The Art of Engagement: Bridging the Gap Between People and Possibilities

by Haudan, Jim

• ISBN13: 9780071544856
• ISBN10: 0071544852
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-08-20
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education

Summary

"Haudan's approach helps organizations bring strategies to life by engaging the hearts and minds of their people." -Marcus Buckingham, bestselling author ofGo Put Your Strengths to WorkAlmost any business leader will admit that creating a strategy is far easier than executing it. That's because the majority of organizations don't know how to bridge the canyons that exist between executives, managers, and front-line employees. Most strategic initiatives fail when a company tries to execute strategy despite its people rather than through them.As CEO of consultancy Root Learning, Jim Haudan has more than twenty years experience helping businesses bridge these canyons and achieve their strategic goals. Here, he shares his secrets for driving this strategic execution. Refreshingly accessible, this important book presents executives, managers, and team leaders with a proven, effective way to communicate, empower, and motivate employees at every level of an organization.Through stories, illustrations, and insightful observations Haudan explores the concept of engagement in business--from the "roots of engagement" to the six reasons why so many workers rank themselves as disengaged to the keys to unlocking engagement in any organization. He also includes a framework for implementing the process of strategically engaging employees as well as a self-assessment for checking your own company's level of strategic engagement.The Art of Engagementequips you with a range of tools--sketches, illustrations, and highly visual "learning maps"--to help employees speak the same language, see from the same point of view, and connect their individual actions to the success of the whole company. Included are: Engaging visual learning tools designed to help you communicate more effectively with your workforce Proven methods for successfully engaging employees at every level of an organization Real-world case studies of such organizations as Harley-Davidson, Pepsi Cola, and BlockbusterA strategy may look perfect on paper, but it's worthless if leaders forget that human beings have to implement it.The Art of Engagementarms you with the knowledge and the know-how to engage your employees and drive effective strategic execution.

Author Biography

Jim Haudan is President and CEO of Root Learning, an international management consultancy. He pioneered the Root Learning method of visual learning and has been with the company for more than twenty years.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. ix
Introduction	p. xii
What "Engagement" Really Means	p. 1
What Do You Mean, You Want a Hot Dog?	p. 3
The Engaged Difference	p. 9
The Roots of Engagement	p. 17
The Disengagement Canyon: Voices from the Trenches	p. 27
I Can't Be Engaged If I'm Overwhelmed	p. 31
I Can't Be Engaged If I Don't Get It	p. 39
I Can't Be Engaged If I'm Scared	p. 47
I Can't Be Engaged If I Don't See the Big Picture	p. 55
I Can't Be Engaged If It's Not Mine	p. 63
I Can't Be Engaged If My Leaders Don't Face Reality	p. 71
The Six Keys to Engagement	p. 79
Key #1: Connecting through Images and Stories	p. 83
Key #2: Creating Pictures Together	p. 95
Key #3: Believing in Leaders	p. 109
Key #4: Owning the Solution	p. 121
Key #5: Playing the Entire Game	p. 135
Key #6: Practicing before Performing	p. 155
The Process of Strategic Engagement	p. 165
Strategic Engagement as a Process	p. 169
Creating a Line of Sight	p. 179
Connecting Goals	p. 199
Developing Capabilities	p. 213
Conclusion: Lessons Learned	p. 233
Sources	p. 243
Index	p. 244
About the Author	p. 257
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