How Great Decisions Get Made: 10 Easy Steps for Reaching Agreement on Even the Toughest Issues [Paperback]

Don Maruska (Author), Margaret J. Wheatley (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 19, 2006

"All too often, solving tough work issues can become a tug of war as clashing departments, priorities, personality styles, and other concerns threaten to destroy any possibility of a successful conclusion. But by sharing hopes, and focusing on information rather than debate, the path to agreement can become wonderfully clear. How Great Decisions Get Made. shows how to bring out the best in people, so that the process of decision making cements groups together rather than pulling them apart. The book gives readers a simple 10-step process to help their people overcome seemingly intractable differences, paving the way for groups to: * Embrace a world view filled with the possibility of creating better results together * Shift their attention from the stale ""What should we do?"" to a fresh ""How can we achieve what we really want?"" attitude * Tap into who they are to define and articulate their hopes Readers looking for quick, exciting ways to energize their often contentious decision-making process will find all the help they need, from real-life scenarios showing the process in action to a self-assessment checklist. How Great Decisions Get Made provides the key to overcoming barriers, making people feel great about the work they do, and achieving extraordinary results."

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A MUST READ" -- James A. Barry, Jr.CFP®, international financial advisor, author and PBS television host of Jim Barry's Financial Success

"A blessing for anyone who hates meetings (who doesn't)- the art of team decision making" -- BookPage

"Don Maruska's book offers a refreshing perspective and an important process that people urgently need." -- John Steinhart, Silicon Valley management consultant and former director of the Stanford Sloan Program for Executives

"Don Maruska's insights and practical guidance helped our business through a critical transition phase." -- Lauren Brown, President, Promega Biosciences, Inc. and 2003 Socially Responsible Entrepreneur Award Winner

"The ten-step process works!This approach is building lasting value for our organization,the resources we manage, and the public we serve." -- Mike Pool, California State Director, U.S. Bureau of Land Management

"This is a must-have tutorial for any business seeking methods to create and sustain high performance teamwork." -- Bill Hall, Exec. V.P., Duke Power

"You're about to engage in a wonderful discovery ... feels like for people to work together to find true solutions." -- From the Foreword by Margaret J. Wheatley, author of Leadership and the New Science

Don has demonstrated effectiveness of his 10-step process in televised sessions with elected officials and diverse groups gaining important breakthroughs. -- Richard Armfield, KSBY TV, an NBC affiliate

This book is full of keen insights and practical techniques to bring out the best in people and get results." -- Steve Westly, California State Controller and former Senior V.P., eBay

From the Publisher

Foreword by Meg Wheatley.

All too often, solving tough work issues can become a tug of war as clashing departments, priorities, personality styles, and other concerns threaten to destroy any possibility of a successful conclusion. But by sharing hopes, and focusing on information rather than debate, the path to agreement can become wonderfully clear.

How Great Decisions Get Made. shows how to bring out the best in people, so that the process of decision making cements groups together rather than pulling them apart. The book gives readers a simple 10-step process to help their people overcome seemingly intractable differences, paving the way for groups to:

* Embrace a world view filled with the possibility of creating better results together * Shift their attention from the stale "What should we do?" to a fresh "How can we achieve what we really want?" attitude * Tap into who they are to define and articulate their hopes

Readers looking for quick, exciting ways to energize their often contentious decision-making process will find all the help they need, from real-life scenarios showing the process in action to a self-assessment checklist. How Great Decisions Get Made provides the key to overcoming barriers, making people feel great about the work they do, and achieving extraordinary results.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: AMACOM (March 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814473989
• ISBN-13: 978-0814473986
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #780,235 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brad veiw, June 14, 2006

By 

Brad on the Central Coast (San Luis Obispo, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Great Decisions Get Made: 10 Easy Steps for Reaching Agreement on Even the Toughest Issues (Paperback)

I found Don's book to be insightful and practical. Don has a way of clearly communicating both the "why do this" and the "how to do this." His examples help illuminate how to apply his ideas to real world situations. The Putting into Practice sections eliminate the guesswork when it comes to applying the process details with groups. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to get effective progress towards making collaborative decisions that last.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Maruska 10 Steps to a Great Decision -- Great Book, April 24, 2006

By 

Kirk the Attorney "Kirk" (Southern California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Great Decisions Get Made: 10 Easy Steps for Reaching Agreement on Even the Toughest Issues (Paperback)

Don Maruska does a great job laying out his 10 steps to a great decision. Don's decision model is based on the assumption that there are two divergent groups or view points that need to come together for an important decision.

Don also includes examples, suggestions, and tips from his past experience for each of the steps. This is very helpful and provides further coaching into the decision process.

Each step builds upon the last step to insure all the participants, best options, right information, and optimal choices are effective, efficient, and have long term success.

Lastly, the book has a broader application since Don's 10 step methodology could be used for a series of decisions that form the basis of strategic planning, business planning, data modeling, or customer service improvement considerations.

I would highly recommend this book to any person, group, or business that is contemplating an important, emotional, or difficult decision. With Don's 10 step methodology, you will be more likely to be successful, save time, save money, and have lasting support for decisions.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars bilge, June 10, 2011

By 

Daniel K. Henry "Grateful Dan" (Ojai, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: How Great Decisions Get Made: 10 Easy Steps for Reaching Agreement on Even the Toughest Issues (Paperback)

Even if there are some useful ideas in this book, Maruska's horrendous writing style and touchy-feely approach to business problems leave me unable to take him seriously. "Be an agent of hope." "Discover your shared hopes." "Be a mirror, not a sponge." "Get in a circle, hold hands, and sing Cumbaya." (the last one is mine, but it fits right in.) Blecch.