This week’s post is a guest entry by Marsha Clark from the Making Way for Excellence Communications Team reviewing Results That Last by Quint Studer.

As I was breezing through the Pensacola News Journal one day I saw another great article about Quint Studer and a local seminar he was giving. Being such a great fan of Mr. Studer and an active member of the Making Way for Excellence Coordinating Committee which introduced me to this great man, I wished I could have attended. As always, he had his audience mesmerized by his motivational message to be all they were intended to be. Since I couldn’t go, I decided to do the next best thing; I scrounged around the office for a book of his and came across “Results That Last”. It was then I was asked to write a small blog and will attempt to summarize the wealth of knowledge that is in this fascinating book.

You may have a great product or service but without obtaining and keeping consistently excellent leadership your business, no matter what type it is, won’t last. It is in this book, “Results That Last” which Quint Studer explains how to grow that type of leadership within yourself and your business. I don’t think it is a goal in which you ever “arrive” but it is an ever growing, ever improving journey of self improvement that he inspires in the reader to find the inner characteristics that lies in each of us to be a better leader. Each chapter in the book builds on the last giving you a complete instruction handbook on how to grow your leadership, in whatever area that might be, and you are bound to succeed.

The book begins by explaining the different kinds of employees from the low to high performer and how to best “manage up”. How the attitude of upper management and their appreciation of staff makes all the difference. Studer explains that each time you talk about your product, service or another employee you talk them up, being sure to highlight their positive attributes. Taking stock in how the day to day activities of staff are treated and their benefits have are to be at the forefront of upper level management and the team will do whatever it takes to make the place run the best. The teams you manage don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care. One illustration Studer uses is a time when he was president of a corporation who decided to review their 401(k) choices. This effected all levels of employment from high level management on down. The CEO stated he wanted to head the committee. When Studer made the announcement he explained that “because our CEO, Vickery, is so dedicated to this workforce, he is chairing that committee personally because he wants to make sure that you get the very best return on your money.” Well, the employee morale improved immensely after that.

The book continues with intricate details of all the “how to’s” and “how not to’s” of building a culture of excellence-not perfection. Why do I say, or does he say that? Studer so graciously points out that a good leader accepts responsibility and admits to making an error. Everyone likes transparency and leaders often gain greater loyalty when they admit they are human. If you are looking for a tool for improving your leadership practices, reaching your organizational goals and achieving personal excellence all in one this is the book for you.