THE EFFECTIVE EXECUTIVE

The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done

BY PETER F. DRUCKER

The book, Effective Executive, written by a renowned management specialist and a classic theorist is best pick for working professionals who want to elevate their effectiveness a million, and one notches higher. The author, Peter Drucker, began by explaining the importance of effectiveness to an executive. An executive in this context includes both manager and leaders who is expected to make a decision by virtue of their position, and have significant impact on the performance or result of the company. An executive is expected to be better equipped with the right knowledge and competence that can help make the right decision at the right time. Effectiveness is the primary function of the executive. It is a habit that can be learned, moreover; Peter Drucker points out seven  habits of the mind that must be learned and acquired to be an effective executive. These habits include:

1. KNOW THY TIME: Executives start their day off by planning their task, but effective executive starts their day off by recording actual time use and disposing of this little time in large chunks. Also, of high importance is the ability to fish out unproductive, time-wasting activities and possibly get rid of them knowing that time is a limiting factor; it has to be managed effectively. This can be done by asking oneself, “what do I do that wastes your time without contributing to your effectiveness.” If this question can be answered truthfully, a chunk of your time will be retrieved.

2. WHAT CAN I CONTRIBUTE?: This is a question that stresses on responsibility. Most executives focus on what the organization owes then or should do for them. Any professional that emphasizes his downward authority is a subordinate no matter how exalted his rank is. On the other hand, any professional who takes responsibility and focuses on contributions no matter how junior is an effective executive. To be an effective executive, you must always ask yourself what you can contribute to avoiding aiming at the wrong things. Every organization needs performance in three major areas: it needs direct results, the building of values and their reaffirmation, building, and developing people of tomorrow. All these three organization needs have to be built into the contribution of every executive.

3. MAKING STRENGTH PRODUCTIVE:  An effective executive maximizes all available strength: the strength of subordinates, strengths of associates, the strengths of a superior, and one’s own strength. They understand that where there is strength, there will always be weaknesses; therefore, focuses more on strength than weaknesses. They delegate the task to individuals base on what they can do best and taking into account their functional qualities. 

4. FIRST THING FIRST: Effective executives tend to focus on one thing at a time and understand the need to concentrate time, effort, and resources at greater and major opportunities. The author made his readers understand that the more you can concentrate resources, strength, and time on a singular point of application, the more you can achieve a number of important tasks at a much less time. The secret of focus is to establish posteriorities. Establishing posteriority means choosing tasks that should not be done and sticking to it. This can be done by choosing the future over the past, focusing on possibilities rather than problems, and aiming at something significant rather than a goal that is easy and safe to achieve.

5. THE ELEMENT OF DECISION: Effective executives think clearly and deeply before making a decision. They understand that problems are symptoms of underlying situations; therefore, one of the great strategy an effective executive implements is understanding the leading cause of a problem. Also, they understand that the thing one worries about never happens.

6. EFFECTIVE DECISIONS: Effective executives understand that to decide is based on choosing from opinions, then measuring the effectiveness of the action based on one or more predetermined criteria or feedback. 

7. UNDERSTAND MANAGEMENT VS. LEADERSHIP: Effective executives understand that management its a tool for accountability for the day to day operations, and leadership is the road to build a better future for the organization and the people trusted to them. An effective executives, build trust and guidance for the day to day management, but his attention should be fully focused on the future.

In conclusion, to be an effective executive, one must record where the time goes, focus your vision on contribution, focus on using your strength and making it productive, prioritize the most important task first and take rational action. 

THE BIG THREE – KEY POINTS

Key point #1: Effectiveness can be learned

Key point #2: Effective executive record, manage, and consolidate time.

Key point #3: The effective executive does not focus on minimizing weakness but maximizing strength.

One Last Thing

“Most effective executive is entrepreneurs, entrepreneur, and entrepreneurship – the entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity.” -Peter Drucker