Results That Last: Hardwiring Behaviors That Will Take Your Company to the Top

In the Introduction to this book, Quint Studer makes the following assertion: "Standardize the right leadership practices and you will find that organizational performance improves across the board...and stays improved." More specifically, results-driven leadership at all levels and in all areas will achieve and then sustain outstanding performance throughout the given enterprise. That's obvious. Here's the challenge: To get the right goals, the right behavior, and the right processes in proper alignment. More specifically: 1. Have stretch goals that everyone understands and supports, then measure performance in terms of progress toward achievement of those goals. At all times, know what is most important and focus on doing it. 2. View behavior from two separate but related perspectives: values and productivity. At companies such as GE and Southwest Airlines, for example, there is zero tolerance of inappropriate behavior no matter how productive the given offender may be. At the same time, people are expected to produce results (Jack Welch calls it "hitting the numbers") or seek career opportunities elsewhere. Note: I agree with Studer that the behavior of all supervisors must be "standardized," at least to the extent that they have impeccable character, know their stuff, provide constructive criticism whenever it is needed, earn and remain worthy of trust, and do everything humanly possible and appropriate in the best interests of those entrusted to their care. That said, allowances must be made for differences in personality, lifestyle decisions, avocations, etc. 3. Make all processes as simple as possible...but no simpler. Many processes streets that remain essentially unchanged (except for occasional repairs) even as residents of homes, merchants and their customers, and students enrolled in schools come and go. This is especially true of the process by which an organization such as the U.S. Marines develops leadership. "Many are called, a few are chosen" and then all receive rigorous formal training with hands-on daily supervision as they are absorbed by the culture and identify with its values, meanwhile strengthening individual skills, enriching personal knowledge, and - over time - adding increasing value to the organization. According to Studer, "Evidence-based leadership (EBL) enables us to create results that last. What is EBL? It's a strategy centered on using the current `best practices' in leadership - practices that are proven to redsult in the best possible outcomes. The `evidence,' in this context, is the reams of data collected from study after study that aim to determine what people really want and need from their leaders. When leaders apply these tried-and-true tactics to every corner of our organizations, we achieve consistent excellence. Our organization's success is no longer dependent on individuals. It's hardwired. No matter who leaves, the excellence remains." Throughout his narrative, Studer explains how EBL e

When I can across this book, I noticed that it had relatively few reviews for a book that has hit the Wall Street Journal's Best-selling list. After reading it, I understood why - although an easy read, it is so brimming with various leadership tactics that it is not easy to summarize for a complete review. While most business books are based upon a sound idea which could, and should, have been expressed in a ten page HBR article and not stretched into a 250+ page book, this one is quite the opposite. Even though it is written in plain spoken, dialogue format, with plenty of story examples; this book feels like a condensed compilation of management ideas and leadership tactics organized around the author's very successful career experience in the healthcare industry. The outcome is a page-turner of prescriptive to-do's that offer something for every key leadership issue, with a special emphasis on establishing goals and measurement of results. The book is dedicated to the development of a culture of performance excellence - an excellent culture is declared more important than an excellent strategy. Each chapter is linked to an "Evidence-based Leadership" graphic and one of its three components - Aligned Goals; Aligned Behavior; Aligned Processes - as the drivers for hardwiring performance. The book opens with Studer's three most important leadership tactics: Sort employees (called high, middle, and low conversations); Use walk-about-management, but make it purposeful (called rounding for outcomes); look for and speak about the positive & contribution from others (called managing up - rather than talking down, I concluded). Each chapter contains recommended steps for implementing these tactics. The next section is called "The Core", and introduces Studer's organizational flywheel with the three elements; Passion (Self-Motivation), Principles (Prescriptive To Do's), & Results (Bottom Line) revolving around Peoples Personal Values - purpose, worthwhile work, and making a difference. Taking 'Self-Motivation' at its word, there are no tactics for integrating an individual's passion into organizational performance. And, even for leaders, ME Inc. must give way to Business Inc. thru standardization tactics devoted to reducing leadership variance. Prescriptive to-do's and results measurement are the focus for the author's hardwiring process. Goals and measurement are organized under five performance pillars - Service, Quality, People, Finance, and Growth. The book then moves thru an Employee Tactics section and a Customer Tactics section. Satisfied employees are at the top of the list - an employee survey to diagnose satisfaction is recommended, perhaps using the Gallup ("First, Break all the Rules") Organization's 12 key questions as a basis. Know 'what' is important to your employees, reward and recognize, and many other tactics for helping employees feel that their job is worthwhile and that they can make a difference are part of the employe

Those familiar with the author or The Studer Group's work, may assume that this is another look at how to better manage America's hospitals. Nothing could be further from the truth. The author's direct writing style, supported by many real life examples, and a goodly portion of common sense make this a valuable addition to any manager's bookshelf - or better yet, their briefcase. The book has several sample instruments that help the reader move from having an interest in the subject of leadership to actually doing it. As a working management consultant, I've ordered copies of this book for the leadership team of my current struggling client - who is not in healthcare. Quint's recommendations may sound difficult to some and too simple to others, but, in my mind, they are practical and beneficial to any organization, small or large, that wants to step up their achievement.

Quint Studer is a masterful story teller. As he weaves key principles for creating results that last into virtually every business setting, he also lights a fire of passion in the reader to go out and make a difference. The tactics are not rocket science. They are simple and straightforward. And they work. They work because they are implemented by processes and systems that hold people accountable. This book is a great read that will fire you up to change your own behavior and take a fresh look at your own organization.

If last generation business was all about strategic thinking and world dominance through growth, this generation's task is much harder to manage and measure - it's all about people. What motivates people, how they communicate - and when - how the organization "uses" them, and how they control customer services, and thereby profits. Studer offers a series of chapter by chapter tools to get a handle on all these critical human factors, and he offers positive and sensible, direct methods to make change. This is a useful book in a difficult area, the best one I've seen since all the buzz about teams. I recommend it for C-level execs and managers/supervisions, especially in healthcare and other people-based areas.