A radical new concept and set of tools to more quickly and effectively grow high-quality talent. Filling a large gap in the practical literature, this book shows all HR and talent management practitioners how to radically accelerate their talent-building processes, using concepts and tools that are both grounded in research as well as pressure-tested in large corporations. Provides a step-by-step guide for creating OPTM processes, including the "one page" template form for each talent management process, such as performance management, 360-degree feedback talent review, succession planning, engagement, competency assessment and development, and coaching. Insights from companies such as Alcoa, Avon Products, Bank of America, Coca-Cola, GE, Home Depot, and others. Assessments to determine current state of each talent management practice in one's organization and the urgency for change.Audience: HR practitioners and other talent management professionals and consultants. Managers and executives interested in developing a talent pipeline in less time. Announced first printing: 10,000 Laydown goal: 2,500

As companies recognize the value that superior leaders deliver, they’re fighting harder than ever to recruit and retain the best. The combination of changing demographics and economic challenges means that companies no longer have the luxury of taking a trial-and-error approach–or of having no approach at all–to building leadership quality and depth. They want fact-based, tested methods and tools that fit with their organization’s culture and support their business goals. They need clear guidance on how to build a diverse, highly qualified leadership team today and how to sow the seeds for great leadership tomorrow. Based on the world’s largest study of the best approaches for building leaders, Leading the Way, provides this guidance. Through anecdotes and case studies from companies such as IBM, GE, Honeywell, The Home Depot, and many more, the book illustrates what Top Companies do to develop leadership talent, and suggests ways that organizations can implement the programs and practices that will ensure a holistic approach to sustaining capability and growing great leaders.

Robert Gandossy (Redding, CT) is a Global Leader for Hewitt Associates’ Talent and Organization Consulting.
Marc Effron (Darien, CT) is the Global Leader for Hewitt Associates’ Leadership Consulting Group, in which capacity he guides Hewitt’s research and consulting efforts on leadership.

"Do not try to change yourself," argues Peter Drucker in Managing Oneself. "You are unlikely to succeed. But work hard to improve the way you perform." This book takes that advice to heart and uses evidence-based methods to show how to act on it.

8 Steps to High Performance helps people focus their efforts where they can have the most impact on their own performance by separating the factors they can control (their behaviors, goals, networks, and more) from those that they can't (their personality, intelligence, socio-economic background, and more). Revealing the eight levers that matter most--and that people can actually change--this book describes the science behind each one, separates fact from fiction, and provides the practical steps to improve on each dimension.

Research-based and practical, with self-assessments and tools to support your performance at work, this short, powerful book reveals what really works to improve performance and shows how to apply these insights to deliver outstanding results.