Layered Leadership: Drive Double-Digit Growth and Dominate Your Competition with Creative Strategies and Execution

5 Star Review

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Editorial Book Review:

By Morgan Smith

This book takes leadership to a whole new level by mixing creative thinking with long-term growth plans. It shows that real success isn't just about numbers, but also about making a space for new ideas, teamwork, and thinking about the future. What interested me most was how it goes against what most people would think a leader should do. There are more than one way to do things, and leaders at all levels should work together to make the whole company successful instead of relying on rigid structures and old ways of doing things. Anyone who wants to make a difference should follow these new, doable ideas.

The book goes beyond theory by offering concrete strategies for leadership development, succession planning, and vision-driven execution. I appreciated how it doesn’t just focus on what makes a great leader, but rather, how to create an environment where leadership thrives across an entire organization. I liked how they stressed mentoring and building up the next generation of leaders. It reinforced the idea that real success isn't just about achieving your own goals; it's also about helping others along the way.

One of the things I enjoyed most was its focus on balancing creativity with structure.There is a lot of repetition in leadership books that doesn't make it clear that both planning and innovation are important. "Whole brain leadership" is an interesting idea that says leaders should solve problems using both creative and logical thinking to stay ahead of the competition. I thought about leadership again, not just in terms of ideas, but also in terms of the daily decisions that shape the way a company works.

When I was done, I felt like I had the tools I needed to be a better leader in any situation, whether it was a company, a business, or even a personal project. Not only is this book a guide, but it also asks you to rethink leadership in a way that is dynamic, long-lasting, and deeply human. If you want to lead with direction, purpose, and an open mind, you need to read this book.

About the Author

Lawrence R. Armstrong

Lawrence joined Ware Malcomb in 1984 and shortly thereafter was responsible for running the firm’s Los Angeles office. In 1988, he was promoted to Principal of the firm, and then became CEO in 1992. In addition to expanding Ware Malcomb from a Southern California firm to a national and international firm with 28 offices in key markets across North America, Lawrence’s tenure as CEO is hallmarked by an unprecedented 40x revenue growth. In 2020, Lawrence transitioned to the role of Chairman and now leads the Board of Directors for Ware Malcomb.

Lawrence is an accomplished architect and strong business leader. He is well known for his strategic, visionary approach to Ware Malcomb’s management and growth, as well as his commitment to fiscal discipline to ensure the overall health of the firm. His strong design ability and focus on creativity and innovation greatly influenced all aspects of the organization. His philosophy of embracing change and rewarding achievement and innovation has resulted in a highly successful, dynamic firm. In 2008, Lawrence was selected as an award winner for the Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, Orange County/Desert Cities Region and was also a national finalist. In 2018, 2019 and 2022 he was selected to the prestigious OC 500, a list of the most influential leaders in the community by the Orange County Business Journal. Lawrence was also nominated as an Innovator of the Year in the Orange County Business Journal’s program recognizing OC innovators creating game-changing ideas and business models.