Practice What You Preach: What Managers Must Do to Create a High Achievement Culture - Softcover

Maister, David H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0743223209 ISBN 13: 9780743223201

Publisher: Free Press, 2003

Synopsis

Are employee attitudes correlated with financial success? Unequivocally yes! according to consultant and bestselling author David H. Maister. Based on a worldwide survey of 139 offices in 29 professional service firms in numerous lines of business, Maister proves that companies perceived by their employees to practice what they preach in matters of client commitment, teamwork, high standards, and employee development are more successful than their competitors. Put simply, employee dedication causes improved financial performance.
Through in-depth interviews, Maister explores the crucial role of the individual manager in promoting high morale among employees. Practice What You Preach boasts specific action recommendations from the managers of these "superstar" businesses on how to build an energized workplace, enforce standards of excellence, develop people, and have fun -- all in the name of profit. As a result, Practice What You Preach can help any manager increase profitability, and provides proof that great financial rewards come from living up to the standards that most businesses advocate, but few achieve.

About this title

Review

David H Maister, a specialist in the management of professional service firms, surveyed 29 in 15 countries to determine whether positive employee attitudes really correlate to corporate success. In his consultancy and previous books he has suggested they do, and in Practice What You Preach he is able to show that in many companies it is "attitudes that drive financial results, and not (predominantly) the other way round". On a pragmatic level, this allows him to demonstrate how a subsequently energised workforce will provide top-quality client service--the key component in any service-oriented business. Overall, Maister recommends managers instil trust and respect, develop a high morale and serve as "coaches" rather than "most valuable players". He offers detailed case studies of survey respondents and amalgamates their replies into an explicit Path to Performance as well as four chapters with specific lessons that should be transferable to other enterprises (i.e., effective managers allow others to get deserved credit, ensure workers believe management is not only out to make a lot of money for itself and understand employees are looking for help in growing their careers). Practical and accessible, it also includes survey specifics for those who care to analyse them on their own. --Howard Rothman

Review

James M. Kouzes Co-author of The Leadership Challenge This is a straight-talking, data-based, and energy-infused work of uncompromising scholarship and incomparable practicality.

Lawrence A. Weinbach Chairman and CEO, Unisys Corporation A great "how to succeed" manual for organizations in any field. Maister confirms that success is not about programs and policies but is about the honesty, integrity, and courage of the leader.

Michael Albrecht, Jr. Global Executive, IBM David Maister has, with compelling evidence, blown away the mysteries as to what makes a high-performance team. He offers great insights and definitive actions.

Robert R. Garland National Managing Partner of Assurance and Advisory Services, Deloitte & Touche David Maister has done it again! He has written yet another insight-filled book that will facilitate your growth as a business leader and manager.

Edition details

• Publisher: Free Press
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0743223209
• ISBN 13: 9780743223201
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 270