Executive Smarts: 25 Quick Reads on Managing for Results Paperback – March 10, 2014

A must read for someone in this career.

Our team used this book to help facilitate a leadership meeting of 50 people. There were so many interesting and relevant topics in the book, and because they were quick reads, people were able to focus on specific ideas for a wide variety of challenges. Wonderful resource for leaders regardless of industry or experience.

I was fortunate to attend a collaborative Leadership working session led by Mr. Casey and Ms. Peck. Their knowledge and tactics were extremely effective for our session and their book is a fantastic follow up. The book is a quick read that is full of impactful information. There are plenty of takeaways from this book.

Reminiscent of Russell Ackoff’s Management in Small Doses, Bill Casey and Wendi Peck have distilled their cumulative experience into a prescriptive series on 25 of the recurring managerial challenges in any operating environment: how to use goals; how to exercise influence without authority; how to not only review but improve performance; how to get everybody on the proverbial “same page”, etc. In the face of truly vexing challenges, it’s remarkable how helpful a place to start can be. The reality that “bad news never ages well”, for example, won’t conduct the difficult conversation for you, but it engenders the resolve that’s sometimes needed to unblinkingly face an underperforming friend, a demanding board or a commanding officer.A useful bookshelf reference for those defining moments that come up at least weekly, 25 Quick Reads also has the virtue of being easily digested on a plane ride or in line at a bank. The grouping of topics in 6 major categories like Organizational Structure, Key Initiatives and Leadership gives the book a random-access attribute that makes for easy retrieval on the target question. Net-net, a great resource for busy people who’ve taken “personal responsibility for collective action”

I have given many seminars and case studies, and "Executive Smarts" would be an excellent "teacher's guide" or even textbook. Each chapter could stand alone as the basis for multiple case studies. This book should be kept in the leader's desk drawer, and re-read periodically or at least when moving to a new assignment or project. By the way, it isn't just for "executives" but for anyone who works in an organization or has subordinates.I can't say there are "new" concepts in this book; that is not meant as a criticism. This book contains tried and true leadership "rules" in an easy to read, concise format. The chapter on "candor" is a great example of all that is good and useful in this book, filled (in just a couple of pages) with examples where failure to share both good and bad news led to sometimes catastrophic failure.In summary, I recommend this book to business and military leaders: read it, and use it as a jumping off point for discussions and mentoring.

Executive Smarts is a quick read with a powerful punch. As a professor of business, I am always looking for concise articles and diverse insights to assist me in explaining how leaders can make the transition from understanding the concepts of management theories to understanding the effective application of them. Additionally, as a business owner, I am oftentimes seeking additional perspectives on how to approach emerging issues before they become a crisis. Executive Smarts is a quick reference guide that provides me actionable counsel on how to approach complex management decisions and how to follow through with those decisions to realize transformational results. This is an enjoyable read for managers and students who seek continuous personal development.

The authors' subject knowledge is vast, and their ability to communicate it in a clear and understandable format, provides for a delightful learning experience.A poignant example is in their writing about: Zombies, Unguided Missiles, Cesspools, & Boneless Chickens, oh my!, to make the point about common types of dysfunctional initiatives. I loved the practical tips given, such as the "Bar Bet" test and the 4:1 ratio of compliments to corrections. The reference to the military's "Drumbeat" that keeps everyone pointed in the same direction, and moving, struck a chord for me.Good stuff! Written flawlessly. Thank you!

Sharp, Witty, and Insightful! Bill Casey and Wendi Peck hit a Grand Slam Homerun. Their visionary advice is all spot on target. Just the kind of advice leaders need to be successful. I particularly liked the article on transitioning as a leader "Leave Your Campsite Better Than You Found It" as well as the one about accountability without authority - the "No Authority Gauntlet."