Leadership today is more complex than ever, shaped by rapid technological change, shifting workplace cultures, and increasing pressure on organizations to do more with less. In his book Palms Up Leadership: Developing Our Future Leaders, Rich Plumery brings together decades of professional and personal experience to offer readers a framework for meeting those challenges.
His approach—summarized in the Palms Up principles of Enable, Engage, and Embrace—is rooted in practical leadership and real-world lessons. Drawing on project management, sports psychology, and experiences in high-stakes environments, Rich presents leadership as a responsibility to support, protect, and guide others, while still driving organizational goals forward.
The result is a book that is part memoir, part guidebook, and a reflection on the qualities that help leaders build trust and resilience in their teams.
Quick Look
- Author: Rich Plumery
- Book Title: Palms Up Leadership: Developing Our Future Leaders
- Genre: Nonfiction / Leadership & Business
- Publisher: USA Publishing Hub (August 1, 2025)
- Buy Now: Amazon | Author Website
- Follow Rich: LinkedIn
Palms Up Leadership introduces a leadership framework designed for today’s professional environment. Using lessons from his career in project delivery, entrepreneurship, and coaching, Rich explores how leaders can:
- Enable their teams by removing obstacles and creating clarity
- Engage others through trust and collaboration
- Embrace responsibility while balancing organizational and human needs
The book also addresses current challenges—from the loss of institutional knowledge to the impact of AI on the workplace—making it a timely resource for both established leaders and those just beginning their careers.
Author Q&A with Rich Plumery
Q: What is your book about and what inspired you to write this book?
A: I’ve had the idea for a book in my head for ten years, but I’ve struggled to combine the many facets of my life and career into something cohesive and worth sharing. I waffled between writing a book about managing projects and leading project-based organizations, sharing the tools I’ve developed over the years, or focusing on leadership strategies for teams and organizations that are more broadly applicable.
Given my unique background, I felt compelled to share my story while I still have the time and energy to do so. I want to make a difference at a time like this, when it’s most needed. I chose to focus on developing leaders for today’s challenges, because it contemporaneous and critical to our future.
Q: When did you start writing, and what made you decide to publish this book?
A: Once I decided upon the exact topic it took me about 9 months of writing, rewriting, editing, etc. Sometimes I just write to get things off my mind or to put into to my weekly blogs to our 13,000 project team members, but as I gained momentum writing more and more, I knew I wanted to publish it to expand its reach.
Q: Which character was the most fun—or most challenging—to write, and why?
A: I was careful in writing about my past experiences with others in order to portray my role in the endeavor accurately and not overstate my personal contribution.
Q: What themes or messages do you hope readers take away from your book?
A: Being selfless and authentic as a leader through enabling, engaging and embracing others while protecting the business is essential for our future leaders.
Q: Were there any real-life experiences that influenced your story or characters?
A: The Maui fire amongst the various other experiences I detail in my book was influential because that laid open the essence of authentic leadership and being protective of others as well and listening to and trusting my gut to do the right thing even in a stressful moment.
Q: What question do you wish readers would ask you about the book?
A: I guess it would be “How come on a non-fiction book you shared so many personal vulnerabilities?” I would answer it as follows: “I wanted to ensure I gave the reader something they could not just read about but that they could understand it enough to implement it and feel it and relate to it.”
Q: Do you have a favorite quote or moment from the book you’d like to share?
A: A couple of my favorites are “Apathy is the Enemy of Excellence” and “Make the minimum decision necessary to keep things moving forward while better information becomes available.”
Q: What was the biggest challenge in writing or publishing it?
A: Writing and rewriting then rethinking what you wrote then rereading it again and again and trying not to get to a point of apathy.
Q: What’s next for you as a writer?
A: My next book will be on all my project management learnings over the years since I feel the vanishing wisdom in my industry is at the point of critical failure. We must do something, or safety and quality will suffer, and the public could be at risk.
Reviews & Praise
Readers have connected strongly with Rich’s practical and honest approach:
⭐ “A guide to authentic leadership.” – Carissa
⭐ “A playbook for servant leadership.” – Thomas Claybaugh
⭐ “Excellent… a perfect book for college courses in business management and negotiation.” – Claire
⭐ “We all lead something—do it well!” – John K. Hollmann
⭐ “Insightful and compelling… A must-read book on leadership.” – Anthony Avina
Average Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5.0/5, 10 reviews)
Key Takeaways
- Leadership works best when it is service-oriented.
- Clarity and engagement help teams stay resilient under pressure.
- Decision-making under uncertainty is a critical skill—leaders must keep moving forward while gathering better information.
- Small, practical actions can have long-term impact on organizational culture.
“Apathy is the Enemy of Excellence. Make the minimum decision necessary to keep things moving forward while better information becomes available.”
Author Bio
Rich Plumery is an author, speaker, and leader with a career spanning project management, entrepreneurship, and performance coaching. His work has influenced corporate cultures, athletic teams, and military partnerships, and he continues to advocate for servant leadership through his Palms Up philosophy.
Beyond his professional life, Rich is also the founder of the Gary Plumery Foundation, which provides meaningful support for developmentally challenged adults in his community.
Learn more at palmsupleader.com
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