- Hardcover: 288 pages
- Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (25 Nov 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0735200491
- ISBN-13: 978-0735200494
- Product Dimensions: 23.1 x 16.3 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 879,228 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
|
There is a newer edition of this item:
|
Product details |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The key to building a superior company, an increasing number of observers now agree, is the ongoing ability to recruit and retain superior personnel. In Topgrading, industrial psychologist and global consultant Bradford Smart expands upon this idea by examining in great detail exactly how today's premier organisations have assembled such top-level employees, and then showing precisely how others can do it, too. "Simply put, topgrading is the practice of packing the team with A players and clearing out the C players," Smart writes. "A players is defined as the top 10 percent of talent available at all salary levels--best of class. With this radical definition, you are not a topgrader until your team consists of all A players. Period." Essentially a best-practices manual for developing this outstanding personnel pool, the book is based on more than 4,000 interviews and case studies conducted by Smart at major corporations like General Electric as well as fast-growing high-tech companies and small family-owned firms. He further bolsters its effectiveness by including his extensive "Chronological In-Depth Structured Interview Guide," along with other assessment tools and hands-on strategies for assembling an ideal work team. --Howard Rothman, Amazon.com
Product Description
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.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
First Sentence
How dramatically can topgrading improve talent? Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
How dramatically can topgrading improve talent? Read the first page
Explore More
Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I have read this book and conclude that most of the information is accurate in my experience. I think that Brad could TOPGRADE his style, however. The chest puffing gets tiring, his arrogance makes me gag and in general detracts from the potency of the book. This method is "no silver bullet" it works and can be difficult to implement. I also didn't care to read about Brad's property investment property and how he has Topgraded his help. .....Please lighten up Brad.
Woody Daroca Denver, Co.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Until I read this book, I was hopeless at recruiting. I would ask the usual interview questions - where do you see yourself in five years time etc. All the things that any potential candidate was expecting, and could bluff their way through.
This book has really turned things round for me. Even if you don't use all the questions in the first interview, just going through the work history questions can be a real eye opener. For example, finding out what the candidate thought previous employers strengths and weaknesses were can really tell you a lot about whether they'll be suitable for your business.
I used the book yesterday, and it prevented me from making a huge recruitment mistake. Had I stuck to my old interview technique I would have hire a completely unsuitable candidate.
If you have struggled to recruit the right staff in the past, do try this book, you won't be disappointed.
This book has really turned things round for me. Even if you don't use all the questions in the first interview, just going through the work history questions can be a real eye opener. For example, finding out what the candidate thought previous employers strengths and weaknesses were can really tell you a lot about whether they'll be suitable for your business.
I used the book yesterday, and it prevented me from making a huge recruitment mistake. Had I stuck to my old interview technique I would have hire a completely unsuitable candidate.
If you have struggled to recruit the right staff in the past, do try this book, you won't be disappointed.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Based on solid research, this book introduces the concept of topgrading-filling every position in the organization with a top candidate at the appropriate pay level. Topgrading is a process involving: seeking out, hiring and retaining top people; using the best assessment methods to make less than 10% mistakes in hiring and promoting; improving current staff through coaching; redeploying employees who are not performing at highest level to a position in which they can excel; and achieving inclusivity goals without lower performance standards. A chapter devoted to self development focuses on fifty management competencies and is of particular usefulness. Other guides and aids are presented for interviewing and self appraisal. This is an extremely useful volume.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Create a master race!
This book tells you how to get rid of "C-grade" employees, and even has a chapter on avoiding litigation. Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2007 by veritas et liberte
Not only for interviewers
Dr. Smart's most recent work, Topgrading, ranks very highly on my list of books containing useful information for anybody wanting to succeed. Read more
Published on 5 July 2000
GREAT PROCESS AND REASONS TO HIRE THE BEST
Computers and equipment are wonderful tools, but people make the difference. TOPGRADING makes it clear just how valuable it is to hire and work with the best. Read more
Published on 6 July 1999
Teaches managers a skill that most are notoriously missing
This book not only teaches managers how to hire, but also teaches them how to coach and to improve their own performance. Read more
Published on 22 May 1999
Finally someone who understands how business should be run.
This book represents the mentality we should all be in if we want to succeed as leaders. All too often we settle for someone to "fill the position" rather than using... Read more
Published on 27 April 1999
"
"Topgrading is based on the author's experience assessing and coaching over 4,000 managers. Although half of the book talks about corporate topgrading programs, that's not... Read more
Published on 24 Feb 1999
Highly readable, thoughtful, and practical!
Now that Smart has coined a new term for it -- topgrading -- it will become regarded as an essential leadership skill. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 1999
This is a "must" book for anyone in management!
Dr. Brad Smart shows clearly how winning companies topgrade. This book is not just for CEOs but for all managers, because it gives the reader all the tools to truly hire the... Read more
Published on 23 Feb 1999
Topgrading is a fantastic book!
I have ordered copies for our corporate office and all our subsidiaries. Smart spells out a proven strategy for hiring A players and building dream teams. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 1999
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Business, Finance & Law > Management > Human Resources > Human Resources Management
- Books > Business, Finance & Law > Management > Human Resources > Interviewing & Recruitment
- Books > Business, Finance & Law > Management > Management Skills > Leadership
- Books > Business, Finance & Law > Small Business & Entrepreneurship > Entrepreneurship
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
