is based on an analysis of industry leaders in fields as diverse as law, accounting, investment banking, advertising, information technology, executive search and management consulting.

"A must-read for every professional."

Aligning the Stars argues that strategic success is achieved by building an organization of executive-level stars whose day-to-day performance reinforces and ultimately achieves the goals of the business. Outstanding firms align stars across business lines, geographies and even generations. Through compelling real-world examples, Lorsch and Tierney show how successful firms create and sustain alignment via strategy, organization, culture and leadership.

By describing how to lead the stars that shape a company's destiny, Aligning the Stars offers valuable lessons for the leaders of every talent-driven business.