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Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done Audiobook
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(3.00) - 5,350 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The book that shows how to get the job done and deliver results . . . whether you’re running an entire company or in your first management job
Larry Bossidy is one of the world’s most acclaimed CEOs, a man with few peers who has a track record for delivering results. Ram Charan is a legendary advisor to senior executives and boards of directors, a man with unparalleled insight into why some companies are successful and others are not. Together they’ve pooled their knowledge and experience into the one book on how to close the gap between results promised and results delivered that people in business need today.
After a long, stellar career with General Electric, Larry Bossidy transformed AlliedSignal into one of the world’s most admired companies and was named CEO of the year in 1998 by Chief Executive magazine. Accomplishments such as 31 consecutive quarters of earnings-per-share growth of 13 percent or more didn’t just happen; they resulted from the consistent practice of the discipline of execution: understanding how to link together people, strategy, and operations, the three core processes of every business.
Leading these processes is the real job of running a business, not formulating a “vision” and leaving the work of carrying it out to others. Bossidy and Charan show the importance of being deeply and passionately engaged in an organization and why robust dialogues about people, strategy, and operations result in a business based on intellectual honesty and realism.
The leader’s most important job—selecting and appraising people—is one that should never be delegated. As a CEO, Larry Bossidy personally makes the calls to check references for key hires. Why? With the right people in the right jobs, there’s a leadership gene pool that conceives and selects strategies that can be executed. People then work together to create a strategy building block by building block, a strategy in sync with the realities of the marketplace, the economy, and the competition. Once the right people and strategy are in place, they are then linked to an operating process that results in the implementation of specific programs and actions and that assigns accountability. This kind of effective operating process goes way beyond the typical budget exercise that looks into a rearview mirror to set its goals. It puts reality behind the numbers and is where the rubber meets the road.
Putting an execution culture in place is hard, but losing it is easy. In July 2001 Larry Bossidy was asked by the board of directors of Honeywell International (it had merged with AlliedSignal) to return and get the company back on track. He’s been putting the ideas he writes about in Execution to work in real time.
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"I first heard about this book from Tyler Norton who told us about it when he taught our Esperanza board about strategies. Then I read about it again when I recently read the book, Charter School Board University. It is an excellent book!"
— Barbara (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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If you want to be a CEO—or if you are a CEO and want to keep your job—read Execution and put its principles to work.
— Michael Dell, chairman and CEO, Dell Computer Corp. -
Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan define the true meaning of leadership from an implementation point of view. Larry is the expert on productivity in the world of business, and this book demonstrates how leadership is the key to achieving ongoing financial success.
— Richard Schroeder, cofounder of Six Sigma Academy -
For those managers who have struggled to make it happen, fix a problem, get it done—or otherwise transform winning strategies into genuine results—here’s the missing medicine from two who know from long experience what works and what doesn’t. Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan offer a compelling leadership prescription, and it comes down to realism, discipline, and above all, great execution.
— Michael Useem, professor of management and director of the Center for Leadership and Change, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania -
Larry Bossidy recognizes how execution in a business defines the true greatness of a company. He captures a lifetime of building winning formulas and puts them in a simple and practical context for executives at any level. Read it!
— Ivan Seidenberg, president and co–chief executive officer, Verizon -
The best-thought-out plans in the world aren’t worth the paper they’re written on if you can’t pull them off. And that’s what this book is all about. Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done is well written and gives sound, practical advice about how to make things happen. It is well worth the reading.
— Ralph S. Larsen, chairman and CEO, Johnson & Johnson -
Good practical insight and advice on managing for results at firms of any size. Execution is key, and this book clearly explains what it means and how it brings together the critical elements of any organization—its people, strategies, and operations.
