The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals [Hardcover]

Chris McChesney (Author), Sean Covey (Author), Jim Huling (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 24, 2012

Do you remember the last major initiative you watched die in your organization? Did it go down with a loud crash? Or was it slowly and quietly suffocated by other competing priorities?

By the time it finally disappeared, it’s likely no one even noticed.

What happened? The “whirlwind” of urgent activity required to keep things running day-to-day devoured all the time and energy you needed to invest in executing your strategy for tomorrow! The 4 Disciplines of Execution can change all that forever.

The 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX) is a simple, repeatable, and proven formula for executing on your most important strategic priorities in the midst of the whirlwind. By following The 4 Disciplines:

• Focusing on the Wildly Important

• Acting on Lead Measures

• Keeping a Compelling Scoreboard

• Creating a Cadence of Accountability

leaders can produce breakthrough results, even when executing the strategy requires a significant change in behavior from their teams.

4DX is not theory. It is a proven set of practices that have been tested and refined by hundreds of organizations and thousands of teams over many years. When a company or an individual adheres to these disciplines, they achieve superb results—regardless of the goal. 4DX represents a new way of thinking and working that is essential to thriving in today’s competitive climate. Simply put, this is one book that no business leader can afford to miss.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The 4 Disciplines of Execution offers more than theories for making strategic organizational change. The authors explain not only the ‘what’ but also ‘how’ effective execution is achieved. They share numerous examples of companies that have done just that, not once, but over and over again. This is a book that every leader should read!”

—Clayton Christensen, Professor, Harvard Business School, and author of The Innovator’s Dilemma

“What Six Sigma and Lean are to manufacturing, The 4 Disciplines of Execution is to executing your strategy. 4DX is a practical methodology that can solve every leader’s #1 challenge: execution.” (Ram Charan Co-Author of the Best Selling Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done and the au)

“Many of the foundational values of Marriott are embodied within The 4 Disciplines of Execution. By utilizing this process inside our organization, our leaders and teams have been able to set and achieve extraordinary goals, which have had a significant impact on making 'Our Guests’ Experience' truly remarkable. Any organization can create these same kinds of breakthrough results if they apply the principles and processes taught in this book!” (J.W. Marriott, Jr Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Marriott International, Inc.)

“The State of Georgia had unprecedented success as a result of implementing the principles outlined in The 4 Disciplines of Execution. We certified hundreds of leaders to take the disciplines to every department, achieving unprecedented results in customer service, quality improvement, and cost reduction. These execution principles are a must for any government agency that is seeking to be world class.” (The Honorable Sonny Perdue Governor of Georgia, 2003-2011)

“Customers are loyal to a brand when they can trust it to deliver a consistently outstanding experience. This requires the commitment of everyone up and down the organization to innovate new ways to economically delight customers, so they become promoters. The 4 Disciplines of Execution offers a proven process for engaging the hearts and minds of every employee toward this vital goal. I highly recommend this book to any leader committed to making customer loyalty a mission-critical goal.” (Fred Reichheld Bain Fellow, Inventor of the Net Promoter® System and author of: The Ultimate Question 2.0)

“In a business world where the essence of leadership centers around strategy, this book highlights the true requirements of any organization to focus on the principles of execution. At The Ritz-Carlton, I believe the only way to strengthen operational excellence is through flawless execution. The application of Focus, Leverage, Engagement and Accountability, as discussed in The 4 Disciplines of Execution, are key to our success and make exceptional reading for today's business leaders.” (Herve Humler President and Chief Operations Officer, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company)

“The 4 Disciplines of Execution book contains principles and processes that do indeed work. I do believe that 'execution excellence' is the ultimate competitive differential of this decade. As we have partnered with FranklinCovey to apply the methodology and process globally throughout our organization, it has not only had a significant impact on our organization’s business results, but it has been transformational for me as a leader, both personally and professionally.” (Jeff Simmons President, Elanco Animal Health, Eli Lilly and Company)

“We believe that The 4 Disciplines of Execution are the keys to growth and success. For years we have struggled with creating focus for our people. We have used priority sheets, standards of performance measures, and others. We have fallen in love with the concepts of “whirlwinds and WIG!” When you read this book you will never look at work, or life, the same!” (Danny Wegman Chief Executive Officer, Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., #1 on Fortune magazine’s 2005 list)

“The 4 Disciplines’ practical guidance on goal-setting and measurement resonates with groups of all levels in our organization. Many teams have applied this intuitive approach to build engagement and increase execution and accountability.” (Dave Dillon Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, The Kroger Co.)

“The 4 Disciplines of Execution helps leaders, teams, and front line employees to narrow their focus and spend their time executing those things that will bring the highest return for their organization and customers. This book is a must read for any leader who wants to achieve that which is extraordinary in their company!” (Diana Thomas US Vice President of Training and Learning Development, Hamburger University, McDonalds Corporation)

About the Author

Chris McChesney is the Global Practice Leader of Execution for FranklinCovey and one of the primary developers of The 4 Disciplines of Execution. For more than a decade, he has led FranklinCovey's ongoing design and development of these principles, as well as the consulting organization that has achieved extraordinary growth in many countries around the globe and impacted hundreds of organizations.

