The Most Effective Organization in the U.S.: Leadership Secrets of the Salvation Army

by Robert Alexander Watson, James Benjamin Brown, Ben Brown

The book about not just business but the meaning of life ... a guide for being the best at what you do and doing it with a sense of purpose that connects with something larger than yourself ...

For many people, The Salvation Army is most visible between Thanksgiving and Christmas. That's when its officers, soldiers and volunteers, in the ubiquitous Kettle Campaign, make music and collect money for good works. Few realize, however, that the Army is much, much more than this one effort and is in fact a powerhouse of an organization. None other than Peter Drucker called it "the most effective organization in the U.S." Not the most effective nonprofit, but "the most effective organization." Quite a compliment from the world's most preeminent management thinker, especially when you consider that he is comparing The Salvation Army to world-class corporations like General Electric, IBM and Johnson &Johnson.

Now, Robert Watson, the Army's recently retired national commander, is ready to share the Army's secrets about organization, strategy, and acting with a sense of mission. With its 9,500 centers of operation, $2 billion in annual revenues, and 32 million clients served in every zip code in America, The Salvation Army is the model for doing business with a purpose. As Peter Drucker says, "no one even comes close to it with respect to clarity of mission, ability to innovate, measurable results, dedication and putting money to maximum use":
* Clarity of What you can learn from the Army's laser-like focus of evaluating everything it does in terms of its mission of preaching the gospel and meeting human needs without discrimination.
* Ability to How The Salvation Army's investment in people gets incredible returns and why it as much venture capitalist as charity.
* Measurable Learn The Army's unique ways of setting, monitoring and celebrating the achievement of measurable goals so you, too, can say, "look, we promised we would do this and we delivered."
* How the Army accomplishes so much with such a small cadre of officers.
* Putting Money to Maximum What you can learn from The Army's bare skeleton of a national organization in terms of making the most of your resources and making all of your operations self-sufficient.

By demonstrating the power of a sense of purpose combined with organizational effectiveness, this remarkable book has something essential to say to all executives, entrepreneurs, managers, and anyone with the ambition to bring people together to reach a goal.

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Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction, Business, Audiobook

243 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Robert Alexander Watson, 1845-1921

Reviews

[Justin Steckbauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leadership Secrets was an informative read full of useful information and wise teachings regarding leadership. The book comes at the issue from a business perspective, tying in biblical content and amazing victories had by the Salvation Army in developing a strong organization. I highly recommend this book for those seeking to learn more about business leadership from a Christian perspective.

[Brody Clemmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting book about how organizations function in regards to religion and community. I would highly recommend it as a weekend book to spark some ideas.

[Craig W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about the Salvation Army you never knew. Behind the scenes of their work for with addicts, their stores, Christmas campaigns and their preaching is an organization of dedicated people who are efficient, caring and growth minded. There is great advice with illustrative examples on how to manage money, take risk, innovate, fit people to the right job and even how to deal with mistakes. The book is not preachy, although the particular mission of the Army is clearly and briefly stated.
The audio version is read well and easy to listen to.

[Zen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I definitely picked up some insight into what makes a successful non-profit... but it really irked me that the author repetitively mentioned that the Army helps all people (religions and creeds) yet persisted in referencing Catholicism so often.

Also, if you want to work for these guys, you have to SIGN AN AGREEMENT that you will uphold Christian beliefs. What a crock. Utter disregard for the Golden Rule and completely flying in the face of their aforementioned "acceptance of all".

[Christopher Sumpter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a refreshing look at how business ought to run. Watson doesn't try at all to hide the values that the Salvation Army holds, but rather shows how their values have made them one of the most effective organizations in the world. He occasionally drifts into too much "business-speak," but he regularly returns to the core of what makes their organization unique. A good read even for those not in organizational leadership.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very preachy and self-congratulatory. Of course you can run cheap ('Effective') if people work for free thinking that it will lead to some kind of eternal life. Very powerful incentive and control utilized since ancient time (e.g., built pyramids, sent rich men on crusades, fuel hundred year wars...). Most of the lessons do not apply to for-profit companies - they are in it for money, not salvation.

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Drucker defined the Salvation Army as the Most Effective Organization in the U.S. and hence created the title for this great book by the former national commander.

The author clearly explains why and how the Salvation Army achieves success where government and most other non-profits fail.

This is a must read for any leader and especially any leader of a social services agency.

[Wai-kit Ng · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never knew that the late-Peter Drucker had pronounced that the Salvation Army "by far the most effective organization in the U.S. No one even comes close to it in respect to clarity of mission, ability to innovate, measurable results, dedication and putting money to maximum use." There is indeed much one can learn from the SA.

[Logan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent book from an economics standpoint especially. The Salvation Army is supposedly gets more results out of every dollar than any other organization or company in the world, secular or religious. This books talks about the reasons behind their success, and discusses their beliefs and mission statement as well as organizational structure and methodology.

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I've read in a long time. The passionate drive that keeps Salvation Army humming along runs deep in these pages. It's been a truly inspiring and deeply insightful delight to read.

[Julie]

november 2011

[Joseph Iliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. There is much about the methods of Salvation Army that any leader put to use in their own organization. I recommend this.

[D. L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps Peter Drucker was right in his initial assessment of The Salvation Army. The Army still does amazing work, but it can no longer be held up as a model of leadership.

[Bill Welte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is out-of-print but one every visionary leader needs to read. Grab every coy you can fir your staff to read.