The Secret To Getting Things Done - With Excellence

I've worked for highly strategic teams, but execution has always been a struggle. I'm convinced I just read the solution in this remarkably simple to understand book. Not since Jim Collins' Good to Great have I been this enthusiastic about the road map for accomplishment.

If you lead a team or manage an organization, you need this book. It is a roadmap to success as you take on the challenges of your day-to-day work. No matter the sector of your business, if you want to get results, 4DX is your step-by-step guide.

I purchased this because my employer implemented this across the organization. On one hand, it helps organizations or even work groups to focus on their Wildly Important Goal (WIG). The most useful component of determining your WIG is the distinction between lagging indicators and leading indicators, and focusing teams on leading indicators. The accountability is a bit severe. The book recommends weekly WIG meetings that are solely focused on progress made on leading indicators. The authors suggest using a big whiteboard to track individual employees' progress, and whether they fell behind, met, or exceeded their leading indicator goals. Some employees refer to that whiteboard as a Wall of Shame. The authors try to paint it as a way to motivate employees through friendly competition and to illustrate that while some may not have been able to meet leading indicators due to the "whirlwind" (def.: those day to day duties that sometimes get in the way of larger goals), other employees can help pick up the slack(ers). If only everyone looked at such a comparison positively.

The hard cover book is 352 pages... The audio book is advertised as UNABRIDGED... I expected a lot more than a single CD... extremely disappointing! This is only the second time I've ever written a negative review for anything I've bought on the store... I am almost speechless in how disappointed I am in this product. 1 CD based on 352 pages of written text is a complete JOKE!

If you lead a team or manage an organization, you need this book. It is a roadmap to success as you take on the challenges of your day-to-day work. No matter the sector of your business, if you want to get results, 4DX is your step-by-step guide.

I purchased this because my employer implemented this across the organization. On one hand, it helps organizations or even work groups to focus on their Wildly Important Goal (WIG). The most useful component of determining your WIG is the distinction between lagging indicators and leading indicators, and focusing teams on leading indicators. The accountability is a bit severe. The book recommends weekly WIG meetings that are solely focused on progress made on leading indicators. The authors suggest using a big whiteboard to track individual employees' progress, and whether they fell behind, met, or exceeded their leading indicator goals. Some employees refer to that whiteboard as a Wall of Shame. The authors try to paint it as a way to motivate employees through friendly competition and to illustrate that while some may not have been able to meet leading indicators due to the "whirlwind" (def.: those day to day duties that sometimes get in the way of larger goals), other employees can help pick up the slack(ers). If only everyone looked at such a comparison positively.

The hard cover book is 352 pages... The audio book is advertised as UNABRIDGED... I expected a lot more than a single CD... extremely disappointing! This is only the second time I've ever written a negative review for anything I've bought on the store... I am almost speechless in how disappointed I am in this product. 1 CD based on 352 pages of written text is a complete JOKE!

This is a great book. Often people know what needs done, but don't know how to do it. This books opens your eyes to the difference ands helps explain how to do it. I would recommend this book to anyone in a position that is responsible for others.

One thing - the Lance Armstrong reference - yeah, probably needs to come out - it was a reference that was based upon his Tour wins and how he influenced the lead measure to win - well, influence involved using steroids.

An important work that presents a good path for getting the 2 or 3 must do deliverables done. Other books cover strategic planning, communications, personal skills assessment, but this is a great book on tactical accomplishment.

Straight forward approach to take out much of the noise in today's business world. The steps are nothing you most likely don't know but it is their system for getting everyone on the team aligned I find very helpful. Highly recommend.

Just finished reading The Four Decisions of Execution. As a CPA and coach for small to medium sized businesses, we believe execution is the missing piece of the "business puzzle". There is never a shortage of great ideas, likewise there is never time to get them done. The solution lies with an effective system for execution outside of the "whirlwind". The authors do a marvelous job of explaining the concepts along with practical examples. The answer is to get things done outside of the "whirlwind" - a fantastic, understandable analogy.

We will recommend this book to our coaching clients. Buy it, and take action. Make it happen. You can do it.

The Covey's have always produced ground-breaking books and this one is no exception. It cuts through all the malarkey and jargon that clogs most business books, and distills everything down to a clear, concise approach to execution - which, let's face it, is the tough part of bringing any plan to fruition.

If you really want to be successful...if you really want to DO what you keep saying you want to do...if you're ready to achieve what you're truly capable of achieving...then BUY THIS BOOK and READ IT.

This book clarified my thinking and laser-focused my practices. Since instituting its principles I've noticed a quantum improvement in results in my business and my life. I highly recommend it.

This book goes beyond theory and looks at what causes execution problems and how proper planning and identification of scope, deliverables and accountability can dramatically increase the probability of success. Multitasking is the devil. It's become pandemic in America. I think the disciplines in this book can be applied to operations or projects. Don't just read it, study it.

This is an excellent book, as you could expect from the Covey organization. I have begun to implement the principles in my department at work, and am already starting to see outstanding results. I highly recommend this book to anyone frustrated by the ever-present whirlwind at work.

Something is wrong with this product. It contains a lecture which lasts about an hour and that is it. A short intro and a brief summary after the lecture. The back of the package says it contains 7 hours 38 minutes of listening on 1 MP3 disc and that it is unabridged, but it isn't even close. Don't buy this product! Get the book. I have reviewed the disk on my computer as well and all it contains is what I've heard. Thought there might be another folder, but there is nothing there.

If you want to develop great leaders, go after something great and teach the people how to get it. The 4 Disciplines of Execution teach a process by which you can accomplish great things and as an ancillary and most important by-product you get increased morale, engagement and most importantly leaders who know how to execute on wildly important goals. Reading other books on execution will give you the principals of execution which you then need to figure out how to apply; whereas, reading this book will give you not only the principles, but also the process by which you can implement those principles in your life, your family, and your organization.

The principles are not new they are practiced by the top performers in every organization. What this book does is highlight what the top performers do and give the organization a process by which the majority of the organization can model. Therein lies the challenge having a system that unleashes the power of the top performers amongst the majority middle of the organization. People and organizations that have installed these disciplines have found a process that develops great leaders on the way to achieving extraordinary results.

This book is a must read for every leader aspiring to make or keep their organization great!