The People Principle: A Revolutionary Redefinition of Leadership [Paperback]

Ron Willingham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 14, 1999

In the last decade, billions of dollars have been spent on process improvement and reorganization, most of which generally failed to achieve the desired increases in productivity. Sadly, the result was fear, distrust, paranoia, and low employee and manager morale.

Business's greatest blunder of the last decade has been the belief, backed by billions of dollars invested, that technology and organizational strategies would solve the problem of flat productivity. They didn't!

The reason is painfully simple. Those strategies overlooked the most basic factor in success: the productive potential of people. Processes and organizational strategies don't produce, people do. But they only do it in the right environment, with positive leadership.

The People Principle brings this powerful, simple, clear message to you, along with ways to lead people that promote creativity and high productivity.

In this book you'll learn:

* Why 80 percent of your people are performing far below their capabilities right now, and what to do about it
* How to create an environment in which people perform their best
* How to foster high achievement drive and motivation in your people
* Why ethical, value-driven behaviors are good for business

Whether you manage two people ot two thousand, in a cottage industry or a Fortune 500 company, Ron Willingham's book will help you maximize your employees' productivity and, in doing so, boost your career and your company's bottom line.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The People Principle shows with practical advice and sound concepts how we can all develop the potential of others, and find joy in doing so. Ron Willingham, in his typical straightforward way, shouts the truth that our endeavors will only succeed if we first focus on growing successful people."-- Marvin Girouard, President and Chief Operating Officer of Pier 1 Imports

"The People Principle is a powerful, thought-provoking, and comprehensive look at how a company can get the most out of its most precious resources: its employees. This should be required reading for all managers."-- Geoffrey Brewer, Executive Editor of Sales & Marketing Management

"No matter whether you have two employees on your payroll or one thousand, management consultant Ron Willingham has motivational tips to impart to you in The People Principle."-- Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Ron Willingham is the chairman of Integrity Systems, an international sales- and customer-service training firm. He is the author of seven books, including Hey, I'm the Customer, Integrity Selling, When Good Isn't Good Enough, and The Best Seller. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (December 14, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312244908
• ISBN-13: 978-0312244903
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #742,501 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ron Willingham is founder and CEO of Integrity Systems, Inc., an international training and development company with more than 1.5 million graduates in 80 nations. His organization is the leader in helping organizations succeed with ethical, values-driven people-development strategies. Integrity Systems's client list reads like a Who's Who of business: Johnson & Johnson, American Red Cross, IBM, The Guardian Life Insurance Company, Principal Financial Group, Franklin Templeton, and more than 2,000 others. He is the author of Integrity Service and Integrity Selling for the 21st Century. Willingham lives in Phoenix, Arizona.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Most important book on management/leadership in a long time!, June 10, 2000

By 

Russ Emrick (Monument, CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The People Principle: A Revolutionary Redefinition of Leadership (Paperback)

This book reconnects us with life-our work with life.. It feels so good to have someone confirm that we can have values at work; that valuing people over process and politics is appreciated in the business community. Instead of some new leadership fad or management theory Mr. Willingham has created a simple model: every person is important. People rise to the level of leadership, and to the expectations of leaders. People want to be lead, inspired, challenged, not managed. This is a MUST read, with practical steps, thoughtful exercises, and the best chapter on goals that I have ever read. Please, do yourself and those you lead: READ THIS BOOK!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The People Principle, April 13, 2009

By 

J. E. Clary "JClary "football fan"" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The People Principle: A Revolutionary Redefinition of Leadership (Paperback)

Excellent book for new leadership people or those that need a new perspective on leadership in almost any size organization.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It's people, not technology, that increase productivity, March 3, 2006

By 

Louise McCauley (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The People Principle: A Revolutionary Redefinition of Leadership (Paperback)

Attempts to improve productivity by pouring money into expensive computer technology or down-sizing and reengineering have failed. According to an Andersen Consulting study, restructuring and technology have advanced individual productivity by only 1 percent since 1982, while destroying employee morale and filling workplaces with fear and paranoia. A new approach is needed, says Ron Willingham, one that promotes people over processes. The problem is that people are not machines. They don't produce on demand. They produce when they are motivated from within. The trick to increasing productivity, says Willingham, isn't technology or reengineering, but discovering what motivates people, and tapping into employees' self-motivation to increase work output.

You must find out what motivates behavior. Most behavior is motivated by an effort to satisfy needs. These needs fall into seven general categories.
1. Survival: This includes emotional and financial survival.
2. Security: This includes a sense of safety and the freedom to control your own choices.
3. Knowledge: This involves problem-solving, decision-making, satisfying curiosity and knowing how to function in different circumstances.
4. Self-esteem: This involves not only feeling good about yourself, but the ability to engage in satisfying relationships.
5. Self-expression: This is a drive to achieve, move toward purpose and affirm your own uniqueness.
6. Wisdom: This is the desire to understand how things relate to each other.
7. Transcendence: This is a movement beyond material values

Willingham offers these tips for using these motivations to increase performance.

· Enhance your employees' self-image.
· Be the kind of leader who builds people. Understand that you need to work through others to achieve your goals.
· Get people thinking about possibilities. Help them to focus on positive goals, and how they could be achieved.
· Use coaching and empowerment to improve employee productivity.
· Use teams to help employees support each other.