book

Work Your Strengths

by Chuck MARTIN, Richard GUARE, Peg DAWSON

June 2010

Beginner

256 pages

5h 49m

English

AMACOM

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Finding the Right JobPlaying to Strengths Leads to Goodness of FitMatching Strengths of High-Performing IndividualsThe Executive SkillsFrontal Lobes and Executive SkillsThe Spread Between Strengths and Weaknesses: The Differentiator
Skill 1: Response InhibitionSkill 2: Working MemorySkill 3: Emotional ControlSkill 4: Sustained AttentionSkill 5: Task InitiationSkill 6: Planning/PrioritizationSkill 7: OrganizationSkill 8: Time ManagementSkill 9: Goal-Directed PersistenceSkill 10: FlexibilitySkill 11: MetacognitionSkill 12: Stress ToleranceFinding Your Own Strengths and WeaknessesWorkload and Executive SkillsVoices from the Front Lines: WorkloadExceeding Your Cognitive BandwidthKnowing in Advance
Executive Skills in PsychologyExecutive Skills and the BrainExecutive Skills and Brain Development
Performance-Based: Consistency Is KeyQuantitative: Expectations and ResultsQualitative: Some SubjectivityPosition in the OrganizationCompany FirstMultidimensionalHow Many Are High Performers?Voices from the Front Lines: Number of High PerformersWhat Sets High Performers ApartVoices from the Front Lines: What Sets Them Apart

Most Prevalent Executive Skills Strengths and WeaknessesSome Skills Go Hand in HandStrengths vs. Commonly Found WeaknessesHigh-Performing Males vs. High-Performing FemalesExecutive Skills of High Performers by AgeTask Initiation: The Common WeaknessThe High-Performing PairExecutive Skills of High Performers by IndustryFinancial ServicesHealthcareManufacturingTechnologyEducationNonprofitsFinding the Match
Marketing/Advertising/Promotion: Always Getting BetterSales: Not Falling Through the CracksSystems/IT: All About Road MapsGeneral Management: Goal-OrientedOperations: Good on the FlyCustomer Service: Strategically ImportantAdministrative: Organized and Can AdaptFinance: Modify on the FlyAccounting: Methodical ApproachClinical: Organized and Starting Right AwayExecutive Skills in a Department: Clinical High PerformersRight-Seating People the First Time
Are You in the Right Job?The Brains in the Corner OfficeThe Brains Down the HallThe Self-Correcting DirectorsThe Managers with a PlanThe Organized Employees
Shared Strengths in One OrganizationShared Strengths in Two NonprofitsMapping Characteristics to Executive SkillsAvoiding Potential ConflictsFocus on Executive Skills StrengthsVoices from the Front Lines: Strengths and WeaknessesHealthcare: Clinical vs. NonclinicalHigh Performers in Sales-Buyer InteractionsObservable BehaviorsStrong Flexibility: Typical BehaviorsWeak Flexibility: Typical BehaviorsStrong Response Inhibition: Typical BehaviorsWeak Response Inhibition: Typical Behaviors
Voices from the Front Lines: High and Low PerformersThe Failed Sales PromotionVoices from the Front Lines: Promoting Salespeople to Management Sales Employees vs. Sales ManagementWorking in a Comfort ZoneVoices from the Front Lines: Job SatisfactionIT Executives Can Shield the HeatOperations: Order and OrganizationAdministrative: Organization Is KeyCustomer Service: Recalling Past SolutionsCan Performance Be Predicted?
Response Inhibition Working Memory Emotional ControlSustained Attention Task InitiationPlanning/PrioritizationOrganizationTime ManagementGoal-Directed Persistence FlexibilityMetacognitionStress ToleranceThe High-Performance Executive Skills MapIndustries by Executive Skills Strengths Departments by Executive Skills StrengthsJob Functions/Titles by Executive Skills Strengths
Determining High PerformanceUsing the Executive Skills ProfileSelecting SubjectsSelecting Industry Types and DepartmentsJob Functions and TitlesHigh Performers by Age and GenderHigh Performers by Company SizeThe QuestionnaireOrganizations in the StudyThe Study Continues
Top Six IndustriesExecutive Skills by Department: Top 10 DepartmentsJob Function/TitleEmployees vs Managers vs. ExecutivesMales vs. FemalesProfit vs. NonprofitProfit vs. Nonprofit (Excluding CEOs)Healthcare: Clinical vs. Nonclinical

Overview

Ever feel like you’re in the wrong job, maybe even the wrong career? You may be right. But before you make another move, consider this: Your brain is hardwired with a unique combination of 12 different Executive Skills—the cognitive strengths that determine how well you will perform in a particular role. Your strongest and weakest Executive Skills can make the difference between big-time career success and years of disappointment and failure. Work Your Strengths helps you avoid “trial-and-error” career moves by matching your strengths to the jobs that call on those skills specifically. Based on the authors’ two-year study of more than 2000 top-performers at hundreds of organizations of all types, from Fortune 500 companies to nonprofits, the book reveals which strengths correlate with success in different jobs. Take a one-time, free online profile to determine your unique strengths and weaknesses and then use that information to identify your ideal career path. Not ready for a move yet? Work Your Strengths can also make a world of difference in the job you’re in now. It can help you not only focus on the projects best suited for you but also recognize skills in others and assign tasks accordingly. So whether you’re planning a jump to the career of your dreams or just wondering how to make your current job easier and more rewarding, Work Your Strengths gives you the science and the system to find your success.