A Manual for Getting Things Done
Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done (Crown Business, 2002)
by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan is “a hard-nosed, hard-edged and hard-boiled
guide to the practicalities of leadership in a global competitive economy”,
according to Strategy + Business.
Co-authored by Larry Bossidy, retired Chairman/CEO of Honeywell and consultant, Ram Charan, the book has been called “a valuable and practical management guide that is must reading for anyone who cares about business” by the New York Times.
Mr. Bossidy shared some of his insights in an interview as part of Strategy + Business‘ Thought Leader coverage.
On business philosophers: “There’s too much praise in business for the
philosophers – people who are good strategists, but don’t have the capability
to translate that strategy into action.”
Know your people and business: “It’s hard to preach execution if you
can’t have a good dialogue with people about their business.”
Three/fourths of execution is people: “People are the link to an execution
culture.”
Insist on realism: “You can’t ever get to where you want to be unless
you see the business the way it is. I hear CEOs who tell me how good their companies
are – and they stink.”
Expanding people’s capabilities: “Good people come to companies and
stay because they believe they have a chance to expand their capabilities and
fulfill their destiny. You have an obligation to help them. So don’t keep a
person in a job too long just because he or she is excellent at it; give her
another assignment so she can expand herself. Ultimately, you generate your
own management future by virtue of working as hard as you can to fulfill these
people’s expectations.”
Moderator’s Comment: How can companies create an execution
culture?
Mr. Bossidy believes in identifying and rewarding those
that perform. A novel concept in a world where mediocrity too often rises to
the top. [George
Anderson – Moderator]
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