THE FIVE PRACTICES FOR EFFECTIVENESS

by Dr Peter Drucker

All that effective people have in common is the ability to get the right things done.

The effective people I have seen differ widely in their temperaments and abilities, in what they do and how they do it, in their personalities, their knowledge, their interests – in fact, in almost everything that distinguishes human beings. But all effective people I’ve known perform only necessary tasks and eliminate unnecessary ones.

Five practices have to be acquired to be effective

Work systematically

Effective people know where their time goes. They work systematically at managing the little of their time that can be brought under control.

Outward contributions

Effective people focus on outward contributions.

Build on strengths

Effective people build on strengths – theirs and others. They do not build on weaknesses

Stay within priorities

Effective people concentrate on superior performance where superior performance will produce outstanding results. They force themselves to stay within priorities.

Make effective decisions

Effective people make effective decisions. They know that this is a system – the right steps in the right sequence. They know that to make decisions fast is to make the wrong decisions.

Whenever I have found a person who – no matter how great in intelligence, industry, imagination, or knowledge – fails to observe these practices, I have also found a person deficient in effectiveness.

ACTION POINTS: Commit these five tasks to memory and practice them: know where your time goes; focus on outward contributions; build on strengths; concentrate on superior performance; and make effective decisions.

Click here for more information on how our Working Sm@rt programs can help you and your team be more effective.