Books on Performance Excellence

Rating

 “Absolute Honesty”, by Bob Phillips and Larry Johnson, AMACOM

In today’s world of political spin, combined with near paralyzing fear of “saying the wrong thing” and heightened self-interest arising from personal economic fears, Phillips and Johnson have created an oasis. Absolute Honesty is a place to go to get refreshed and awakened with the spirit of how adherence to 6 simple guidelines can reduce organizational strife, increase productivity and create a culture in which personal and economic growth can thrive.

“What (Really) Works”, W. Joyce, N. Nohria & B. Roberson, Harper Business

In “What Really Works” Joyce, Nohria and Roberson share the results of 10 years of research on 160  companies and the 200 primary business processes and management practices that those companies embraced that were essential to their success. They wanted to find the “essential few”. The results revealed 8 basic processes that lead to performance excellence: 4 “must-haves” and 2 of the other 4 also are key. Companies that follow those practices achieve total return to shareholders 15 times higher, sales 5 times higher and Operating Income 14.8 times higher. Great reading and useable ideas.

“The Heart of Change”, John P. Kotter & Dan Cohen, Harvard Business School Press

“The 80/20 Individual”, by Richard Koch, Doubleday

“Marketing Metrics”, P. Farris, N. Bendle, P. Pfeifer, D. Reibstein, Wharton School Publishing

 Books on Consulting

 “The Trusted Advisor”, David Maister, Charles Green & Robert Galford

The copy I have of this book is so dog-earned, marked up, highlight and annotated, pages fall to the floor when I open it.  It’s incredible applicability and appropriateness to the profession of consulting is one of the reasons I bought a Kindle — to have the book with me in useable form at all times. In this easy-to-read book, Maister, Green and Galford share insights and their experience in clients, human nature, consulting and trust. These lessons, caveats and models are based both on their great success as consultants, but also forged in the embarrassment fires of past mistakes. You will be delighted reading it when you discover priceless tidbits like the basic-trust equation—and angry with yourself when you see in their words your dysfunctional behavior.  This is one absolute-must-own book for consultants or anyone who in their business needs to act consultatively. It touches the heart, and builds a solid foundation for a consultant’s desire to provide real emotional, as well as economic, value to clients.

 “Million Dollar Consulting”, by Alan Weiss, McGraw Hill

 “The Expert’s Edge”, by Ken Lizotte, McGraw Hill

 Books on Management

 “The Power of Less” by Leo Babuta, Hyperion

“Please Understand Me”, by David Keirsey, Prometheus Nemesis Book Company

 “Influencer: The Power to Change Anything”, K Patterson, J Grenny, et al, McGraw-Hill

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