Its Not Rocket Science: 4 Simple Strategies for Mastering the Art of Execution

PRAISE FOR IT′S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE

"Dave Anderson′s four simple execution strategies will help you turn even the boldest of goals and strategies into results."
JOHN C. MAXWELL, New York Times bestselling author and speaker

"Dave is refreshingly direct in his observations on how to improve your performance. I found the book filled with practical advice that will challenge even the most skilled leaders on to greatness."
ED BASTIAN, President, Delta Airlines

"There are numerous ways to describe what you receive from a Dave Anderson book: inspiration, vision, confidence, and go–to strategies all come to mind. In It′s Not Rocket Science, Dave ties it all together into a process that helps us execute relentlessly on a daily basis."
TOM CREAN, Head Coach, Indiana University men′s basketball

"This will be on the test: Humans are the same today as 100 or 1,000 years ago we just have new stuff to deal with. So instead of running around with your hair on fire trying to decide which trendy business guru to listen to, read Dave Anderson′s It′s Not Rocket Science. Dave will reveal to you (maybe just remind) why focusing on four timeless metrics sets you up to deal with the new stuff that matters, without getting a hair out of place. Thanks, Dave."
JIM BLASINGAME, author of The Age of the Customer, and host of The Small Business Advocate Show

"When we reworked our mission, vision, core values, and culture, Dave′s voice shaped our thinking and our movement forward. And now, just when we needed it most, through It′s Not Rocket Science, Dave once again delivers much needed perspective and extremely practical help on how to execute our strategy!"
SHAWN THORNTON, Senior Pastor, Calvary Community Church, All Things New radio show

"In my view, business schools do a good job setting out basic management principles and the metrics for organizational performance. What we are not very effective at is providing needed insight for linking the two. In It′s Not Rocket Science, Dave does a great job of filling in that gap."
ROGER STOVER, Professor of Finance, College of Business, Iowa State University

Acknowledgments ix

Foreword xi

Preface xiii

Introduction xvii

PART ONE GET THE PROCESS RIGHT! 1

CHAPTER ONE Why Your Team Cannot Execute and How to Fix It 3

CHAPTER TWO Make Each Day a Masterpiece 7

CHAPTER THREE Get TUF! 11

CHAPTER FOUR The Fray Gets in the Way! 15

CHAPTER FIVE MAX It! 19

CHAPTER SIX The Power of a Personal Success Profile (PSP) 25

CHAPTER SEVEN MAP It! 29

CHAPTER EIGHT RAM It! 35

CHAPTER NINE Prune It! 39

CHAPTER TEN Don t Mistake Motion for Progress! 43

Part One Summary 49

PART TWO GET THE LEADERS RIGHT! 51

CHAPTER ELEVEN Do You Overmanage and Underlead? 53

CHAPTER TWELVE Stretching, Trenches, and Changing 57

CHAPTER THIRTEEN You Are the Catalyst! 61

CHAPTER FOURTEEN Buy–in Is Earned, Not Commanded! 65

CHAPTER FIFTEEN Get Your Red Belt On! 71

CHAPTER SIXTEEN The Truth about Mediocrity 75

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN Beware the Five Seductions of Leadership 79

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Five Ways Conventional Wisdom Destroys Your Potential 85

CHAPTER NINETEEN The Power of Preparation 93

CHAPTER TWENTY A Blueprint for Making the Tough Calls 97

CHAPTER TWENTY–ONE Four Ways to Measure Your Leadership 103

Part Two Summary 111

PART THREE GET THE CULTURE RIGHT! 113

CHAPTER TWENTY–TWO Remember It s the Culture, Stupid! 115

CHAPTER TWENTY–THREE The Core Value Pillar 119

CHAPTER TWENTY–FOUR The Mission Pillar 123

CHAPTER TWENTY–FIVE The Performance Standard Pillar 127

CHAPTER TWENTY–SIX Establish Your Business Facts of Life 131

CHAPTER TWENTY–SEVEN The Core Competency Pillar 137

CHAPTER TWENTY–EIGHT The People Pillar 141

CHAPTER TWENTY–NINE The Earn and Deserve Culture 145

CHAPTER THIRTY The Ideal Cultural Portrait Consistent In, Mediocre Out 149

CHAPTER THIRTY–ONE Weave in Catalyst, Responsible, and Lead 157

CHAPTER THIRTY–TWO Entitled Out, Tough–Minded In 161

CHAPTER THIRTY–THREE Sloth Out, Loyal In 165

Part Three Summary 171

PART FOUR GET THE TEAM RIGHT! 173

CHAPTER THIRTY–FOUR How to Find the Great People You re Looking For! 175

CHAPTER THIRTY–FIVE Like is Never Enough! 179

CHAPTER THIRTY–SIX You Can t Make People What They Are Not! 183

CHAPTER THIRTY–SEVEN Ten Tips to Retain Talent 187

CHAPTER THIRTY–EIGHT Fix the Roof While the Sun Is Shining! 191

CHAPTER THIRTY–NINE Six Ways to Increase Employee Engagement 195

CHAPTER FORTY The Staggering Cost of Poor Performance 199

Part Four Summary 205

About the Author 207

Glossary of Master the Art of Execution Terms 209

References 211

Index 215

DAVE ANDERSON is President of LearnToLead, an international leadership training and consulting company. Dave has given thousands of leadership presentations worldwide based on his personal experience building and running successful organizations. Dave is author of 13 books including Up Your Business, If You Don′t Make Waves You′ll Drown, How to Run Your Business by THE BOOK, and How to Lead by THE BOOK. He is cofounder and chairman of Matthew 25:35 Foundation. Follow Dave on Twitter @DaveAnderson100.