 | Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com | A simple, proven approach to improve accountability and your company's bottom line.
The economy crashes, the government misfires, businesses fail, leaders don't lead, managers don't manage, and the people we count on for the results that affect our own performance don't follow through, leaving us asking, "How did that happen?"
All the surprises caused by a lack of personal accountability plague almost every organization today, from the political arena to every large and small business. How Did That Happen? offers a proven way to eliminate these nasty surprises, gain an unbeatable competitive edge, and enhance performance by holding others accountable the positive, principled way.
As the experts on workplace accountability and authors of The Oz Principle, the classic book on personal accountability, Roger Connors and Tom Smith now tackle the next crucial step everyone can take, whether as a manager, supervisor, CEO, or individual performer: creating greater accountability in all the people on whom you depend.
Connors and Smith have spent decades implementing their approach to creating greater accountability in some of the world's most admired companies. Through hundreds of successful client applications, they have proven that organizational accountability can be the single most important factor in ensuring a company's success. Now, they present the Accountability Sequence, a systematic and sensible approach that includes two essential components: The Outer Ring, which reveals how to establish expectations and positive accountability connections with everyone in the Expectations Chain. The Inner Ring, which shows how to manage unmet expectations when people fail to deliver and thereby reverse the misfortune of missed results.
Using case studies, practical models, and self-assessments, the authors make it possible for anyone to install accountability as a central part of their daily work, their team's efforts, or an overall corporate culture-and, in turn, increase profits and generate better results. |
Average Customer Rating:  A spotlight on not so common common sense An indispensable resource to foster positive change in any group of people. You'll notice over half of this book on accountability focuses on properly setting expectations. The key to happiness on both sides; management and staff. Good, but not revolutionary How Did That Happen provides a framework for setting expectations and then holding people accountable. The first half focuses on four stages of goal setting:
- FORM goals (Frame them, make them Obtainable, make them easy to Repeat, and make them Measurable)
- Communicate (explain the Why behind the goals to win the hearts and minds, not just the hands and feet)
- Align (getting agreement with stakeholders)
- Inspect (check in by Listening, Observing, measuring Objectively, and therefore Know how things are going)
The second half looks at breakdowns and helps people explore why a commitment has not been met. Four causes include:
- Motivation issues
- Skills
- Corporate culture
- Personal accountability
For new managers or others new to the topic, this would be a an accessible introduction and framework. If you've ready any other book on a related topic, such as Crucial Confrontations or even The One Minute Manager among others, or you've been exposed to SMART goals, I don't think you'll find much that is very knew other than some insightful stories, and acronyms that provide mnemonic keys to help with the process.
There simply is no magic to accountability. Clearly established expectations, realistic plans for action, and then honest assessments with positive and negative consequences are the backbone for any process of accountability.
If you've never read a book on the topic before, start with this one. If you have, then you'll maybe pick up a few tips, but I don't think this will revolutionize the way you work. Positive Results Through Personal Accountability Roger Conners & Tom Smith have compiled an exceptional action plan for anyone trying to incorporate "accountability" into their personal lives or business lives. Any successful organization relies on accountability in achieving specific, shared goals. In the scenario Conners & Smith portray, this in an organization devoid of finger-pointing, confusion, and low morale. With everyone on the same page, there's no need for any of the typical "corporation games" we've all grown to despise.
The cynic may suggest this cannot possibly work in the real world. Nonsense. This isn't merely theoretical; it's a very real and wonderfully pragmatic strategy that is designed to work in any size organization, anywhere in the world.
This book is designed to eliminate the question so many beleagured employees have asked when things go wrong: "How did that happen?" Instead, they'll be marvelling at the organization's ability to "make things happen".
Accountability; it really works. OUTSTANDING An excellent leadership book. Clear and concise, with concrete recommendations for improving leadership accoutability.
I highly recommend it.
A logical step from the prior 2 writings by these authors. Have your team read this book! Partners in Leadership have done it again - reading this book is a pleasure. Its practical, common sense advice and guidance - that is written about in a way that is enjoyable to read. I spent most of the read wondering "why on earth didn't I come up with this???". They eloquently and expeditiously cut through some of the fluff that is often associated with these types of books, and get to a sensible approch to change. You can't argue with this stuff - you can resist it but you're not resiting the logic or the methodology - you're resisting the fact taht it starts with each of us. Buy this book - thanks again to Mr. Connors and Mr. Smith. KUDOS |  |
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