The Effective Executive

I just re-read The Effective Executive by Peter F. Drucker. Once again, it delivers a strong dose of wisdom on how to raise your level of performance and contribute to the success of your organization. This may be the best “self help” book for business professionals ever written by the master of organizational management.

Peter Drucker was one of the most prolific management consultants of the 20th century. In his time, he wrote 39 books on management, economics, politics and fiction. His study of General Motors during World War II led to the publication of The Concept of the Corporation. It was a ground-breaking book that launched him into the public eye. What made his body of work especially relevant was that he had the opportunity to observe more leaders and managers from business, the military and academia than perhaps anyone ever. He uses these observations to help his readers see what works…and what doesn’t.

Although published 50 years ago, The Effective Executive contains strategies and anecdotes relevant to today’s skilled knowledge worker. Regardless of position/title, you are an executive based on the fact you are responsible for making contributions to your organization that yield results and mission success. Drucker argues that anyone can be an effective executive and “get the right things done” by cultivating five habits: 1) Know where your time goes, 2) Focus on outward contributions, 3) Build on strengths, 4) Focus on priorities and 5) Systematically make effective decisions.

This classic book is well worth your time. At 174 pages, it won’t demand a great deal of time to read. It will definitely help you focus on maximizing your performance.