The Leadership Solution

By Jim Shaffer

Presents a step-by-step plan to manage knowledge and information in a way that engages people - and substantially improves business performance. Using examples, this work reveals how leaders... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0070790639
• ISBN13: 9780070790636
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill
• Length: 307 Pages
• Weight: 1.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.4" x 1.3" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

The Leadership Solution

For over twenty years, I have been an advisor to management in the field of rewards and compensation. Traditionally, discussions of rewards at work focus on cash compensation, benefits, and, more recently, stock deals. These monetary and wealth-building vehicles help one have great experiences in life outside of work. But what about the experiences at work, where a dedicated employee might spend more than half of waking time? What makes the day-to-day work experience itself rewarding? In an age where the war for talent demands that every organization address this question successfully, Jim Shaffer provides powerful, practical answers for CEO's, executive teams, general managers, and heads of human resources.At the heart of the day-to-day work experience is the process of communication. As Mr. Shaffer writes, "You can't not communicate. Everything you say and do communicates." Forget about bringing dogs to work and on-site concierge services. These are fluff, not substance. Mr. Shaffer gets to the substance. He demonstrates that the quality of organization communication is, by far, the greatest governor of the quality of the work experience for all employees.Mr. Shaffer shows leaders how to develop a communication environment that shapes a highly rewarding day-to-day work experience for everyone in the organization. He shows how to build and lead ongoing organization communication processes and disciplines that align people to a common purpose and motivate them to pursue it with vigor. In the war for talent, he shows how to span the generations and ensure that one and all agree: "Our company is a great place to work! "Do you face unprecedented challenges in attracting, retaining, aligning, motivating and rewarding top-notch staff at all levels? "The Leadership Solution" delivers distinctive know-how for building a huge advantage in getting, keeping and deploying the people you need. And, it's an enjoyable read, sprinkled with metaphors, quotes and anecdotes that produce many rewarding "Aha!" experiences.

Shaffer delivers primer for leaders

Just when you thought you couldn't handle one more piece of Information Age data, Jim Shaffer mercifully reveals the secrets to managing message bombardment, recognizing and maximizing all forms of communication, and connecting people with purpose to run any business better. With insights from many of the world's top CEOs, two "case studies," plain old good writing and a spot-on sailing metaphor to top it off, Shaffer proves what the best leaders have known (or at least have sensed) for some time: "informed people outperform uninformed people..." Better still, Shaffer steers a clear course -- with plenty of helpful examples -- through the sea of ambiguity that is business today, mapping the route for leaders who need to connect their employees to their business strategies. He calls it "connecting the dots." Business schools everywhere should use it and call it "Leadership 101." This is a terrific book for great leaders seeking to gain further marketplace advantage, leaders in training seeking instruction for "putting it all together" and the managers who serve them. The chapter on "earthshaking" events would be especially helpful for any one managing through a merger, acquisition, turnaround and the like.

The Leadership Solution

Jim Shaffer, in this work, really connected the dots for me! His premise, that it all starts with effective communications, is dead on! As a former CEO and whose time is now spent as an outside director for a number of companies and as counselor to large company CEOs, this work is both relevant for today's leaders in today's warp speed economy and timeless in its approach. Shaffer has crafted a very readable, yet content rich handbook for anyone either presently running a company or with dreams to someday run one! (In fact, this work is an excellent handbook for CEOs wanting to develop "bench strength" on the management team. Simply use Leadership Solutions as the textbook for a company-run academy for those up and comers selected for bigger jobs in the company's future. So many books are long on theory, short on application. Shaffer's approach is exceptionally practical...and applicable. It can be reread time and again.

LEADERSHIP SOLUTION SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING

This is an amazingly useful book for anyone who wants to learn how to motivate people. I love the stories from best practice companies -- Jim has been there, and it's easy for the reader to learn from his vast experience and thoughtful observations. This book should be required reading for M.B.A. and Executive Education programs. The practical tools and techniques are invaluable for leaders who want to mazimize productivity. Five stars on my list -- I've already recommended it to several hundred people.

What leaders need to do

Jim Shaffer describes how leaders can excite and engage people in organizations, and how that engagement can drive business results. He builds his case and his processes on a very clear portrayal of what happens when people don't feel connected or involved, and the striking contrast with organizations whose leaders understand the importance of "connecting the dots". Jim has a great collection of stories that bring the material to life. In his direct and and sometimes challenging style he lays out some of the ineffective, traditional, one-way communication strategies that are (not quickly enough) being replaced by customer- and business-focused processes and leadership. His examples include corporate publications that contain no information of use or relevance to the business; leadership behavior that runs exactly counter to the behaviors that the leader is urging employees to adopt; and many examples of the remarkable results that can be gained by leaders who recognize, draw on and reward employee potential and results.