Embracing Excellence: Become the Employer of Choice to Attract and Keep the Best Talent [Hardcover]

Franklin C. Ashby (Author), Ph.D., Arthur R. Pell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 28, 2001

Provides tried-and-true methods for retaining good employees. Included are anecdotes and real-life examples from companies that are succeeding in holding onto their talented staff. It provides step-by-step guidelines and worksheets to help the reader apply the strategies.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The authors, executives of the Leadership Capital Group, an executive and management development company, allege that, in today's competitive environment, salary and options are no longer the primary considerations for accepting and staying at jobs. They recommend that employers offer such perks as family counseling, flex-time, financial advice, childcare assistance, exercise facilities and concierge services. Managers must also organize training programs, mentoring and schooling for workers at different levels. Overall, this is a solid reference for managers and HR professionals.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Recruiting and retaining outstanding employees is a challenge now facing corporations. Ashby and Pell, chairman and senior vice-president of the Leadership Capital Group, respectively, provide a practical and informative guide to strategies employers can use to assure that they have the best talent. Because their research reveals "a direct relationship between the employee retention rate and the corporate culture," they recommend examining a company's culture, analyzing major complaints from both managers and employers, and discovering the perfect fit between employees and corporate culture by organizing focus groups and using confidential employee interviews. They also present practical advice on how to locate the best talent, prescreen applicants, employ successful interview techniques, and decide which candidate to hire. Case studies, including those of Allstate Insurance Company and Walt Disney World Resorts, are presented throughout the book. Also helpful are the lists of publications and web sites with information about human resources, jobs, careers, and management. This very thorough source belongs in the business collections of both public and academic libraries. Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica, N.Y.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall Press; 1st edition (August 28, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 073520263X
• ISBN-13: 978-0735202634
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,672,525 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The real question is why more companies don't do this!, May 19, 2002

By 

Michael Erisman (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Embracing Excellence: Become the Employer of Choice to Attract and Keep the Best Talent (Hardcover)

There is not much here that is brand new, but what are presented are solid concepts and philosophies that help create employee loyalty and business success. The book is an excellent and comprehensive look at the various methodologies to creating a company culture that attracts and retains great employees.

The basic areas of discussion are; Qualities and characteristics of a great corporate culture. Methodologies to diagnose your corporate culture. How to find great people, including solid tips on benefits, interviewing, new employee orientation, retention issues such as work/life balance, and leadership.

One of the more interesting and somewhat new approaches presented is the "Organizational MRI". Using the analogy of an MRI which looks deep inside a body for areas of concern, and organizational MRI is a process to look inside an organization for culture related issues which may impact employee loyalty and business results. It is an interesting and somewhat unique way to look at a familiar process. I also enjoyed the short section on the "worst techniques to obtain reliable information" which not surprisingly are used often in corporate America today.

The authors also correctly point out that the best way to create a great culture for success is to have the right people. In my experience as an HR professional, I have found that the fastest way to change a culture is to hire the right people who will quickly impact those around them in a positive manner. The book outlines several methods for interviewing and onboarding new employees to capitalize on what they can bring to the organization. Also, the authors make the valid point of looking for talent within the organization as well. Not new stuff, but well presented.

Overall, it is a book worth reading. The only real question is why more companies do not apply these time proven methods to build employee loyalty and business success.