Looking for a good book? Try Performance Without Compromise, by Charles F. Knight. A celebrated business leader, Knight was CEO of Emerson Electric for 27 years. I think you'll find his book an intriguing read and a source of insight on successful management.

For over 40 years, Emerson Electric achieved consecutive annual increases in earnings and dividends per share. This remarkable record, which spans varying economic cycles from the 1950s through 2000, ranks among the longest in the history of North American business. Today, Emerson remains one of the world's most admired, innovative and successful companies.

What accounts for Emerson's electric performance?

Knight argues that Emerson's sustained success is the result of a dynamic management process carried out with unrelenting discipline. The new book explains the process in unprecedented detail.

The 6 Principles of Success

The Emerson system is based on six vital management principles:

1. Keeping It Simple: Maintaining a focus on a handful of priorities and communicating them in a way that employees understand and support.
2. Commitment to Planning: Aligning the organization from top to bottom to help managers identify new trends in the market and inflection points that demand company-wide response.
3. Systematic Follow-Up & Control: Taking implementation seriously, organizing to follow up on plans rigorously and having the flexibility to change direction.
4. Action-Oriented Organization: Addressing problems and issues swiftly. Communicating in terms of plans, projects and problems rather than along organizational lines.
5. Operational Excellence: Developing the best products, services and solutions for the best price. Understanding that customers will look elsewhere if somebody gives them a reason.
6. The Work Environment: Developing a strong and cohesive work environment in which people can and do make a difference. It takes good leadership to create this environment. But if the effort fails, so will everything else.

Knight does not claim that Emerson invented these principles. The Emerson difference, he explains, is its unvarying commitment to the principles as distinct from other companies that do not follow them through.

Conclusion

Strong leadership is at the core of everything Emerson has achieved. It begins at the top of the organization and is expected and rewarded at every level. If you want to instill a sense of pride and excellence in your organization or work group, read Performance Without Compromise.

Wishing you career success!

Lauryn Franzoni
ExecuNet
www.execunet.com

MY DOG ATE IT

Bizarre Excuses for Being Absent from Work

A recent survey reveals some interesting facts about absenteeism.

The Day Employees Are Most Likely to Play Hooky: Wednesday, followed closely by Monday

The Most Popular Motive: To catch up on sleep

Percentage of Employees Who Admit to Playing Hooky at Least Once a Year: 43

Weirdest Excuses for Being Absent:

• I was too drunk to drive to work.
• I accidentally flushed my keys down the toilet.
• I drove through the automatic garage door before it opened.
• My boyfriend's snake got loose and I was afraid to leave the bathroom until he got home.
• I was too fat to get into my work pants.
• I cut my fingernails too short and they started to bleed.
• The ghosts in my house kept me up all night.
• I forgot that I was supposed to get married.
• I got bit by my cow.
• My son fell asleep in wet cement in our backyard. He got his foot stuck and we couldn't get him out.
• I slipped on a toad while walking the dog.

Source: CareerBuilder.com

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