The Effective Executive
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Average rating4.2
The measure of the executive, Peter Drucker reminds us, is the ability to 'get the right things done'. Usually this involves doing what other people have overlooked, as well as avoiding what is unproductive. He identifies five talents as essential to effectiveness, and these can be learned; in fact, they must be learned just as scales must be mastered by every piano student regardless of his natural gifts. Intelligence, imagination and knowledge may all be wasted in an executive job without the acquired habits of mind that convert these into results. One of the talents is the management of time. Another is choosing what to contribute to the particular organization. A third is knowing where and how to apply your strength to best effect. Fourth is setting up the right priorities. And all of them must be knitted together by effective decision-making. How these can be developed forms the main body of the book. The author ranges widely through the annals of business and government to demonstrate the distinctive skill of the executive. He turns familiar experience upside down to see it in new perspective. The book is full of surprises, with its fresh insights into old and seemingly trite situations.
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“Why is this on your reading list?” you ask [in the version of the world where anybody gives a shit about what I read]. The answer is that this is a waypoint on a journey that started when I came across a throwaway comment in an essay that was along the lines of “business books—which are self help for men.” As a self-help addict, I was immediately interested into this window into the emotional world of the straight white male titans of industry during the growth period of 20th century corporate America, and all of the people that wanted to take their place.
The first insight that I gleaned from this book is that at some point Boomers were told better. This book is sexist as all get out—the only time women are mentioned in the book is as an example of a type of employee that costs more, due to the completely unsourced claim that women take more sick days—and it would probably be racist too if Drucker considered the possibility that non-white people could be knowledge workers too. But there's some great stuff in here, really practical ideas about how to come to decisions, how to acknowledge your own biases, how to seek out other perspectives. So, for what its worth, when you come across Baby Boomer myopia and pigheadedness, know that even the straightest, most businessy ones have been told better.
My second insight was just to marvel at what a sorry state American capitalism is, even when you take it on its own merits. The book is unwavering in its commitment to R&D, efficiency, and meeting production goals. It's difficult to see today's world of disruption, venture capital bubbles, and a landscape where the largest companies seem to not need to make a profit represented anywhere in Druckers book. There's something comforting in the corporate world he describes, a world where you grow your business by being better and smarter than your competitors.
This is probably the longest list of notes I've ever taken from a book. There's a reason Peter Drucker is so often quoted; he knows what he's talking about. Highly recommend this (I read the 50th Anniversary edition).
Enjoyed this book on personal and organisational effectiveness, despite its non-modern and heavily US-based examples.
It is a timeless classic indeed and goes nicely with modern takes on this topic (like Cal Newport's Deep Work).
What do you spend your time on?
Try to get rid of everything that's non-essential and time consuming.
Where do you excel, how can you truly contribute?
What is truly important that needs to be done?
Do more of THAT
