Built to Serve: How to Drive the Bottom Line with People-First Practices [Hardcover]

Dan J. Sanders (Author), Stephen Covey (Author), Ken Blanchard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2007 | ISBN-10: 0071497927 | ISBN-13: 978-0071497923 | Edition: 1

In Built to Serve, Dan Sanders, CEO of the award-winning, service-oriented United Supermarkets, makes this bold claim: the prevailing business culture is broken and a radical transformation is required-a paradigm shift that reshapes our understanding of the true purpose of work.

Leaders have a choice-continue to chase a broken price-profit model and suffer the consequences or build a culture committed to servanthood and discover the fulfillment evident when people see their work as a ministry. The choice leaders make will not only determine economic success and failure but also will determine their organization's long term impact on humanity.

The time is now. Sanders reveals how your people can adopt United's mission of “Ultimate Service, Superior Performance, Positive Impact.” He distills valuable lessons from nine decades of a people-centered culture that consistently delivers outstanding customer service and reveals how you can develop a fully engaged, productive workforce.

• Treat your customers like partners
• Create a people-centered culture in a numbers-focused world
• Communicate your organization's vision
• Focus on strengths, not weaknesses
• Tie performance to the success of your mission
• Reduce your employee turnover
• Build communities connected by an emotional bond
• Ensure sustainability and growth-with an eye on the principles that allowed your success in the first place

When you're built to serve, employees come to work because they want to, not just because they have to. Built to Serve is your hands-on guide to seeking this higher purpose.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (September 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071497927
• ISBN-13: 978-0071497923
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.9 x 8.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #690,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

When You Empower People You Get Powerful Results

“[This book] inspires your spirit...The United Supermarkets model, taught in a most excellent and successful way.”-Stephen R. Covey

“Built to Serve calls for a profound shift in the philosophy and practice of business. We can all learn a great deal from Dan's leadership and United's legacy.”-from the Afterword by Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager and Leading at a Higher Level

“Success in business requires a dedication to certain basic principles, not the least of which is realizing a company's best asset is its people. Dan Sanders has done a remarkable job of illustrating how this philosophy, when applied consistently, can improve the health of any business.”-Kenneth Cooper, M.D., Cooper Aerobics Center

“Leaders will profit from the groundbreaking principles advocated in this book.”-Claude Dollins, Chairman, The Center for Corporate Culture

About the Author

Dan J. Sanders is CEO of United Supermarkets, the first supermarket to win the prestigious National Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics. Sanders is also cofounder of The Center for Corporate Culture, which challenges and coaches CEOs and their teams to build corporate cultures focused on leadership, ethics, wellness, and execution. In addition to his business endeavors, Sanders is also a former Air Force U-2 reconnaissance pilot and a highly decorated officer.

www.danjsanders.com

Product Details

• Hardcover: 200 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (September 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071497927
• ISBN-13: 978-0071497923
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.9 x 8.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #690,530 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dan Sanders is a seasoned executive in the food industry and supermarket sector. As a Supervalu division president, Mr. Sanders led Albertsons in Southern California and Las Vegas and ACME Markets in Pennsylvania during business transformations that ultimately resulted in the sale of both companies to private equity investors. Prior to serving in the publically-traded arena, Mr. Sanders was the chief executive officer of United Supermarkets, an award-winning, family-owned retailer based in Texas. His business career started in the entrepreneurial environment, working alongside his mentor, Galen Walters, at Adplex, a highly regarded marketing company specializing in advertising production and business consultative services for high-profile corporate, retail, and entertainment organizations. In addition to specializing in circular production and printing, Adplex developed innovative Web-based rich media software to help companies like American Airlines, NASCAR Images, HP, and YMCA manage their intellectual property. Prior to entering the business world, Mr. Sanders served as an officer in the United States Air Force. He is a graduate of Lubbock Christian University and Pepperdine University's Graziadio School of Business and Management. Mr. Sanders is also the author of two books, Built to Serve and Equipped to Lead (coauthored with Galen Walters).

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Concentration on Culture Pays Off October 13, 2007

By Scott Mcneill

Format:Hardcover

Built to Serve is a book that every CEO, executive, business owner, manager, and employee should read. I enjoyed the insight given by Dan on building one of the most successful supermarket chains in the country. Dan Sanders, CEO of United Supermarkets, has shared how focusing on people and building a corporate culture around our true nature as human beings will lead to an organization where employees truly enjoy their work and financial success is a by-product of the culture. Dan shows how to unlock the true greatness that is inside each individual at your company which in turn drives success. By focusing on people instead of the bottom-line, good performance by management and employees comes genuinely and naturally as we each are designed to serve. The results of such a strategy are both personally and financially rewarding.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Built to Serve September 20, 2007

By William J. Rogers II

Format:Hardcover

One great book....easy to read and understand! Should be read by all -- not just those in management. Full of wisdom, wonderful ideas, and simple models that anyone can follow. The best book I've seen in a long, long time!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing new management approach October 4, 2007

By Chuck Watson

Format:Hardcover

This book finally spells out what's important in business. I've waited for someone to stand up and declare that money isn't the bottom line in business. If Corporate America would grasp these principles, I'm convinced we would see tremendous results!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Built To Serve October 8, 2007

By Steve Trafton

Format:Hardcover

This is a great book with many life changing principals to learn. It speaks to company leaders, but has just as much to say to people in every stage of business. From the head office to the deliveryman, this principle of (serving people) is number one and it is what people want when deciding where they will do business. Every person in your company should read this!!!!! This what you can use to compete in this highly competitive environment.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Advice from one stand up businessman to another... October 8, 2007

By David Mcbee Jr.

Format:Hardcover

The book was an easy read and reminds us that our people are what make our business great. I was reminded that tactics that apply to big business can apply to my small business as well. It was inspiring to hear that business leaders today are still leading with intelligence and integrity. I wish more successful businessmen would share their insights in this way.

5.0 out of 5 stars *********Excellent!!! *********** August 3, 2011

By Mystical Traveler

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a business owner, I am inspired with what Dan had to say. Bravo! You've captured the True essence of effective leadership. Thank you!

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read!! January 9, 2011

By Jason Stehlik

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is one of the best books I have ever read. If every person would read this and put it into action I cannot imagine how much smoother, profitable and delightful every customer interaction would be.

5.0 out of 5 stars People Drive Business, not Processes March 2, 2009

By Karen L. Jett, CMA

Format:Hardcover

It's a joy to read a book by an author who clearly 'gets it' - that businesses excel by taking care of their most important asset: their employees. While many businesses are able to create short term success by emphasizing performance and processes over all else, long term success comes from following "People-First Practices."

Built to Serve provides an excellent business case for putting people first. Mr. Sanders provides a step-by-step progression that clearly illustrates how creating a strong people culture results in sound financial results.

The key is to create a mission and vision for the organization that is based on the company's values and is so compelling that employees not only remember it but also live it as they do their jobs each day. If you find this idea intriguing, Built to Serve will be a joy for you to read. If you find this idea unlikely, then read it at your own peril - you may change your mind.

Built to Serve draws examples of the key principles from many different companies and industries proving that they are applicable to more than just United Markets. I also appreciate that each chapter ends with a summary of its key points called "From the Express Lane." Overall, Built to Serve is an informative and compelling read. - Karen L. Jett, CMA author of Grow Your People, Grow Your Business