Sean Covey is Executive Vice President of Global Solutions and Partnerships for FranklinCovey and oversees FranklinCovey's international operations in 141 countries around the globe. As the Chief Product Architect for FranklinCovey, Sean organized and directed the original teams that conceived and created The 4 Disciplines of Execution and has been an avid practitioner and promoter of the methodology ever since.

Jim Huling is the Managing Consultant for FranklinCovey's The 4 Disciplines of Execution. Jim's career spans more than three decades of corporate leadership, from Fortune 500 organizations to privately held companies, including serving as CEO of a company recognized as one of the "25 Best Companies to Work for in America." Prior to joining FranklinCovey, Jim was one of the first leaders to adopt The 4 Disciplines of Execution.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Free Press; 1 edition (April 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9781451627053
• ISBN-13: 978-1451627053
• ASIN: 145162705X
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,702 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #51 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Management
  • #70 in Books > Business & Investing > Personal Finance
  • #77 in Books > Business & Investing > Management & Leadership > Leadership

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Vision without execution is hallucination." Thomas Edison May 16, 2012

By Robert Morris HALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

For whatever reasons, many decision-makers are victims of what Jeff Pfeffer and Bob Sutton characterize as the "Knowing-Doing Gap." That is perhaps what Edison had in mind when expressing what serves as this review's title. Pfeffer and Sutton also have much of value to say about the "Doing-Knowing Gap" (i.e. Aim, Fire, Ready) and to the great credit of the co-authors of this book, the material they provide will enable almost anyone to avoid or escape from either trap.

Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling introduce and then rigorously examine what they characterize as "four disciplines of execution" (4DX): Focus on the "wildly important" rather than on what is urgent (advice Steve Covey offered decades ago), Act on the "lead measures" (i.e. progress of what is done) rather than "lag measures" (i.e. results of what has been done), Keep a "compelling" scoreboard (i.e. one that simply cannot be ignored), and create a "cadence" of accountability (i.e. a cycle and rhythm of frequent accounting in coordination with what I think Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi calls "flow"). Adopting, indeed embracing these four disciplines requires a total commitment. The challenge to change agents is substantial. As Jim Stuart observes, "To achieve a goal you have never achieved before, [especially a `wildly important goal,'] you must start doing things you have never done before."

Most change initiatives either fail or fall far short of original expectations and, more often than not, the resistance is cultural in nature, the result of what James O'Toole so aptly characterizes as "the ideology of comfort and the tyranny of custom." However, it should be added, many of the wounds that change agents receive are self-inflicted. They over-sell and under-explain why the changes are not only important but imperative. They do little (if anything) to recruit buy-in. Change initiatives are imposed from above (i.e. the C-suite) rather than introduced at the shop floor level where momentum -- and buy-in -- can be increased organically rather than imperially.

McChesney, Covey, and Huling introduce 4DX in Section 1, explain how to install it with a team in Section 2, and then explain how to expand installation throughout the given enterprise in Section 3. I commend them on identifying the "what" of achieving "wildly important goals." (Jim Collins would call them BHAGs, or Big Hairy Audacious Goals, but BHAGs tend to be somewhat more general than WIGs.) However, they devote the bulk of their time and energy to explaining "how" to achieve strategic objectives that include these:

o Assemble a project team and its leader (with full support of C-level executives) and charge them with

o Selecting the most important goals
o Formulating metrics for lead and lag measurements
o Formulating a comprehensive and cohesive "game plan," one that includes benchmarks and deadlines
o Devising a multi-dimensional communications program
o Establishing and then sustaining transparency re goals, strategies, metrics, etc.
o Sharing weekly, monthly, and quarterly updates

Throughout their lively and eloquent narrative, McChesney, Covey, and Huling focus on real people in real-world situations, who are struggling with real questions to answer and real (sometimes daunting) problems to solve. Readers will also appreciate the provision of supplementary resources that include "4DX Frequently Asked Questions," "Bring It Home" observations and recommendations, and a remarkably candid response to "So, Now What?"

For some C-level executives, this may well prove to be one of the most valuable business books they will ever read. But I also highly recommend it to those who aspires to reach that level and I have two specific reasons for that recommendation: It will help them to prepare themselves for expanded duties, responsibilities, and (yes) head-snapping challenges; but meanwhile, it will prepare them to add much greater value to the support they provide to the C-level executives in their organization now.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are leading a company/division/team, this book is for you. April 30, 2012

By Susan Bloom

Format:Hardcover

If you need an understandable and dependable process on how to get your team moving, pick up the book. I could have used this book about 15 years ago, when I was promoted into a management job.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Make your strategic vision into a reality July 20, 2012

By John Galt

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

A vision without execution is just a dream. The 4 Disciplines of Execution is a step-by-step guide on how to successfully achieve your vision using a simple and straight forward process called 4DX. Although the process is simple, the discipline required to stick to the guiding principal of 4DX, which is to have one (maybe two) Wildly Important Goals, is extremely difficult. It takes courage and a strong resolution to say no to the myriad of good ideas that threaten one's focus on an organization's Wildly Important Goal.

4DX is an extremely well written book, with many real life examples from organizations that have been transformed by utilizing the 4DX process. In my opinion, 4DX is the definitive book on execution.