— L. R. Raymond, chairman and CEO, Exxon Mobil
Execution Listener Reviews
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Ryan Moore, 6/11/2018
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" Just re-read this. Very useful for corproate planning processes. "
— Corey, 2/20/2014 -
" Definitely geared toward executives, but good management lessons for all. "
— Karen, 1/27/2014 -
" Advises on collaboration, execution and accountability. "
— John, 1/26/2014 -
" Very good. This book is about getting things done. The authors punctuate their concepts with real world examples from actual businesses. I highly recommend the audio as a companion. "
— John, 1/14/2014 -
" Charan's book includes a myrid of stories and examples of failures and trumphs of American companies. The content is very dry with a simple message. Hire strong qualified people and a formulate a clear vision and your company/organization will suceed. "
— Christine, 1/12/2014 -
" Must read for everyone in business or non-profit organizations - indispensable knowledge for all leaders "
— Bryan, 1/12/2014 -
" I got from this book that it's all about being clear with my workmates what is to be done now, today. It furnished me a perspective on how to be grounded at work to get things done. "
— Edwin, 12/30/2013 -
" Dated. But still applicable. How to get things done and accomplished. Great steps and processes shared. "
— Tom, 12/8/2013 -
" Normal business books. First 3 chapters were good and then it was basically a textbook in my opinion. "
— David, 12/5/2013 -
" Great read. Very helpful. "
— Katy, 5/8/2013 -
" Dense with advice on how to be effective in the business world. Complementary to "Good to Great" in the emphasis on the right people and developing their skills and talents. Too bad this sort of discipline isn't followed too often. "
— Barbara, 3/21/2013 -
" It failed to execute. I could not finish the book. I could not listen to more than one CD. I got so tired of hearing execution is about getting this done. They seemed to refuse to want to tell you how to get things done. They could not execute on their point. "
— Travis, 3/2/2013 -
" If you can't figure out why your organization continues to fail despite being well financed and full of talent, read this book. "
— Timothy, 2/9/2013 -
" REad for work leadership conference. "
— Alexa, 11/29/2012 -
" Great book and is also available as a talking book. "
— Anita, 7/31/2012 -
" A should-read book on execution for knowledge workers, managers, executives, and entrepreneurs. "
— Lori, 6/28/2012 -
" I loved this book. It was simply fantastic and laid out a number of important points in regards to follow through. I have recommended this book to a number of clients I have worked with. "
— Naomi, 3/10/2012 -
" This book came to me at the right time. I am tired about people talking about doing things but never executing. "
— Michael, 3/7/2012 -
" read it to get inspired..really got a ton from it! "
— Becky, 10/25/2011 -
" Well presented as an audio book. Listened to this because one of the author was former CEO of the company I currently work for. Good leaders need to execute well on three key processes: People, Strategy and Operations. "
— Konrad, 8/25/2011 -
" Did not bother finishing it. "
— Abbey, 8/20/2011 -
" While parts were interesting, I found the material dated and dull. I little too much praise on certain business leaders, yet short on innovative ideas. "
— Doug, 5/22/2011 -
" well done, validation that having a good idea for something is only 10% of the solution the other 90% is what you can actually get done. "
— Michael, 5/21/2011 -
" Makes me think I should write a book for as inspiring as this one was. Not!!! "
— Jen, 4/13/2011 -
" Good, but not a great business book. "
— Jeff, 2/24/2011 -
" Good book on execution. Core is hire good people, set clear targets, follow through and train them. "
— Suresh, 12/30/2010 -
" Very good summary of proven execution practices. "
— Radovan, 11/24/2010 -
" This book came to me at the right time. I am tired about people talking about doing things but never executing. "
— Michael, 9/8/2010 -
" This is a Jack Welch book that speaks to working in a larger organization and managing it. Listen to it as a BOT. A little dry. <br/> <br/>Not applicable to what I do. "
— Jim, 8/18/2010 -
" It's a good skim. Feels like a business school course with case studies. Some themes stuck more than others. I think it's best read with experience that that can frame the studies presented. Def a read that will provide more as time goes on. "
— sima, 4/18/2010 -
" Lord, that book was a pain... "
— Gail, 2/19/2010 -
" How do you link your strategy to your people and operations process? <br/> <br/>The habits of effective managers were helpful. <br/> <br/>I found the examples an illustrations to be very centered around corporate situations and were confusing to someone ike myself with no corporate context. "
— John, 12/17/2009 -
" Just re-read this. Very useful for corproate planning processes. "
— Corey, 12/7/2009
About the Authors
Larry Bossidy is chairman and former CEO of Honeywell International, a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader. Earlier in his career he was chairman and CEO of AlliedSignal, chief operating officer of General Electric Credit (now GE Capital Corporation), executive vice president and president of GE’s Services and Materials Sector, and vice chairman of GE.
Ram Charan is a distinguished business advisor, business strategy expert, and speaker. For over thirty-five years, he has worked with top executives at some of the world’s most successful companies, including GE, Verizon, Dupont, and Bank of America. He is the coauthor of What the CEO Wants You to Know and Confronting Reality, among others. His articles have appeared in publications such as Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, Director’s Monthly, and Strategy and Business. Charan has served on the Blue Ribbon Commission and was elected a distinguished fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources. Currently on the board of Austin Industries and Tyco Electronics, he resides in Dallas, Texas.
About Larry Bossidy
John Bedford Lloyd, Earphones Award–winning narrator, is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, has appeared in many major motion pictures, including The Bourne Supremacy, Crossing Delancey, The Abyss, The Manchurian Candidate, and Philadelphia. His television credits include Suits, Pan Am, Law & Order, Spin City, and The West Wing.