The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done

No one in a managerial role should be allowed to manage others without having read at least one book from Peter Drucker (Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos makes all of his senior executives read this book). Drucker is widely acclaimed as The Father of Modern Management and published 39 books in a lifetame that spanned 95 years. The Effective Executive was published in 1967 and this book is as good a starting point as any for the uninitiated.

The measure of the executive, Peter F. Drucker reminds us, is the ability to “get the right things done.” This usually involves doing what other people have overlooked as well as avoiding what is unproductive. Intelligence, imagination, and knowledge may all be wasted in an executive job without the acquired habits of mind that mold them into results.

Effectiveness is a habit and habits can be learned through practice, lots of it. According to Drucker there are five habits that, once acquired, determine the effectiveness of an executive. If you want to be effective in your work — and in your life — practice these five habits:

1. Know where your time goes. (take a time inventory & eliminate)
2. Focus on outward contribution. (aim high)
3. Build on strengths. (focus on indvidual STRENGTHS and the strengths of others, not trying to improve on weaknesses)
4. Concentrate on the few major areas where superior performance will produce outstanding results. (focus on single Big Goals at a time)
5. Make effective decisions. (not effective without disagreement,set boundary conditions,determine what is RIGHT, not what is acceptable,”do-nothing” is an option,must define a measure of effectiveness before enacting)

The book provides detail and substance to these five habits of executive effectiveness. Its a long and heavy to digest book, so its better to read it at your pace.

You should get your copy today by clicking here.