The Leadership Solution: Say It Do It

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Summary: The Leadership Solution
Review: For over twenty years, I have been an advisor to management in the field of rewards and compensation. Traditionally, discussions of rewards at work focus on cash compensation, benefits, and, more recently, stock deals. These monetary and wealth-building vehicles help one have great experiences in life outside of work. But what about the experiences at work, where a dedicated employee might spend more than half of waking time? What makes the day-to-day work experience itself rewarding? In an age where the war for talent demands that every organization address this question successfully, Jim Shaffer provides powerful, practical answers for CEO's, executive teams, general managers, and heads of human resources.

At the heart of the day-to-day work experience is the process of communication. As Mr. Shaffer writes, "You can't not communicate. Everything you say and do communicates." Forget about bringing dogs to work and on-site concierge services. These are fluff, not substance. Mr. Shaffer gets to the substance. He demonstrates that the quality of organization communication is, by far, the greatest governor of the quality of the work experience for all employees.

Mr. Shaffer shows leaders how to develop a communication environment that shapes a highly rewarding day-to-day work experience for everyone in the organization. He shows how to build and lead ongoing organization communication processes and disciplines that align people to a common purpose and motivate them to pursue it with vigor. In the war for talent, he shows how to span the generations and ensure that one and all agree: "Our company is a great place to work! "

Do you face unprecedented challenges in attracting, retaining, aligning, motivating and rewarding top-notch staff at all levels? "The Leadership Solution" delivers distinctive know-how for building a huge advantage in getting, keeping and deploying the people you need. And, it's an enjoyable read, sprinkled with metaphors, quotes and anecdotes that produce many rewarding "Aha!" experiences.

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Summary: The Leadership Solution
Review: Jim Shaffer's book, The Leadership Solution, is a MUST READING both for all corporate communications executives and staff and CEOs. Nobody does a better job in the age of "High Tech" to remind us to use the "High Touch." If we take the points that Jim cites, then we will find that attrition will be decreased.

Jim reminds us throughout that employee communications and touch will make the difference in performance and thus, stock price and a competitive and "best in class" company.

Shaffer lays out clearly the VISION aand STRATEGY. We all need to follow his course of what he states. "A vision is a target, a picture of the future. A strategy is a roadmap, how you're going to achieve the vision."

Tools are excellent. Follow the Readiness questionnaire to improving performance. See if we can all master the 6 course process to connect people or employees or associates to the business strategy. Shaffer identifies the 20 things to generate commitment. He cites the "3 people principles" that guide Best Practices and the Best Performance.

With all the focus on Mergers and Acquisitions, we find that Shaffer's 9 Guildelines for negotiating through the M&A are excellent.

Shaffer's examples of CEOs help build the case. His messages will help any communications chief help your CEO.

Shaffer demonstrates vividly how and why the communication function is being reinvented. The last chapter embodies the message strongly. It means what we all learn that communications much be align to assist the company's strategic goals. Shaffer does it.

Read and underline; share with your colleagues.

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Summary: Shaffer delivers primer for leaders
Review: Just when you thought you couldn't handle one more piece of Information Age data, Jim Shaffer mercifully reveals the secrets to managing message bombardment, recognizing and maximizing all forms of communication, and connecting people with purpose to run any business better. With insights from many of the world's top CEOs, two "case studies," plain old good writing and a spot-on sailing metaphor to top it off, Shaffer proves what the best leaders have known (or at least have sensed) for some time: "informed people outperform uninformed people..." Better still, Shaffer steers a clear course -- with plenty of helpful examples -- through the sea of ambiguity that is business today, mapping the route for leaders who need to connect their employees to their business strategies. He calls it "connecting the dots." Business schools everywhere should use it and call it "Leadership 101." This is a terrific book for great leaders seeking to gain further marketplace advantage, leaders in training seeking instruction for "putting it all together" and the managers who serve them. The chapter on "earthshaking" events would be especially helpful for any one managing through a merger, acquisition, turnaround and the like.