Noel Grima
The author has more than 30 years of experience in human resources, talent development, executive recruiting, sales and marketing. He has been with FranklinCovey for more than 20 years and currently serves as chief people officer and executive vice-president. He is responsible for FranklinCovey's global talent development in more than 40 offices reaching 160 countries.
In this book, the author moves beyond the adage that an organisation's greatest asset are its people. Instead, relationships drive professional and personal effectiveness - and in the end, create a culture that can become an organisation's competitive advantage.
In an approachable, engaging style, using real-world stories, the author uncovers the most common relationship pitfalls that hurt careers and organizational results. From his experience observing leading and coaching others for more than 30 years, the author identifies 15 proven practices that any one at any level of an organization can apply to be successful at work, improve business results and truly master effective relationships.
The chapters are entitled practices and have catchy titles: wear glasses that work, carry your own weather, behave your way to credibility, play your roles well, see the tree not just the seedling, avoid the pinball syndrome, think we not me, take stock of your emotional bank accounts, examine your real motives, talk less - listen more, get your volume right, extend trust, make it safe to tell the truth, align inputs with outputs, and finally start with humility.
Each chapter is very readable, with stories and experiences that are down to earth and easy to empathise with.
Just to give an example, in the penultimate chapter he goes back to all 15 chapters and analyses the old inputs and old outputs and compares them to new inputs and new outputs.
Old input
Thomas relies only on his perfectionist 'go-to' strength and misses the product-launch deadline.
Old output
Partners and customers are frustrated when the company's commitments are not met.
New input
Thomas 'dials down' his go-to strength when necessary and employs other strengths of collaboration and keeping commitments.
New output
Products launch on time and partners and customers are satisfied. Thomas is perceived as a stronger player and contributor in the organization.
I recommend this book to all those who have any role in any organization, at whatever level, and who would like to improve the personal relationships in the organization.
Todd Davis
Get Better
Simon & Schuster
2017
232pp