Book description
Master the skills that icons throughout history have used to achieve the highest levels of success
“This is an intelligent, knowledgeable presentation of management. The pragmatic approach of learning from icons makes the book extremely worthwhile reading for up-and-coming and experienced managers alike.”
—Dr. Helmut O. Maucher, Honorary Chairman of the Board, Nestlé
“Embracing a broad variety of successful personalities from all walks of life, this analysis of management skills makes for interesting reading and provides a great source of inspiration."
—Dr. Josef Ackermann, Chairman of the Management Board and the Group Executive Committee, Deutsche Bank AG
“Arnold cleverly explains the keys to successful management with references to real-life challenges successfully overcome by iconic leaders. This entertaining book is insightful, thought-provoking, and of immense practical value.”
—Fred B. Irwin, President, American Chamber of Commerce in Germany
“Profound management know-how and coverage of a wide range of valuable issues provide great inspiration for anyone seeking to apply effective management principles in practice.”
—Professor Klaus Evard, founder and former President of the European Business School
“Management know-how translates into knowledge of how to succeed in all levels of life, and everyone can learn to be successful. That is the simple premise behind this book.”
—Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
What do Barack Obama, Steve Jobs, Pablo Picasso, and Napoleon have in common?
EXCELLENT MANAGEMENT SKILLS
It doesn’t matter what your field of expertise is, whom you know, or how educated you are. If you have powerful management skills, you will succeed; if you don’t, you’ll hit the ceiling sooner rather than later.
In What Makes Great Leaders Great, bestselling author and leadership expert Frank Arnold gathers 56 icons from various fields—from business and sports to politics and pop culture—to reveal the specific management skills they used to reach the top.
For every line of work or personal goal, effectively applying these management skills will lead to ultimate success. All the people in this remarkably diverse group figured out what they needed to know to manage their rise to the top—and executed it with superb skill. What Makes Great Leaders Great includes:
- Bill Gates on harnessing the power of a business mission
- Nicolaus Copernicus on questioning every assumption
- Phil Knight on fine-tuning the right strategy
- Michael Dell on making the customer your number-one priority
- Michelangelo on focusing on a single objective
- Joseph Schumpeter on practicing creative destruction
- Roger Federer on self-motivation
- Hippocrates on behaving responsibly
- Steve Jobs on implementing ideas
- Ray Kroc on envisioning the future
- Gen. George Patton on clearly defining assignments
- Warren Buffett on demanding effective management
- Stephen Hawking on making the best use of your time
- Pablo Picasso on fostering life-long creativity
- Muhammad Yunus on looking beyond your own interests
Learn from the best in the business—and history—how to leverage your skills, knowledge, and talent to reach levels of success you never dreamed possible.
Table of contents
- Cover Page
- What Makes Great Leaders Great
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- Introduction
-
Part 1: Managing Organizations
- Chapter 1: Harness the Power of a Business Mission
- Chapter 2: Create Customer Value
- Chapter 3: Make Effective Decisions
- Chapter 4: Recognize the True Nature of the Problem
- Chapter 5: Make the Right Compromise
- Chapter 6: Just Do It! Keep Fine-Tuning the Right Strategy
- Chapter 7: Structure Your Organization Around the Customer
- Chapter 8: Be Productive
- Chapter 9: Demand Effective Management
- Chapter 10: Understand Profit, Strive for Independence
- Chapter 11: Harness Information
- Chapter 12: Understand Your Sphere of Action
- Chapter 13: Recognize Inflection Points and Utilize Performance Indicators
- Chapter 14: Secure Feedback
-
Part 2: Managing Innovation
- Chapter 15: Implement Ideas
- Chapter 16: Remember, Innovations Are Rarely Welcomes with Open Arms
- Chapter 17: Question Every Assumption
- Chapter 18: Innovate Systematically
- Chapter 19: Exploit Success
- Chapter 20: Practice Purposeful Abandonment
- Chapter 21: Practice Creative Destruction
- Chapter 22: Combine Existing Know-How with Other Knowledge to Create Something New
- Chapter 23: Exploit Opportunities Arising from New Technologies
- Chapter 24: Recognize the Future That Has Already Happened
-
Part 3: Managing People
- Chapter 25: Focus on a Single Objective
- Chapter 26: Create a Perfect Whole
- Chapter 27: Be Results Driven
- Chapter 28: Draw on Your Strengths
- Chapter 29: Manage by Objectives
- Chapter 30: Plan Meticulously
- Chapter 31: Be True to Your Own Values
- Chapter 32: Surround Yourself with Good People
- Chapter 33: Create a Culture of Effectiveness
- Chapter 34: Nurture and Develop People
- Chapter 35: Invest in Training
- Chapter 36: Seek Wise Dialogue Partners
- Chapter 37: Clearly Define Jobs and Assignments
- Chapter 38: Establish Effective Cooperation
- Chapter 39: Recognize the Most Important Promotion
- Chapter 40: Embody Integrity
- Chapter 41: Harness the Potential of Women
- Chapter 42: Make Intelligent Use of Your Time
- Chapter 43: Perfect Your Own Working Methods
- Chapter 44: Create Trust
- Chapter 45: Make a Life Plan: What Will Your Most Important Contribution Be?
- Chapter 46: Be Demanding of Yourself and Strive for Perfection
- Chapter 47: Find Meaning; Then Use It!
- Chapter 48: Harness the Power of Discipline
- Chapter 49: Motivate Yourself
- Chapter 50: Derive Enjoyment from Your Profession
- Chapter 51: Think Constructively
- Chapter 52: Act Responsibly
- Chapter 53: Foster Creativity All Life Long
- Chapter 54: Assume Responsibility
- Chapter 55: Look After Yourself
- Chapter 56: Commit Yourself to More Than Just Your Own Well-Being
- Epilogue
- Bibliography
- Notes
- Index
Product information
- Title: What Makes Great Leaders Great: Management Lessons from Icons Who Changed the World
- Author(s):
- Release date: October 2011
- Publisher(s): McGraw-Hill
- ISBN: 9780071772112
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