Okay, it's one of those books I've always heard is near the Bible in terms of its valuable and timeless lessons on management and leadership...and it's one of those books I had never read. Until now. I'm referring to the classic book by the man renowned as the greatest management expert of the last century, Peter Drucker and "The Effective Executive," originally published in 1967; most recently updated in 2006. I rank it right up there with my favorite writing book of all time, The Elements of Style by Strunk & White.

But rather than a book report, I'd like to share with you the eight practices Drucker observes, that all effective executives (and he's worked with some of the best over the past six decades) follow. Whether you're a corporate executive, an independent professional, you run a small business or even manage a household I think you'll find, as I did, that exploring and applying these principles can make you a better manager, leader and human being. So with thanks to Peter Drucker, here you go:

• They ask: "What needs to be done?"
• They ask: "What is right for the enterprise?"
• They develop action plans. (And carry them out.)
• They take responsibility for decisions.
• They take responsibility for communicating.
• They focus on opportunities rather than problems.
• They run productive meetings.
• They think and say "we" rather than "I."

As Drucker points out: 1) an executive's job is to be effective; 2) effectiveness can be learned. That applies to all of us. And if this short "appetizer" has whetted your taste for more of Drucker's no-nonsense wisdom, by all means pick up a copy of "The Effective Executive."

Here's to an effective week!

"The problem in my life and other people's lives is not the absence of knowing what to do, but the absence of doing it."

~~Peter Drucker

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