What makes an effective executive?
The measure of the executive, Peter F. Drucker reminds us, is the ability to "get the right things done."... read full description
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Mar 08, 2008
Janet
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I used to be a large reader of Jack Welch practices at GE, until I read that he looked to Drucker. I've been reading Drucker and re-reading Drucker ever since. He is the master at learning how to be "effective" and from him, I learned how to filter what are the best effectiveness 21st century leadership practices.
Now, after 14 years of running a company and 8 years of trying to create a leadership engine to run a company, I believe that the 21st century practices for ef More...
Now, after 14 years of running a company and 8 years of trying to create a leadership engine to run a company, I believe that the 21st century practices for ef More...
Jan 31, 2008
Dan
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"Effectiveness," wrote Professor Drucker, "can be learned--and it also has to be learned." Most executives pay little attention to learning to be effective. They wing it. They copy what they have seen others do. They burden other people with their own peculiar collection of idiosyncracies as-is without any attempt at modification, but they seldom actively learn to be more effective.
I am a huge Peter Drucker fan, I don't think his books will ever fade from glory. H More...
I am a huge Peter Drucker fan, I don't think his books will ever fade from glory. H More...
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May 05, 2010
Matt
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The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting Right Things Done (2006), Peter Drucker
Kicking off the Personal Effectiveness portion of the Personal MBA curriculum is the purveyor of modern management, Peter Drucker. Notice the subtitle to this book before you read. It says "getting right things done" where you might have misread it as "getting things done right". Drucker takes decades of consulting experience with numerous famous and infamous compani More...
Kicking off the Personal Effectiveness portion of the Personal MBA curriculum is the purveyor of modern management, Peter Drucker. Notice the subtitle to this book before you read. It says "getting right things done" where you might have misread it as "getting things done right". Drucker takes decades of consulting experience with numerous famous and infamous compani More...
Apr 20, 2009
getAbstract
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Handy guide to becoming a top executive
As an author and an intellectual, the late Peter F. Drucker was a true business sage. Recognized as the father of modern management, Drucker forecast numerous pivotal trends, including decentralization, privatization and the development of the information society. He introduced the concept of the “knowledge worker,” a term he employs widely in this fascinating book. His internal study of General Motors, Concept of the Corporation, greatly influe More...
As an author and an intellectual, the late Peter F. Drucker was a true business sage. Recognized as the father of modern management, Drucker forecast numerous pivotal trends, including decentralization, privatization and the development of the information society. He introduced the concept of the “knowledge worker,” a term he employs widely in this fascinating book. His internal study of General Motors, Concept of the Corporation, greatly influe More...
Dec 31, 2010
Vince
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The classic book on time management by Peter Drucker... it's remarkable how his advice is still relevant 45 years later. At the time (1966!), the economies of the world had changed and knowledge workers were replacing traditional manual labors. His key message is that we have to focus on getting things done and that effectiveness can be learned.
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- Executives know where their time goes.
- Executives focus on outward contributions.
- Executives build on strengths -- their own
Dec 23, 2010
Gene
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No one in a managerial role should be allowed to manage others without having read at least one book from Peter Drucker. Drucker is widely acclaimed as The Father of Modern Management and published 39 books in a lifetame that spanned 95 years. The Effective Executive was published in 1967 and this book is as good a starting point as any for the uninitiated.
Effectiveness is a habit and habits can be learned through practice, lots of it. According to Drucker there are five habits th More...
Effectiveness is a habit and habits can be learned through practice, lots of it. According to Drucker there are five habits th More...
Aug 09, 2011
This book is actually pretty ancient and talks about being an "effective executive". Notice that it is not a book about "how to become a top executive". As such, shatters a lot of the common myths that "this is the way it has always been in large companies". I found it fascinating that things have evolved so much.
In particular, the current environment of increasing size of business has really put a huge stress on "getting along with others". An effecti More...
In particular, the current environment of increasing size of business has really put a huge stress on "getting along with others". An effecti More...
Jul 24, 2011
Stephen
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READ APR 2011
Classic Drucker should be required reading for all executives. Best quotes, "knowledge workers must be professionals in their attitude toward their own field of knowledge. They must consider themselves responsible for their own competence and for the standards of their work" (p. 67), "the test of organization is not genius...it is its capacity to make common people achieve uncommon performance" (p. 80), and "the human being...is not logical; he is
Classic Drucker should be required reading for all executives. Best quotes, "knowledge workers must be professionals in their attitude toward their own field of knowledge. They must consider themselves responsible for their own competence and for the standards of their work" (p. 67), "the test of organization is not genius...it is its capacity to make common people achieve uncommon performance" (p. 80), and "the human being...is not logical; he is
Nov 17, 2011
Shaka
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Best executive/management book I've read. It's not necessarily that Drucker's points are earth-shattering, it's that he puts such a fine point on every topic and has the breadth of experience to back up his hypotheses. Though this book was written well before the dawn of the "Information Age" it is more applicable now than when it was written (1967).
