| Outstanding!: 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional | 
| Author: John G. Miller
Publisher: Putnam Adult
Category: Book
List Price: $21.95
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Seller: BRILANTI BOOKS
Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 61,828
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 224
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.1
ISBN: 0399156402
Dewey Decimal Number: 658.401
EAN: 9780399156403
ASIN: 0399156402
Publication Date: January 7, 2010
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Amazon.com Review
Amazon Exclusive: John G. Miller Talks About Outstanding!
John G. Miller, a Cornell University graduate and founder of QBQ, Inc., has worked with hundreds of Fortune 500 companies and governmental and nongovernmental organizations and thousands of individuals to help them make personal accountability a core value--and become outstanding. Miller, who has appeared on national television and radio, is the author of the bestselling QBQ! The Question Behind the Question and Flipping the Switch. He lives in Denver with his wife, Karen. They have seven children.
 Be Outstanding!
Outstanding means being superior, striking, exceptional, clearly noticeable—essentially, standing out. People are attracted to outstanding organizations. They want to buy from them, sell to them, invest in them, volunteer at them, and work for them. And as we close out the first decade of the twenty-first century, what better time than this to consider new ideas and implement ways to become better at everything we do so that we can have an outstanding 2010!
In Outstanding! I’ve outlined 47 ways that can help make any organization exceptional—whether it’s a corporation, a nonprofit, a small business, a government agency, a church, or a service group. While every reader will no doubt find his or her favorites, these six speak to every organization, no matter what its size or purpose.
Choose to Change: Many organizations have terrific ways of doing things, but outstanding organizations are willing to set aside “the way we’ve always done things” and—while keeping their end goals in mind—recognize when it’s time to do things differently. They know that change will come and that it’s better to initiate change from the inside than have change happen to them from the outside. When the latter takes place, it’s often too late to effectively respond.
Keep the Mission Top of Mind: People will do practically anything (as long as it’s legal and ethical) if they understand why they are doing it—and they’ll do it joyfully, with a full heart. The truth is this: purpose powers passion. The organization’s mission can excite people, giving them fuel, if you will, to do their jobs each day and do them well. Outstanding organizations and their people never forget why they exist.
Get Actions in Line with Values: Espousing values like “customer first,” respect, and “people are our greatest asset” is meaningless unless our behaviors support those ideas. For example, if we embrace the word “humility,” then we have to avoid boasting, bragging, and trying to top each other in our interactions. Or if we say we value learning and continuous improvement, then we need to work to ensure that complacency is driven from our cultures and that we are each coachable in all we do. Integrity is a rare commodity in our world, so let’s allow that light to shine within our organizations.
Fight the Fat: When radio host Dave Ramsey talks about financial issues he instructs people to “bother to bother.” In other words, decide to stay on top of and in control of the dollars. Whether times are good or bad, great organizations don’t get fat. The mistakes organizations commonly commit are things like not paying attention to costs, taking clients for granted, ignoring market trends, failing to improve inefficient systems, disregarding customer input, or not worrying about the competition. When dollars rush in like a dyke upstream has burst, it’s not uncommon to look past those errors and let our standards slip. But outstanding organizations always fight the fat.
Speak Well … Make the Right Impression: People have perceptions of organization that stem almost entirely from how people representing the organization speak to them. As far as customers are concerned, the people with whom they interact are the organization. No matter how an organization sees itself, it’s what customers think that’s important. And how we speak to anyone with whom we do business is what tells them whether we are outstanding—or not.
Listen in All Directions: In Outstanding! I write about listening in three ways: management listening to the people, the people listening to each other, and everyone in the organization listening to the customer. Multitasking is the enemy of good listening. It’s critical that we look each other in the eye with undivided attention, saying, in effect, “You are the most important person in my world at this moment and I want to hear every word you have to say.” Listening is ultimately done by an individual, yet organizations must create cultures that encourage and support listening in all directions and ways.
--John G. Miller
Product Description
"Outstanding! hits the nail on the head in every way: Practical content, terrific stories, and an easy read. Miller has provided a road map for organizations to become exceptional--just follow the path laid out. Definitely a must read!"
--Dave Ramsey, author of Total Money Makeover and host of The Dave Ramsey Show
Every day outstanding organizations do things and promote values that ensure they will retain customers, grow revenues, increase market share, and build their reputations. People in these organizations hold values and take actions-- individually and collectively--that are not always easy or obvious but are fundamentally powerful.
Informed by his own commitment to the concept of personal accountability and enlivened by compelling true stories from exceptional organizations, in this insightful and accessible book John Miller identifies the principles and behaviors that distinguish such organizations from the pack and provides readers with ways to integrate them into their own work.
With its pithy entries that carry significant impact, Outstanding is by turns a playbook, a guide, and an inspiration. It is filled with practical ideas that can--and should--be used every single day by individuals and teams from the boardroom to the stockroom for creating a distinguished organization with which customers and stakeholders will want to work.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
Easy to read with helpful advice April 29, 2010
John Gibbs (Melbourne, Australia)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
What scope does an ordinary employee have to make a difference within a workplace? Quite a bit, according to John Miller in this book. Chapter 1 advises you to "Be Fast", something that has become an increasingly critical competitive factor for businesses, and more good advice follows in subsequent chapters, including "Be Humble", "Forgive Mistakes", "Do What You Promise", "Be Coachable", and "Seek No Culprits".
