Execution

The Discipline of Getting Things Done

By: Larry Bossidy, Ram Charan

Narrated by: John Bedford Lloyd

Length: 8 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

The audio that shows how to get the job done and deliver results...whether you're running an entire company or in your first management job.

Larry Bossidy is one of the world's most acclaimed CEOs, with a track record for delivering results. Ram Charan is a legendary adviser to senior executives and boards of directors, a man with unparalleled insight into why some companies are successful and others are not. Together they've pooled their knowledge and experience into one guide on how to close the gap between results promised and results delivered.

The discipline of execution means understanding how to link together people, strategy, and operations, the three core processes of every business. Leading these processes is the real job of running a business, not formulating a "vision" and leaving the work of carrying it out to others. Bossidy and Charan show the importance of being deeply and passionately engaged in an organization and why robust dialogues about people, strategy, and operations result in a business based on intellectual honesty and realism.

The leader's most important job - selecting and appraising people - is one that should never be delegated. As a CEO, Larry Bossidy personally makes the calls to check references for key hires. Why? With the right people in the right jobs, there's a leadership gene pool that conceives and selects strategies that can be executed. People then work together to create a strategy building block by building block, a strategy in sync with the realities of the marketplace, the economy, and the competition. Once the right people and strategy are in place, they are then linked to an operating process that results in the implementation of specific programs and actions and that assigns accountability. This kind of effective operating process goes way beyond the typical budget exercise that looks into a rearview mirror to set its goals. It puts reality behind the numbers and is where the rubber meets the road.

©2002 Crown Business
(P)2002 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A terrific book that will make smart managers rethink how business gets done within every level of their organization or department." (Publishers Weekly)
"A great practitioner and an insightful theorist join forces to write a compelling business story of 'how to get it done.'" (Jack Welch)

Worth listening to if you are in business

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Cuts to the heart of what business folks need to think about to be successful. Drones a bit though, so you have to be patient to get the value here.

Hard to get through the ego ego

This was a good book, though it was filled with a whole lot of cheese thumping. I get it you are a great CEO and/or consultant, but a little more actionable items and a lot less bragging would have made this much more useful.

What Are These Guys Talking About?

I found this book to be excellent. No, I am not a CEO of a fortune 500 company, but a pastor of a small rural church. We are not doing billion dollar deals, but people are people and the principles of execution found in this book work no matter what size your company or non-profit organization is. Sure, there were some chapters I suffered through; all the talk about Six Sigma was Greek to me; yet, I found the book so intriguing that I listened to it three times. If you are a professional who is struggling in getting things done, this is well worth the read. Take a chance, you might be pleasantly surprised.

Excecution is key

Very good book, agree with everything the authors had to say, The authors real world examples with the theory. A must read for every leader!!

More corporate strategy than formula for execution

This book started off slow as I bought it wanting concrete information on execution. It turned out to be about corporate strategies and management evaluation. Very little was on execution outside of the corporate management scene. I almost shut it off a third of the way through, but stuck with it. It got better in the middle. It had many case studies of CEO's that I enjoyed, but again not really in line with the title. It was too long for the points they were trying to make and should have been titled, "Getting things done in a corporate setting". Overall it was just OK for me.

A little outdated but still great

The book was good. Many important considerations, practical tips and questions a ceo should ask himself before taking an action

This one of my favourites business book!

Would you listen to Execution again? Why?

Yes!

What other book might you compare Execution to and why?

I have some books as Yes! by Robert Cialdini, 7 habits by Stephen Covey what are in my favorite library!

What about John Bedford Lloyd’s performance did you like?

Yes!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes!

Great Leadership Book

As an aspiring business leader this book gave me tangible direction. I have actionable steps to take to improve myself and better inspire others after listening to this book. I see why Jamie Dimon recommended it.

Great book filled with brilliant insights

It is stunning how the authors have accurately assessed the difference between companies and managers who are effective at execution and which ones aren't. I had to agree with each premise and conclusion they offered. Then I ran out and bought copies to share with other business owners. Deifinitely a "must read" for anyone seeking results.

A very practical book

I read this book slowly while applying everything that is practical for our organization. The part that was very useful to me is FOLLOWING THROUGH. Doing this brought a big positive change for us.