• How Did That Happen?

  • Holding People Accountable for Results the Positive, Principled Way
  • By: Roger Connors, Tom Smith
  • Narrated by: Lloyd James
  • Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (96 ratings)

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How Did That Happen?  By  cover art

How Did That Happen?

By: Roger Connors, Tom Smith
Narrated by: Lloyd James
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Publisher's summary

Roger Connors and Tom Smith literally wrote the book on accountability. Their best seller, The Oz Principle, has sold more than 500,000 copies in several editions since 1994. As they've worked with thousands of clients over two decades through their firm, Partners in Leadership, the authors have developed new strategies for holding people accountable while building morale.

They offer powerful steps to establish a positive "Accountability Connection", rather than waiting to place blame after problems arise and people fail to deliver.

Drawing on case studies, many from client companies, the authors show how to establish clear expectations and manage the unmet expectations that inevitably occur. And they offer a positive, principled way that engages hearts and minds.

This book can help people at every level---from senior executives to front-line workers - enjoy greater productivity, profitability, and job satisfaction.

©2009 Roger Conners and Tom Smith (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Definitely the 'go-to' book for teaching organizational accountability that works - without the backlash." (Steven R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People)

What listeners say about How Did That Happen?

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

HELP - How Can I Get The Lost Hours Back ?

I bought this book based on reviews posted to Amazon.com. Across the board superlatives. There were no reviews posted to Audible yet (I may be the first)

I just finished the first 5 hours of this book and all I can say is that I must be listening to a different book. This was one of the most painful reads I have experienced in a long time. I do not intend to listen to the 2nd half.

The messages contained in 5 hours could have easily been condensed to 1 hour. The authors write in vagaries in many places and the repetition is very, very tiring. The company examples are not very insightful at all.

I kept waiting for the content to start to gel, to start coming together to make more concrete points but it just never did -- at least for me. I constantly felt like I was moving between high level "ether" and mind numbing pontification.

Some of the "exercises" described in the book seemed like they were ripped out of the pages of an elementary "pop" management course. Some struck me as just silly.

I really wish I could have appreciated this book more - the subject fascinates me and as a manager I want to look for ways to improve. It was clear to me that this book was not going to provide that help. If I could get a refund on my purchase I would happily accept it.

If you purchase this book I hope you have a different and more positive experience. Otherwise, you too may be asking yourself "How Did This Happen?"

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33 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

wasnt feeling it

listened to it and could not get into it... stopped listening after about 4-hours.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Audibook is okay - but no support on visuals

The book refers to a number of charts and other visual references. However, no link is provided to be accessed in the app.. I cannot find them on the website and cannot get a response when emailing tantor.com. Maybe they didn't take the time to set "best level" expectations as described in the book!.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Good information but a bit dry.

The concepts of both corporate and personal accountability are great but I had difficulty finishing the book.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Good principles to apply anywhere

I found this book with good insights and principles you can apply immediately on your day to day, especially your job. True that if you're a manager it will apply more to you, but if you're not it's useful as well. It is a little long, but I think the authors do a good job in talking about each point in detail and with examples.

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