Palms Up Leadership – A Leadership Book That Actually Feels Real

Most leadership books feel like they were written in a corporate boardroom. They’re heavy on theories, light on practicality, and usually forget that leaders are human beings too. Rich Plumery’s Palms Up Leadership is the opposite.

Plumery doesn’t sugarcoat his journey. He openly shares how he was once a college dropout, a bartender, and even fired from his first construction job for incompetence. Yet, he went on to become a Senior Vice President at AECOM, a Fortune 500 company. That raw honesty is what makes this book different—it’s leadership advice from someone who’s lived it.

At the core of the book is the Palms Up Leadership philosophy, built on three E’s: Enable, Engage, and Embrace. The framework is refreshingly simple. You don’t need a PhD to understand it—you just need the willingness to lead with empathy and intention.

One story that stays with you is Plumery’s escape during the 2023 Maui wildfires. His survival came down to trusting his instincts, which he connects to how leaders must sometimes act when facing uncertainty.

If you’re looking for a book that balances real-world stories with actionable insights, Palms Up Leadership is worth picking up.

👉 Read my full review here: Palms Up Leadership: Developing Our Future Leaders

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