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It's the weekend before New Years. Christmas Day has come and gone. Landfills welcome tons of wrapping paper. Retailers welcome tons of returns. And you just might get the opportunity to kick back a little and maybe even read. Here are five articles from the news this week that I think you'll find interesting and helpful.

I'm pointing you to articles on CEO accountability (or not), business reading ideas, Warren Buffett's latest wonderful adventure, social networking sites, and stupid employee tricks.

From SmartMoney: Accountability Claims Jobs of Wall Street CEOs
"For Noel Tichy, professor of management at the University of Michigan's Stephen M. Ross School of Business, these huge losses indicate, in one way or another, a failure in judgment — and one that shouldn't go unpunished. The primary job of a chief executive is to "add value to the assets you're given," says Tichy, co-author with Warren Bennis of "Judgment: How Winning Leaders Make Great Calls." When you don't do that, shareholders and directors have every right to show you the door. "

Wally's Comment: Every company says that people are their greatest asset, but hardly anyone acts that way. In this article Tichy talks about how a CEO should increase the value of the assets he or she becomes steward of when taking the job. But it's clear that he's only talking about financial assets and shareholder interests. That kind of thinking is dangerous in a Digital World where knowledge workers are more and more important.

From the Wall Street Journal: Some Holiday Books About Inspiration and Delusion at Work
"Many business books are heavier on jargon than on wisdom, executives often complain. But among this year's titles are some that can sharpen managers' thinking about technology, management and careers. Other simply offer pleasure, as the holiday season gives some respite from meetings and business trips."

From the New York Times: A Deal Maker with a Hot Hand Opens His Wallet
"Warren E. Buffett is in no mood to quit. At 77, Mr. Buffett, the country’s most famous investor, is in the midst of his hottest streak in almost a decade. And he is capping his run with a flurry of deal-making. On Friday, Mr. Buffett stunned Wall Street by announcing that he would enter the troubled bond insurance business. He also spent about $440 million for a unit of ING Groep, the Dutch financial giant. Three days earlier, on Christmas, he agreed to buy a $4.5 billion stake in the industrial conglomerate owned by the Pritzker family. And a few weeks before that, he waded into the junk bond market, buying $2.1 billion of debt issued by the TXU Corporation, the electric utility."

Wally's Comment: It seems to me that Mr. Buffett, at his best, was nondescript, behind-the-scenes, taking time to evaluate everything before making a move. That seems to have changed in the last year and he's become more of a celebrity. These moves seem out of character compared to most of his long run of success and I can't help but wonder if the Sage of Omaha, like most mere mortals, will prove himself susceptible to hubris.

From the San Jose Mercury News: Facebook's year of gains and pains
"So what did we miss? Facebook, which had previously been open only to college and high school students, quietly expanded registration. And boy, did they join."

Wally's Comment: Keep an eye on the social networking sites. They're just starting to figure out how to connect with business and just beginning to reach critical mass. The three big ones are Facebook, MySpace, and LinkedIn.

From the Dallas Morning News: Stupid employee tricks to avoid in 2008
"Here are some cautionary tales from the workplace in 2007."

Wally's Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training. Click here to check it out.

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Wally Bock has helped people learn to be great bosses for more than a quarter century. His latest book, Performance Talk: The One-on-One Part of Leadership, makes learning key leadership principles almost effortless by teaching through a story and providing lists of resources for further growth.

Click here to find out more about Wally's coaching services.

For weekly tips and resources pointers, check our Wally Bock's Three Star Leadership Letter.

Click here to find out more about having Wally speak to your company or convention.