Topgrading: How Leading Companies Win by Hiring, Coaching and Keeping the Best People - Hardcover

Smart Ph.D., Bradford D.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0735200491 ISBN 13: 9780735200494

Publisher: Prentice Hall Press, 1999

Synopsis

World renowned consultant and industrial psychologist shares his proven strategy for hiring "A" players, building dream teams, and achieving excellence--a fool-proof system now in place at today's leading companies.

Great companies are made, not born. The secret is hiring the right people--the "A" players. This is, of course, easier said than done. Statistically, half of all employment situations result in a mis-hire; the wrong person for the wrong job. And with the cost of a mis-hire at twenty-four times salary, the financial drain can be staggering! Compare that with Brad Smart's 90% success rate and understand why topgraded organizations such as General Electric and Allied Signal consistently beat the competition.

In this unparalleled work, Dr. Smart introduces readers to the tograding concept--how and why it works. The author sets forth principles which hold true for Fortune 500 companies as well as small emerging companies. Topgrading is a silver bullet--the corporate initiative that empowers all other corporate initiatives. The author spells out his practical hands-on approach and provides intriguing case studies culled from his file of more than 4,000 in-depth interviews.

Topgrading's expert coaching techniques are also revealed and readers learn how managers who topgrade become leaders, achieving success and excellence not only for their companies, but also for themselves.

This book is not without controversy, however, as Brad discusses how those who don't pull their own weight, the chronic "C" players, must step aside, be redeployed, or terminated.

About this title

About the Author

Bradford D. Smart, Ph.D., is the president of Smart & Associates, Inc., based in the Chicago area. A well-known industrial psychologist and consultant with nearly thirty-five years in practice, he has worked with dozens of major companies, including General Electric, Bank of America, and John Deere.

From the Back Cover

"Topgrading is a proven strategy for hiring 'A' Players, building 'dream teams.' Companies and individuals who topgrade gain a talent advantage -- they consistently outperform the competition and reap the rewards of excellence." Robert H. Bohannon, Chairman, President and CEO Viad Corp.

"Topgrading is making us a stronger company everyday. Its tenets align perfectly with Gateway's unending commitment to improving our ability to serve our customers' needs." Ted Waitt, Chairman of the Board, Gateway

"I've had firsthand experience with Brad, and his approach to finding talent and fitting the talent to the job's requirements works. Brad's book demystifies the concept of Topgrading, and as he draws from thousands of real experiences, he provides a road map for building successful management teams. I wish he'd put this on paper a long time ago." Joe Lawler, President, Merchandise Media, RR Donnelley & Sons Co.

"Topgrading will become a continuous process of raising the bar in the identification of top and bottom players to enhance overall organizational vitality." Bill Conaty, Sr. V.P. Human Resources, General Electric Company

"Brad's pursuit of excellence in selection and development is critical in a global business where individual success is significantly leveraged in a team of "A Players." Lewis N. Sears, V.P. Organization Effectiveness, Citibank

From the Inside Flap

Great companies are made, not born. The secret is hiring the right people -- the "A" players. This is, of course, easier said than done. Statistically, half of all employment situations result in mis-hire: the wrong person for the wrong job. And with the cost of a mis-hire at twenty-four times salary, the financial drain can be staggering. Compare that with Brad Smart's 90% success rate and you'll understand why topgraded organizations such as General Electric and AlliedSignal consistently beat the competition.

In this unparalleled work, Dr. Smart introduces the Topgrading concept -- how and why it works. Managers at every level and at companies large and small will learn how to implement his proven fool-proof method. The author spells out his practical hands-on approach and provides intriguing case studies culled from his file of more than 4,000 in-depth interviews.

Further, Topgrading's expert coaching techniques turn "B" players into "A" players.

The lesson is simple: managers who topgrade become leaders -- "A" players -- achieving success not only for their companies but for themselves.

Edition details

• Publisher: Prentice Hall Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0735200491
• ISBN 13: 9780735200494
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 416