Taking People With You

The Only Way to Make Big Things Happen

By: David Novak

Narrated by: Sean Pratt

Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's Summary

David Novak learned long ago that you can't lead a great organization of any size without getting your people aligned, enthusiastic, and focused relentlessly on the mission. But how do you do that? There are countless leadership books, but how many will actually help a Taco Bell shift manager, a Fortune 500 CEO, a new entrepreneur, or anyone in between? Over his 15 years at Yum! Brands, Novak has developed a trademarked program he calls Taking People with You. He spends several weeks each year personally teaching it to thousands of managers around the world. He convinces them that they'll never make big things happen until they learn how to get people on their side. No skill in business is more important. And Yum!'s extraordinary success (at least 13 percent growth for each of the last nine years) proves his point. Novak knows that managers don't need leadership platitudes or business school theories. So he cuts right to the chase with a step-by- step guide to setting big goals, getting people to work together, blowing past your targets, and celebrating after you shock the skeptics. And then doing it again and again until consistent excellence becomes a core element of your culture. This audiobook has specific tools at the end of each chapter that will challenge you to reflect on how you're really doing on key aspects of leadership. And if you apply it, you'll immediately start to improve.

©2012 David Novak (P)2012 Gildan Media Corp

Critic Reviews

"This is the best, most practical hands-on book on leadership I've ever read. If you apply these principles, your career and the people you work with will flourish." (Dr. Bob Rotell, a sports psychologist)

Almost very good

Is there anything you would change about this book?

For an audiobook, the exercises at the end of each chapter should be available for download. I have seen this with other books and it is very helpful, especially if the intention is to learn and do. I listen in the car usually and not having a document to work off of later is a loss.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Good story with good examples.

Could you see Taking People With You being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Any additional comments?

Nope.

Makes sense!

Would you listen to Taking People With You again? Why?

I've listened to it twice, ordered a hard copy and I'll listen to it again. I'm recommending it to my entire staff.

What did you like best about this story?

The examples can be applied to many situations.

Well paced and interesting - exercises not so much

Would you listen to Taking People With You again? Why?

I don't tend to re-read books very often, but this one had enough different aspects to it and a good pace. I might well revisit it in a year.

What about Sean Pratt’s performance did you like?

The book was well read, clear and easy to follow. The infrequent other characters were subtly different from the main narration voice. Overall very well presented.

Any additional comments?

My only negative comment on the book was that it contains regular exercises to examine your own work and life situations. This sort of exercise is hard to picture in audio form, and clearly requires sitting down and working at the exercise. I tend to listen to audio books on the move, and will naturally not stop to do the exercises.

Great book with great learnings

I love how the book gives you practical ideas and challenges you in ways to make others around you better. It is a true leadership Book and David Novak is quite brilliant!

Improve the World

When you care about, and do something about, other people's success, you success is guaranteed!

Seriously helpful

I found this book to be tremendously helpful and insightful. It has made me think a lot about how I lead in my work, my church, and my family. I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to be a better leader.

Extremely insightful.

This book gets right to it and will open your eyes to what you already know but never thought profoundly about.

Adding this to my yearly books to re-read.

Great advice book!

I have the paper book that I used as well as audible. They made a nice pair to get through my class and the narrator did a great job making it more interesting for me.

Exceptional book! I love the experiences shared

I liked the experiences shared in this book. The reader was clear and engaging. The author shared successes and lessons learned with transparency. He also share nuggets of knowledge from other leaders that he has come in contact with. I will recommend this book.

great book!

great book. has a lot of good info and insight. I'll listen / read this one again