_Effectiveness is a discipline, not a personality trait._ ## Big Idea The best executives aren’t defined by charisma or style but by **disciplined habits**. Peter Drucker identified eight practices that anyone can learn to turn knowledge into results. --- ## The Eight Practices 1. **Ask “What needs to be done?”** 2. **Ask “What’s right for the enterprise?”** 3. **Develop an action plan.** 4. **Take responsibility for decisions.** 5. **Take responsibility for communicating.** 6. **Focus on opportunities, not problems.** 7. **Run productive meetings.** 8. **Think and say “we,” not “I.”** **Bonus:** _Listen first, speak last._ --- ## How They Work ### 1. Ask “What needs to be done?” - Start with the organisation’s needs, not personal preference. - Set one or two clear priorities and **stick with them**. - Do the work **you’re best suited for**; delegate the rest. ### 2. Ask “What’s right for the enterprise?” - Decide for the **long-term health** of the organisation, not short-term interests. - Check every action against **ethics, legality, mission, and values**. ### 3. Develop an action plan - Translate goals into **specific results, deadlines, and checkpoints**. - Keep it **flexible**; revise as conditions change. - Let the plan **drive your time**, not the other way around. ### 4. Take responsibility for decisions - A decision isn’t real until someone owns it: **who, by when, and who needs to know**. - Review decisions periodically to **learn and correct course**. - Own hiring mistakes; move nonperformers out quickly but fairly. ### 5. Take responsibility for communicating - Share plans and **information needs** clearly with peers, subordinates, and superiors. - Ensure the right people **understand, support, and act**. ### 6. Focus on opportunities, not problems - Solving problems prevents loss; **pursuing opportunities creates gain**. - Look for openings in **successes, failures, innovation, shifts, or new knowledge**. - Put your **best people** on the best opportunities. ### 7. Run productive meetings - Define the **purpose** before the meeting begins. - Keep discussion focused and **end when done**. - Always **follow up in writing** with clear actions and owners. ### 8. Think and say “we,” not “I” - Authority rests on **trust**. - Put the organisation’s needs before personal ambition or recognition. ### Bonus: Listen first, speak last - Hold your opinion until others have spoken; it improves **judgment and engagement**. --- ## Closing Insight Effectiveness is not innate—it’s a **learned discipline**. By asking the right questions, planning clearly, communicating openly, and acting on what matters most, executives turn insight into impact. Drucker’s enduring lesson: **Do first what truly matters, and do it well.**