John Zenger - How to Be Exceptional

Praise for How to Be Exceptional

This book offers compelling evidence that growing ones strengths leads to greater results. However, it takes it to the next level by teaching how those identified strengths can be developed to an even greater degree to distinguish you from the crowd. This book is a must-read for anyone wanting to positively stand out in an organization or for leaders wanting to raise the overall performance of the organization.

Cindy Brinkley, Vice President,
Global Human Resources, General Motors

How to Be Exceptional is the best book on professional development I have read in decades. It reinforces the emerging wisdom that the path to greatness is really about building profound strengths, rather than through relentlessly focusing on ones weaknesses. But, the real value of this important book is the wealth of practical advice it offers on assessing strengths and developing them. This is a great road map for leaders seeking to optimize their growth and impact.

Michael A. Peel, Yale University, Vice President,
Human Resources and Administration

The work of the authors of this book has proven helpful in filling the gap from inspirational to practical how to realities of leadership improvement. The difference is an unusual blend of credible and uncompromising research married with years of successful application with leaders and organizations. My encouragement to readers dive into this book, choose an area that matters, and go for exceptional.

Kevin D. Wilde, VP, Organization Effectiveness and
Chief Learning Officer, General Mills, author of
Dancing with the Talent Stars: 25 Moves That Matter Now

Zenger Folkmans research and tools have provided excellent guidance to leaders Ive worked with over the years. The tools allowed them to create actionable goals and inspired them to actively pursue excellence in leadership. The findings related to companion behaviors is exciting. It enhances whats been presented in prior books and makes extraordinary leadership seem like an achievable goal. I would recommend this book to anyone committed to the journey.

Pam Mabry, Director, Human Resources,
The Boeing Company

The Zenger Folkman organization has had a profound effect on leadership development. Their research reveals the impact of strengths-based development on individual and organization success across industries and geographies. Their competency model and 360 evaluation provide the framework around which to build a development plan. How to Be Exceptional goes a step further by providing a clear, practical approach to framing a development plan and going about making it happen.

Hillery Ballantyne, Senior Vice President,
Talent Management and
Leadership Development, Elsevier

The authors have hit on the next evolution of focusing on strengths. Theyve utilized compelling research to understand what it takes to become an exceptional leader. The insightful tools and developmental approaches help address fatal flaws and push your existing strengths over the edge to exceptional.

Linda Simon, Senior Vice President,
Leadership and Organizational
Development, DIRECTV

How to Be Exceptional shines much-needed light on a topic that is littered with self-help books, motivational programs, and fads. It cuts through this clutter with a path that is straightforward and, even better, entirely based on statistically based evidence. The authors take the groundbreaking concept of driving leadership effectiveness by building our strengths to a whole new level of practical implementation, providing us with a brilliantly clear road map. I have found this body of work to be absolutely invaluable to my organization and to me personally. I cannot imagine a person in a leadership role today who would not find value from reading this book cover to cover.

Loren M. Starr, Senior Managing Director and
Chief Financial Officer, Invesco Ltd.

My organization has benefited for years from Zenger Folkmans involvement in our Leadership Training Programs, which are based on the principles included in this book. We have seen that people are much more successful when we focus on improving their natural leadership strengths while minimizing their weaknesses. I believe this is a must-read for executives interested in truly improving leadership within their organizations!

Stephen K. Wiggins, EVP, Chief Information Officer,
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina;
coauthor, Picasso on a Schedule

How to Be Exceptional is a breakthrough milestone in the emerging business case for evidence-based management. Building on two decades of earlier research, the authors brilliantly lay out a simple, concrete, scientifically validated model for achieving consistently superior business results through leadership. This isnt a bunch of academic gobbledygook that sounds convincing but cant be executed. To the contrary, its magic is its simplicity, pragmatism, and focus. It is an easy-to-follow formula for dramatically improving ones success in business.

Eric Severson, Senior Vice President, Talent, Gap Inc.

How to Be Exceptional demystifies the leadership quest that so many individuals and organizations pursue. It avoids the simplistic cookie-cutter approaches that never inspired anyone, and it avoids the dogma of leadership that never seems to explain exactly how to become an amazing leader. This book provides the necessary guidance for developing extraordinary strengths while still enabling a unique leadership journey. Becoming exceptional is possible for all willing to follow this deeply rich guide and improve upon their greatest passions.

Sandra Hunter, Sr. Director of Leadership and
Employee Development, Symantec Corporation

Leadership development too often has been defined as fixing weaknesses and becoming better in those competencies that the leader performs below average. This book clearly shows how building strengths makes the difference both for the leader and the organization. It gives actionable advice about shifting the focus from fixing weaknesses to building strengths and gaining exceptional business outcomes, along with an innovative methodology for strength development.

It gives business leaders and leadership development managers the insights, pathways, and methodologies to actually create great leadership and deliver winning results.

Pablo Riera, Chairman, Grupo P&A

Each year brings greater competition and complexity in our business, and exceptional leadership is the equalizer. The authors have put forward another highly practical, research-supported tool kit for leaders at every level. Accelerated success springs from leveraging our greatest strengths and adding more. If you want to take your game or your teams to an exceptional level, read on!

John Farrell, Organizational Development Director,
Marathon Oil Company

So much that has been written in recent years about discovering your strengths rarely extends beyond the notional or platitudinous, that it is refreshing to be immersed in real research on leadership effectiveness that shows its tangible impact. The authors create a compelling case for lifting leadership effectiveness from the (somewhat pejorative) realm of soft skills to a plane that equates these competencies with harder disciplines in two ways: not only can these skills be learned, but they can have a similar impact on bottom-line results and employee performance. Leadership cross-training is an approach that can have a powerful impact on helping good leaders become exceptional ones.

Jaime Gonzales, Head of Professional Development,
Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Zenger and Folkman amaze us again by demonstrating, based on their extensive research that: leaders are not perfect but become exceptional by developing their unique and profound strengths. This in turn skyrockets employee productivity, customer loyalty, and sustainable financial performance.