Closing the Execution Gap: How Great Leaders and Their Companies Get Results [Hardcover]

Richard Lepsinger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 15, 2010 | ISBN-10: 0470531304 | ISBN-13: 978-0470531303 | Edition: 1

Praise for Closing the Execution Gap

"I got half way through the introduction and was hooked. The book's premise—strategic thinking used to be a leader's main focus but surprisingly that's not enough—gave me confidence that my efforts to drive execution are not in vain. Many of the challenges that Lepsinger describes are exactly what we are experiencing and Closing the Execution Gap gave me a way to organize my thinking into actions I will take at my company. I plan to buy copies for my entire team." Mark Miller President and CEO, New Horizons Worldwide

"Closing the Execution Gap is quick hitting and current. Lepsinger's 'how to' style is easy to read and apply. The examples jumped out and kept me interested and I got value out of every chapter. Companies that are interested in developing managers will use this book the way I intend to use it—as a practical guide to effective execution." Bernard Flynn President and CEO, NJM Insurance Group

"As compared to many leadership books, I found Closing the Execution Gap to be refreshingly practical. I advise the reader to have their yellow highlighter at the ready. I especially liked the forthright analysis and recommendations that came with the author's look at the critical area of accountability." Harold Scharlatt Design and Delivery Manager, Center for Creative Leadership

"Closing the Execution Gap has excellent information and insights that are well connected to meaningful bodies of research. Lepsinger hones in on tangible, real-world problems that many leaders will recognize and then offers practical solutions.?Line managers and Learning and Development professionals will find this book of interest because it captures the critical concepts that make an organization and its people successful." Craig DinsellEVP and Head of Human Resources, Oppenheimer Funds, Inc.

Editorial Reviews

Review

‘…speaks to people at any level of the hierarchy, offering simple, practical tips for translating strategy into real performance.' (Business Digest, September 2010).

From the Inside Flap

Once upon a time strategy was king. Leaders immersed themselves in the matter of planning how best to achieve their company's goals. The subject dominated the attention of senior executives and the writings of consultants and management gurus. Experts of various stripes weighed in on how to put strategic planning processes in place and transform employees at all levels into strategic thinkers.

Naturally, leaders assumed all this strategizing would pay off. And yet, for too many organizations the promised results never came to pass.

Quite simply, they couldn't execute.

Now, the business world has shifted its focus to the consistent delivery of results. If an organization can't execute its plans and initiatives, nothing else matters: not the most solid, well thought-out strategy, not the most innovative business model, not even technological breakthroughs that could transform an industry.

As it turns out, the "conventional wisdom" about what it takes to implement strategy and deliver results isn't all that wise. So what really differentiates the companies that are able to get things done day-to-day and deliver consistent results? The answer is found in the pages of Richard Lepsinger's ground-breaking book, Closing the Execution Gap.

Based on extensive research and years of practical experience, the book outlines five prerequisites for effective execution and five "Bridges" that differentiate companies that do it best. It also describes six "Bridge Builders" leaders at all levels can use to close the execution gap in their company or team and help people get things done. Specifically, it addresses:

• What really gets in the way of getting things done—for individuals, teams and entire companies

• What leaders can do to enhance their organization's ability to close the execution gap and achieve solid business results

• What it takes to consistently execute plans and initiatives at a day-to-day operational level

The book features many case studies of companies that have a track record of effective execution (Hewlett-Packard, Costco, Procter & Gamble) and those who have struggled with closing the gap between creating a vision and delivering results (Dell, American Airlines, GM).

As the business world becomes more competitive and less forgiving, execution matters more than ever. This is a book for the times we live in—and one that for many companies could mean the difference between success and failure.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Pfeiffer; 1 edition (June 15, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470531304
• ISBN-13: 978-0470531303
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #766,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Rick Lepsinger is President of OnPoint Consulting and has a twenty-five year track record of success as a human resource consultant and executive. He was a Founder of Manus, a human capital consulting firm, which he grew to over $4 million in revenue and sold to Right Management Consultants in 1998. At Right, Rick was the Managing Vice President of the Northeast and Eastern Canadian Consulting Practice where he was responsible to 55 professionals and grew the region's revenue from $7 million to $20 million.

The focus of Rick's work has been on helping organizations close the gap between strategy and execution. He has served as a consultant to leaders and management teams at the Astra-Zeneca, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Citibank, Coca-Cola Company, ConocoPhilipps, Eisai Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., NYSE Euronext, Northwestern Mutual Life, PeopleSoft, Pfizer Inc., Pitney Bowes, Prudential, Siemens Medical Systems, Subaru of America, and UBS among others.

Rick has authored five books on leadership including Closing the Execution Gap: How Great Leaders and Their Companies Get Results and Flexible Leadership: Creating Value by Balancing Multiple Challenges and Choices (co-author with Dr. Gary Yukl) published by Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Looking at how to connect Strategy to Execution? ... Then this is a MUST READ !, April 11, 2011

By 

Doc Dochtermann "PMI" (CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Closing the Execution Gap: How Great Leaders and Their Companies Get Results (Hardcover)

Just when you think you have read everything about connecting Strategy to Execution, outcomes based thinking, implementing change successfully, ... along comes Rick Lepsinger with his amazing ideas on how successful organizations are successful because they are able to "bridge" the strategy / execution gap by choosing to build six important bridges ...

Bridge No. 1: Create and use action plans
Bridge No. 2: Expect and get top performance
Bridge No. 3: Hold people accountable
Bridge No. 4: Involve the right people in the right decisions
Bridge No. 5: Facilitate change readiness
Bridge No. 6: Enhance cooperation and collaboration

... although organizations may have great people, competencies, plans, tools, methods, and processes, they are still creating large gaps within their organizations, by not paying attention to these very critical elements, that enable a company to execute well.

Rick Lepsinger also describes the seven conflict management mistakes, which were my real nuggets from from this story-based expose (lots of great anecdotal stories in here about companies that build-bridges and companies that create-gaps):

Mistake 1. Minimizing or ignoring others' concerns
Mistake 2. Pulling power plays
Mistake 3. Attacking the legitimacy of others' positions or priorities
Mistake 4. Suppressing differences
Mistake 5. Imposing own goals/priorities
Mistake 6. Refusing to temporarily remove constraints
Mistake 7. Going through the motions of managing the difference, but refusing to carry it through

This is a incredible book and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how to close these very significant gaps within their organization.

Mark Dochtermann, PMP, PMI-SP, MCITP
Advisicon Inc

5.0 out of 5 stars Closing the Execution Gap, December 30, 2010

By 

Gerry Franciosa - See all my reviews

This review is from: Closing the Execution Gap: How Great Leaders and Their Companies Get Results (Hardcover)

Rick Lepsinger has once again brought a practical, common sense approach to solving business challenges and this time the focus is on actualizing a business strategy. The content is straight forward and easy to apply and provides the framework for a conversation among business colleagues that will change the way work is perceived and conducted. I highly recommend this book as a resource to read and re-read - once to familiarize yourself with the content, and again to reinforce the work that your team will most certainly aspire to.

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, December 20, 2010

By 

Eric Shimanoff - See all my reviews

This review is from: Closing the Execution Gap: How Great Leaders and Their Companies Get Results (Hardcover)

Closing the Execution Gap offers research supported pragmatic methods for solving the issues that fact many of today's business leaders. Rick Lepsinger's advice is clear cut and easy to implement across a wide variety of industries. While other books promise, Lepsinger's book delivers, providing expert advice that the layman can execute.