You probably already know that I am a huge fan of Pat Lencioni. I first met Pat when I wrote about him in the WSJ in 2009 and have devoured his various fables about executives jockeying for key positions and striving for self-actualization in fictional American companies.

This week, Pat has released his first nonfiction business book, The Advantage. In it, he argues that the difference between successful companies and mediocre ones has little to do with what they know and how smart they are and more to do with how healthy they are.

Organizations are healthy when they are whole, consistent and complete and when their management, operations and culture are unified. Healthy organizations outperform their counterparts, are free of politics and confusion and provide an environment where star performers never want to leave.

In the book, Pat shares dozens of stories of his many years in the consulting world, along with advice for how we can conduct business in a new way that aligns the organization around a common set of principles and maximizes individual potential. It's a must-read for established executives and up-and-coming large and small business leaders who recognize that the business world has shifted and want to build an empire based on traditional values like open communication, ethical behavior, trust, and teamwork.