Closing the Execution Gap : How Great Leaders and Their Companies Get Results

by Richard Lepsinger (Right Management Consultants)

• ISBN13: 9780470636725
• ISBN10: 0470636726
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2010-04-01
• Publisher: Pfeiffer

Summary

Praise for Closing the Execution Gap"I got half way through the introduction and was hooked. The book's premise-strategic thinking used to be a leader's main focus but surprisingly that's not enough-gave me confidence that my efforts to drive execution are not in vain. Many of the challenges that Lepsinger describes are exactly what we are experiencing and Closing the Execution Gap gave me a way to organize my thinking into actions I will take at my company. I plan to buy copies for my entire team." Mark Miller President and CEO, New Horizons Worldwide"Closing the Execution Gap is quick hitting and current. Lepsinger's 'how to' style is easy to read and apply. The examples jumped out and kept me interested and I got value out of every chapter. Companies that are interested in developing managers will use this book the way I intend to use it-as a practical guide to effective execution." Bernard Flynn President and CEO, NJM Insurance Group"As compared to many leadership books, I found Closing the Execution Gap to be refreshingly practical. I advise the reader to have their yellow highlighter at the ready. I especially liked the forthright analysis and recommendations that came with the author's look at the critical area of accountability." Harold Scharlatt Design and Delivery Manager, Center for Creative Leadership"Closing the Execution Gap has excellent information and insights that are well connected to meaningful bodies of research. Lepsinger hones in on tangible, real-world problems that many leaders will recognize and then offers practical solutions.?Line managers and Learning and Development professionals will find this book of interest because it captures the critical concepts that make an organization and its people successful." Craig DinsellEVP and Head of Human Resources, Oppenheimer Funds, Inc.

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Introduction

Vision Without Execution Is Hallucination

Yes, There Is an Execution Gap?But That's Only the Tip of the Iceberg! ?Conventional Wisdom?: Maybe Not So Wise!

The Five Bridges: Gap Closers That Make the Difference

The Bottom Line

Bridge Builder 1: Create and Use Action Plans

First Things First: A Brief Look at Strategic Planning

Vision and Standards of Excellence

Aligning Projects and Programs with Strategy

Action Planning: An Execution Essential

The Bottom Line

Bridge Builder 2: Expect Top Performance

The Pygmalion Effect: Proof That Expectations Drive Performance

Breaking the Cycle

The Bottom Line

Bridge Builder 3: Hold People Accountable

What Is Accountability Anyway?

Why We Should Hold People Accountable?and Why We Don't

Assessing Accountability: The Four Levels

Why We Make Excuses

Accountability Boosters: Managing Accountability in Others

The Bottom Line

Bridge Builder 4: Involve the Right People in Making the Right Decisions

Beyond the Buzzword: What ?Empowerment? Really Means

Brain Basics: How Cognitive Systems Impact Judgment and Decision Making

So How Can We Make Better Decisions?

The Bottom Line

Bridge Builder 5: Facilitate Change Readiness

What Top-Performing Companies Do

Kicking Old Habits: What Addicts Can Teach Us About Change

The Five Levels of Change Readiness

Moving on Up: Facilitating Change with Level-Appropriate Strategies

Holding Up the Mirror: Understanding the Impact of Leader Behavior

The Importance of Change Talk

The Bottom Line

Bridge Builder 6: Increase Cooperation and Collaboration

Cooperating Versus Competing: The Human Struggle

Encouraging and Sustaining Cooperation

Disagreement Happens: How to Gain Support and Resolve Conflict

The Bottom Line

Conclusion: Five Lessons for Leaders

Integrate the Leader and Manager Role

Clarify Assumptions and Priorities

Make Sure the Right Systems Are in Place

Coordinate and Monitor High-Impact Actions

Get Change Management Right

The Bottom Line

Appendix: Criteria for Selecting Top-Performing Companies

Notes

Index

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