The Effective Executive

The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done

0060833459
Peter F. Drucker

Notes

Knowledge work is not defined by quantity. Neither is knowledge work defined by its costs. Knowledge work is defined by its results…This means that he is effective only if and when other people make use of what he contributes.

…habits of the mind that have to be acquired to be an effective executive:

  1. Effective executives know where their time goes
  2. Effective executives focus on outward contribution
    • “What results are expected of me?” rather than with the work to be done, let alone with its techniques and tools
  3. Effective executives build on strengths
  4. Effective executives concentrate on the few major areas where superior performance will produce outstanding results
    • do first things first—and second things not at all
  5. Effective executives make effective decisions

…identify and eliminate the things that need not be done at all, the things that are purely waste of time without any results whatever. To find these time-wastes, one asks of all activities in the time records: “What would happen if this were not done at all?” And if the answer is, “Nothing would happen,” then obviously the conclusion is to stop doing it.

…identify the time-wasters which follow from lack of system or foresight. The symptom to look for is the recurrent “crisis,” the crisis that comes back year after year. A crisis that recurs a second time is a crisis that must not occur again.

“What contribution from me do you require to make your contribution to the organization? When do you need this, how do you need it, and in what form?”

The effective man always states at the outset of a meeting the specific purpose and contribution it is to achieve. He makes sure that the meeting addresses itself to this purpose…He always, at the end of his meetings, goes back to the opening statement and relates the final conclusions to the original intent.

…the effective executive tries to make fully productive the strengths of his own superior…Few things make an executive as effective as building on the strengths of his superior.

If there is any one “secret” of effectiveness, it is concentration. Effective executives do first things first and they do one thing at a time.

…cutting out those inherited activities and tasks that have ceased to promise results.

…the effective decision-maker either acts or he doesn’t act. He does not take half-action.

Record, Organize, Recall, Critical Thought