Awesomely Simple: Essential Business Strategies for Turning Ideas Into Action

Awesomely Simple: Essential Business Strategies for Turning Ideas Into Action

by John Spence
Released September 2009
Publisher(s): Jossey-Bass
ISBN: 9780470494516

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Book description

The six core strategies to elevate any business-and how to implement them-made simple

What do the world's most successful companies and organization have in common? And what can you actually take away and use from their examples? Distilling the best fundamental business strategies, trusted advisor and strategist John Spence helps you take a hard look at your business and together develop specific plans and action steps that will allow you to dramatically improve the success of your company.

Delivered in Spence's approachable and straightforward manner, Awesomely Simple reveals the six key strategies that create a foundation for achieving business excellence: Vivid Vision, Best People, A Performance-Oriented Culture, Robust Communication, A Sense of Urgency, and Extreme Customer Focus.

  • Filled with case studies and clear action items, includes easy-to-follow guidelines for implementing the strategies in any organization no matter its mission or size

  • After concisely breaking down each strategy, Spence gives specific examples, tips, tools, discussion questions and exercises for how to execute them successfully

A perfect resource for business leaders, Awesomely Simple will help you turn ideas into positive action and achieve lasting business success.

Table of contents

  1. Copyright
  2. Dedication
  3. Introduction
  4. Vivid Vision
    1. Basic Terminology
    2. The Fundamentals of Creating a Vision
    3. Communicating the Vision
    4. SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS
    5. EFFECTIVENESS AUDIT
    6. THINGS TO THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS
    7. TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION
    8. One Last Word on Communicating the Vision
  5. Best People
    1. Find and Keep Top Talent
    2. Creating a Winning Culture
    3. Leading Talent
    4. SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS
    5. EFFECTIVENESS AUDIT
    6. THINGS TO THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS
    7. TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION
    8. CASE STUDY: INTERVIEW WITH BILL DAVIDSON, CONNOISSEUR OF TALENT
  6. Robust Communication
    1. Dysfunctional Organizational Communications
    2. Key Skills for Superior Interpersonal Communications
    3. Dealing with Conflict
    4. SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS
    5. EFFECTIVENESS AUDITS
    6. THINGS TO THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS
    7. TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION
    8. CASE STUDY: INTERVIEW WITH JACK MALCOLM ON EXPERT QUESTIONING
  7. Sense of Urgency
    1. Creating a Clear, Intended Outcome
    2. Urgency Is Allergic to Bureaucracy
    3. Topple the Pyramid
    4. Four-Level Decision Making
    5. When You Do Have to Make a Level 3 Decision
    6. Reward Fast Action
    7. Multiply the Speed of Your Brain
    8. SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS
    9. EFFECTIVENESS AUDIT
    10. THINGS TO THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS
    11. TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION
    12. CASE STUDY: BRINGING A COMPANY BACK FROM THE BRINK
  8. Disciplined Execution
    1. How Bad Is It?
    2. The Nine Steps to Ensure Disciplined Execution
    3. SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS
    4. EFFECTIVENESS AUDIT
    5. THINGS TO THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS
    6. TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION
    7. CASE STUDY: CARL RAPP'S PHILOSOPHY OF BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
  9. Extreme Customer Focus
    1. Attitude Is Everything
    2. Moments of Truth
    3. Own the Voice of the Customer
    4. Engagement Is the Engine
    5. SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS
    6. EFFECTIVENESS AUDIT
    7. THINGS TO THINK ABOUT AND DISCUSS
    8. TURNING IDEAS INTO ACTION
    9. CASE STUDY: CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE THE AUSTIN OUTDOOR WAY
  10. CONCLUSION: What Do You Do Now?
  11. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  12. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  13. Index

Product information

  • Title: Awesomely Simple: Essential Business Strategies for Turning Ideas Into Action
  • Author(s): John Spence
  • Release date: September 2009
  • Publisher(s): Jossey-Bass
  • ISBN: 9780470494516