The longest chapter, and the one which reveals the author's greatest expertise, is entitled simply "Train". Outstanding organisations use formal training processes to help their employees grow. If people are to stay competent and confident in a continually changing world, they need continuous learning. The author uses the acrostic PROCESS to describe the seven key characteristics of effective training: Practical content, Repetition, Ownership by management, Consistent message, Easily customised, Support tools and Specific plan.
The short chapters and interesting anecdotes contained within each chapter made this an easy and enjoyable book to read. I normally prefer reading a book which deals in depth with a single topic, but I found it a refreshing change to read a book which deals succinctly with a large number of different topics. This is a helpful book for leaders, but also for all who want to see their organisations become more outstanding.
Fantastic Book May 13, 2010
James L. Strutton (Gainesville, GA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've been a student of all John Miller's books and they all have exceeded my expectations. I read Outstanding when it first came out and turned around and read it again. A simple read with a powerful message! Everyone should read this book, if they want to improve and grow both professionally and personally. The ideas shared are easily identified, exist in most organizations and are so simple to fix. You only have one question to ask yourself. Do you want to be Outstanding? If you answer that with a yes, buy this book, you won't be disappointed!
There are a number of reasons why this book merits the word: "outstanding." June 28, 2010
And Then Some Publishing LLC
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Outstanding!: 47 Ways to Make Your Organization Exceptional
Book Review by Richard L. Weaver II, Ph.D.
There are a number of reasons why this book merits the word: "outstanding." First, it is well written. Second, it is full of engaging examples. Third, the chapters are short, easy to read, and full of information. Fourth, the information--although much of it is common sense--is worth the read, whether it is a review, a reminder, or just new motivation to change and grow. Finally, fifth, Miller uses large doses of humor throughout the book that keeps the information entertaining and enjoyable.
Terry Schuman, a training manager from Denver, Colorado, writes this about the book: "John has a way of writing that encourages people who typically aren't too fond of business-type books to find the time to read his books. He's an expert at using real life experiences and stories to illustrate his various points and topics."
Schuman continues his review at Amazon.com: "Outstanding!, just like his other books, is an easy read but is filled with excellent educational material that benefits all levels of management- from executives to front-line supervisors. It has 47 short chapters that quickly get to the point and make you think. I found myself saying throughout the book, `I've had to deal with that' or, `I can relate to this,' or, 'I wish I would have done that!'"
The reason I have quoted other reviewers is simple. I am not in business, and I am not a trainer; thus, I don't have the experience nor the perspective to judge this book. But, I think it has wide application outside of business as well. These are precisely the principles one should use in conducting his or her life.
Schuman continues his review: "John's also not afraid to tell it like it really is. How many other business books have you read with a chapter titled, `Fire Customers (If Necessary)!.' Any of your associates who've ever had to deal with the `customer from hell' will appreciate it. But it makes sense. As John writes, "...standing up for your people in the face of mistreatment by customers makes our staff feel truly valued.'"
Matthew Morine, from Castle Rock, Colorado, writes, "John Miller is an accomplished author and consultant in the business world. His previous book "QBQ" was an exceptional work on identifying empowerment thinking. He continues the linage of thought provoking and insightful works in this text. The book identifies the 47 ways to make an organization better. This book is packed with helpful information. Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on the ever increasing literature in the business culture, one can buy this book for the best of the latest ideas. The book also highlights some of the latest and trendy "foolish" ideas that would never work. The author shows these ideas to be lacking. Instead of having to read all of the material out there searching for the best practices, the author has done this for you. This book will provide a framework for any church, club, or business. There is not a single wasted page. For a journey in the best ideas for an organization, pick up this title."
Again, not having read any other books by John G. Miller, I leave it to Matthew Morine to provide that additional perspective.
This is an excellent book that has garnered exceptional reviews and, thus, is outstanding!!!!
Another Home Run By John Miller! January 8, 2010
Terry Schuman, Training Manager (Denver, CO)
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I've conducted management training sessions for 9+ years now and have made John Miller's previous books, QBQ! and Flipping The Switch, recommended reading and training material. You can now add Outstanding! to that list.
John has a way of writing that encourages people who typically aren't too fond of business-type books to find the time to read his books. He's an expert at using real life experiences and stories to illustrate his various points and topics.
For those who've been involved with personnel training, you'll appreciate that John uses humor and makes his content entertaining without losing substance.
Outstanding!, just like his other books, is an easy read but is filled with excellent educational material that benefits all levels of management- from executives to front-line supervisors. It has 47 short chapters that quickly get to the point and make you think. I found myself saying throughout the book, "I've had to deal with that" or, "I can relate to this" or, "I wish I would have done that!"
John's also not afraid to tell it like it really is. How many other business books have you read with a chapter titled, "Fire Customers (If Necessary)!". Any of your associates who've ever had to deal with the "customer from hell" will appreciate it. But it makes sense. As John writes, "...standing up for your people in the face of mistreatment by customers makes our staff feel truly valued."
This is a book that you will want everyone on your team to read and absorb. Every chapter could easily become a mini-training class that creates meaningful discussion.
You're going to want to get this one! January 7, 2010
Midge L. (Minneapolis, MN)
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
I really liked this book. I'd even say it was outstanding! :-) And it seems like the author hangs out where I work! We do so many of the things he talks about, like waste time on too many meetings, promote people for the wrong reasons, dwell on past mistakes. (Been there?) Anyway, great book! This is one I think everyone's going to want to get and pass around.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 16
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