Customer Reviews

CEO Tools: The Nuts-n-Bolts of Business for Every Manager's Success

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Most business books tend to be long on theory and short on implementation techniques. Not so with "CEO Tools: The Nuts-n-Bolts of Business for Every Manager's Success." This new release not only offers more than a hundred practical ideas for becoming a better CEO or manager, it actually gives you the tools to do so through an attached CD-ROM. If a particular management tool or technique happens to strike your fancy, you can download a form or template and start using the tool in your business the very same day.

Kramers believes that running a successful company requires using a variety of tools as part of an organized, disciplined management process. His process consists of seven discrete steps: 1) Use goals to motivate employees, 2) Communicate to get meaningful results, 3) Track performance, 4) Anticipate the future and realize it, 5) Place and coach winners, 6) Organize yourself and others, and 7) Celebrate success.

Using this model as a framework, Kramers organizes "CEO Tools" around these essential steps. Each chapter contains an eclectic mix of ideas, tools and management practices for getting more out of employees and improving bottom line results. While many business books would stop here, Kramers takes it to the next level by offering numerous practical tips and techniques for implementing these principles.

What really sets "CEO Tools" apart from other business books, however, is the companion CD-ROM (tucked inside the back cover) that contains more than two dozen forms, charts, spreadsheets and tracking templates. These easily downloadable tools enable you to immediately put Kramers' goal setting and other management concepts to work in your business, using your data and your key indicators.

Ultimately, good management comes down to making the right decisions in a timely manner and then following through with appropriate action. "CEO Tools" is designed to help you do just that. Most of the tools and techniques discussed in the book come directly from Kramers' personal experience as CEO of eight different companies. Others come from ideas and practices he has picked up from consulting with companies of all sizes around the world.

Regardless of where the tools come from, they all have one thing in common -- they work! Whether you're a business owner, CEO, senior manager or anyone in charge of managing and leading a group of people toward a common goal, this book belongs on your work bench, not on your shelf.

This is a TERRIFIC book for any manager and especially small business owners! It is filled with real world, easy to use, proven tools to make good things happen, including more profits. Here's a guy who has done it all and boiled down the real secrets into not only an easy book to read but to understand how to make what he has learned work in my business. There is even a CD included that I used to put my own business data into and work his secrets on my problems. WOW! I learned more useable stuff from this one book than dozens of others I have read. Buy it now! You will not be disapointed.

I feel that in many ways this is the ultimate book for a CEO or leader. I jokingly told one of my CEO clients, "Read this book and you won't have to read any others and you can throw away the ones you have read!" The inclusion of the CD is a special plus and the many forms and tools make this an ACTION book. I have heard Kraig speak and he is a zealot about leadership tools and it certainly comes across in this jam packed book. Each of his Top Ten lists stand on their own and are very powerful. It is the kind of book that you could keep on your desk and use as a reference each time you are dealing with one of the primary areas of your business. Every CEO should own this book!

This book is interesting but I also just finished reading "Kiss Theory Good Bye" by Bob Prosen on leadership and management just published and it is also a very actionable and timely book.

The thing I did like about 'nuts-n-bolts' is the Top Ten lists in each chapter, in particular "the top ten communication tools" were very good.

If you are leading a business, small, medium or behemoth, this book should be your reference "Bible" and be worn out before too long. It's scource is from a leader who has been "there" and has done "that" many times. Not much theory or academic nonsense...just the real world when your name appears at the very top of the "org chart" and you are wondering what to do. Buy it! Read it! Do it!

Excellent book. I have bought approximately 80 books and have all my vice presidents and managers using it.

Kaig Kramers consistently delivers useable, practical business ideas for those loking to really take their companies or their careers to the next level. In a 'been-there, done-that' approach, he addresses tools that every high performing executive should keep at the ready.

Jim Canfield
President/COO Renaissance Executive Forums
San Diego CA

I bought this book over a year ago and I'm just reviewing it right now. The reason for this is that I've pulled it off my book shelf and I have been using it again over the last few months as I'm going through another round of strategic planning for my business.

I have literally read chapters in this book 4+ times, they are that full of actionable and useful information. Chapter 3 is my favorite, it is full of great information on sales tracking, KPIs and creating financials that you can actually learn something from. There is so much information in this book that can be directly applied to your business...not just a bunch of theory.

This book is the perfect complement to Rockefeller Habits, which is a bit more focused on strategic planning but with less examples and direct take-aways.

Nice work Kraig, I greatly appreciate it.

Scott Skinger
TrainSignal.com

Very useable tools that any CEO can put to use right away. A must read!

I first met Kraig in the early 1990's when I was doing start-ups and turnarounds and have used all of his tools with great success. I consider CEO Toolsone of my top 10 all-time favorite business books and recommend this to all of my clients. In my book and audio book , Managing Thought: How Do Your Thoughts Rule Your World?, I talk about the power of purpose and vision, being of service, seeking to understand, and celebrating success. CEO Tools does a great job of showing how to implement these practices in a business environment. www.managingthought.com