Feb 24, 2011
Ben
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Slightly dated, but the main points are well communicated and thought out. Clearly, effectiveness has to be learned, and the lessons in this book could help to accelerate that learning process. I've already recommended this to a few people I work with and have collaborated with in the past, and would recommend it to anyone in a leadership position - a person who makes decisions.
May 30, 2009
Lee
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If you have ever been in business you've heard of Peter Drucker. This is a classic with wisdom from the quintessential master of executive leadership. It may read a little dated now since it was first written in the 60's, but Drucker's insight into the process of business leadership is really timeless.
Jan 01, 2011
Phayvanh
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Great, informative piece that outlined his thinking in an easy-to-understand way. Some of the examples are a little outdated, and heavy on the military / political sphere. I skipped over some of those. All in all, I learned a lot about time management, and making the right decisions.
Nov 12, 2011
Biblioworm
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После чтения плохо структурированных книжек - просто удовольствие прочитать этот классический труд.
Стройное, логичное изложение, без ненужных заумствований, но и не примитивно.
Изложены с современной точки зрения совсем базовые вещи, но от этого не менее актуальные. Компактно и логично объяснено, то что пережевывают в толстенных книжках по GTD.
Понравилось effectivness, while capable of being learned, surely cannot be taught.
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Стройное, логичное изложение, без ненужных заумствований, но и не примитивно.
Изложены с современной точки зрения совсем базовые вещи, но от этого не менее актуальные. Компактно и логично объяснено, то что пережевывают в толстенных книжках по GTD.
Понравилось effectivness, while capable of being learned, surely cannot be taught.
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Aug 05, 2010
Rusty
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This is an excellent book for students of management and managers alike. I used it in a graduate program and provided it as a reference for undergraduate students in hospitality, dietetics and food service management. Very good.
Oct 26, 2008
Robert
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As with most of Drucker's work a very concise book that gets quickly to the heart of the matter. It is a great guide on the process that needs to be taken to become more effective. Although aimed at the executive much of the information in the book could be applied to others.
The books teaches that effectiveness is something that can be learned and the techniques in the book greatly assist in making that possible. Although now perhaps a bit dated the book is still a very worthwhile re More...
The books teaches that effectiveness is something that can be learned and the techniques in the book greatly assist in making that possible. Although now perhaps a bit dated the book is still a very worthwhile re More...
Aug 13, 2011
Andre
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Don't be fooled by "Executive" in the title. If you're a knowledge worker you are defined as an executive to Drucker. This is a classic book that ties together great wisdom for managing time, setting priorities, and sometimes more importantly deciding what you're not going to do. The chapters on effective decision-making are especially helpful. The book was written in 1967 and shows a major gender bias and probably has some outdated business examples, but there is wisdom to be glea
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Jun 05, 2011
Joe
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I read this book years ago and still remember some of its lessons. Peter Drucker's ideas are as important as ever. This was a great book and an easy read.
Feb 09, 2012
David
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Drucker's book is really a must have read for anyone who is professional. His chapter on time management is worth the price of the book.
Jan 31, 2012
Tony
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Doesn't get any better than Drucker. This is a book every person who works in a white collar job should read, regardless of whether you're the top or the bottom person in the organization. In Drucker's description an executive is simply a "knowledge worker", anybody who works with their mind, not with their hands. I highlighted so many parts of this book that I've decided to make it the one book I re-read every year. Must read!
Sep 26, 2011
Jordan
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I got a lot out of this book. Some of the examples used were pretty old (Bay of Pigs, FDR), but thankfully most of them made sense. The title can be a little misleading. It's not aimed just at "executives" but anyone who has a job where they have to "execute" or perform. My favorite sections were on time management, contribution, and staffing for strength.
Sep 22, 2011
Rob
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A true classic. Worth reading for anyone who works in such fields as "information" or "technology". :)
Mar 09, 2010
Ryan
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As opposed to just getting things done.....how about using some priorities to achieve results?
Jul 11, 2009
Presley
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Amazing. If limited to one book on management theory and practice, this is the one I would choose.
May 08, 2009
Todd
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This book was included in my book: The 100 Best Business Books of All Time. www.100bestbiz.com
Jul 01, 2010
Big
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The best introduction to management practitioner into the business management world.
Feb 17, 2010
Roberta
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Practical advise and a quick read for anyone in a management position.
