|
Smarts: Are We Hardwired for Success? | 
 enlarge | Authors: Chuck Martin, Peg Dawson, Richard Guare
Publisher: AMACOM
Category: Book
List Price: $21.95
Buy New: $0.20
You Save: $21.75 (99%)
New (52) Used (22) Collectible (3) from $0.01
Avg. Customer Rating:  32 reviews
Sales Rank: 253777
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 240
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.1 x 1.2
ISBN: 0814409067
Dewey Decimal Number: 658.409
EAN: 9780814409060
ASIN: 0814409067
Publication Date: January 15, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Thankyou for looking at Bookscorner1. May have a remaindermark and shelfwear. (36 in box)
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Twelve specific and very important cognitive functions begin developing in the brain at birth. These "skills" are built in to every individual and are fully developed -- and unchangeable -- by adulthood. Everyone has these same capabilities, but to varying degrees. And it is this unique and unalterable combination of ones strengths and weaknesses that determines success or failure in any given role. Smarts contains the groundbreaking Executive Skills Profile: a powerful self-assessment tool that will identify, once and for all, a persons innate strengths and weaknesses. The results offer tangible proof of why we gravitate to certain tasks and struggle with others. With this newfound clarity, readers will learn to play to their stronger skills, and avoid wasting time on lesser ones they can never improve upon. Most important, they will discover their own unique potential for excellence. Supported by proprietary primary research and grounded in widely accepted principles of clinical and neuro-psychology, Smarts is a truly eye-opening book that will change how we think about ourselves -- and others.
Book Description
"Twelve specific and very important cognitive functions begin developing in the brain at birth. These ""skills” are built in to every individual and are fully developed -- and unchangeable -- by adulthood. Everyone has these same capabilities, but to varying degrees. And it is this unique and unalterable combination of one’s strengths and weaknesses that determines success or failure in any given role. Smarts contains the groundbreaking Executive Skills Profile: a powerful self-assessment tool that will identify, once and for all, a person’s innate strengths and weaknesses. The results offer tangible proof of why we gravitate to certain tasks and struggle with others. With this newfound clarity, readers will learn to play to their stronger skills, and avoid wasting time on lesser ones they can never improve upon. Most important, they will discover their own unique potential for excellence. Supported by proprietary primary research and grounded in widely accepted principles of clinical and neuro-psychology, Smarts is a truly eye-opening book that will change how we think about ourselves -- and others."
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 27 more reviews...
 A new look at strengths December 14, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book may, on the surface, sound like the strengths books of Markus Buckingham, but it is significantly different. To start with the strengths listed here are 12 "executive skills" (executive as in execution, not position). These have been determined based on neuroscience. They are:
1. Self restraint
2. Working memory
3. Emotion control
4. Focus
5. Task initiation
6. Planning and prioritization
7. Organization
8. Time management
9. Defining and achieving goals
10. Flexibility
11. Observation
12. Stress tolerance
While the 12 strengths here are certainly more manageable than the 34 in the model espoused by Buckingham, I don't think they are as crisp. That is, many can be used, or not, in a variety of different ways. For example, is one who keeps one's computer files organized but one's desk disorganized strong in "organization"?
But there are many good ideas here, many I hope Buckingham incorporates. Probably the most important is the idea of being aware of one's weakest areas, not just one's top strengths, is key. As discussed in Smarts - skills are distributed, more or less, as a bell curve - most people have a few at which they are really strong, and a few at which they are really weak- but the majority are more "in between". When looking to match people to job responsibilities, it is hard to have a perfect match, but if one focuses on most of the top skills and none of the bottom ones, that will result in a much better fit than looking at only the top skills.
Another good idea presented here is the idea of not just looking at fit between skills and a job or tasks, but corporate culture as well.
This book also has some limitations, especially when compared to the model used by Buckingham. The quizzes provided to determine strengths are poor. I actually found the quizzes used to assess strengths in others to be more useful at self-assessment than the provided self-assessment quizzes. One thing that hurt the model presented here, as well as all the quizzes, was failing to take into account interest. One's success at various skills can be based on interest of applications of the skills, and success is largely questioned rather than talent and/or interest.
In summary, Smarts is a well-written book with some great ideas, but it, in my opinion, is best used in conjunction with one or more of Buckingham's books.
An Excellent tool for Business' May 12, 2008
The book Smarts is an exceptional read for anyone interested in the consumer buying process. The book introduces the 12 Executive Skills and explains how they are "hardwired", the strengths and weaknesses, how to identify and use them efficently in the work place. This book would be an excellent training tool for the sales industry as it would enable the associate to correctly identify an individual based on their Executive Skills and then be able to interact appropriately. Ultimately, the correct identification of these skills in consumers could lead to an increase in the organization's sales by allocating time to "needy" consumers.
It is amazing how much this information has helped in the marketing field in aiding to identifying and understanding the consumer which in the end is basically crucial. The informatoin learned through this book will help me as I continue my life in the marketing profession by assesing and understanding the consumers I am marketing to.
SMART read May 7, 2008
I realy enjoyed reading this book because it taught me a lot about myself. After reading about the 12 executive skills, I was able to see which skills I was highest in and learned how to manage the skills I was lowest in. The book was clear and to the point. An easy read, but VERY informative.
Smarts also helped me to better understand my friends and family. I was able to recognize their strengths and weaknesses. I recommend this book to all.
SMARTS; Reach your new level of personal success. April 29, 2008
SMARTS is an excellent read in relation to business management and also how it plays in ones everyday life. Not only does Chuck Martin provide a great tool to look into your own Executive Skills weaknesses and strengths, but also to understand the skills in those around you.
This book explains some of your interesting character flaws and how to make them work in your favor. If you can learn to manage your weaknesses and play to your strengths you can really learn to reach a new level of potential.
This book could also be a helpful for managers to understand how to make their peers more efficient in their jobs by managing their Executive Skills strengths and weaknesses. I personally found the chapter on matching your Executive Skills to the best job fit very intriguing and helpful.
I would suggest SMARTS to anyone interested in furthering their personal success.
Innovative research that makes sense of people's behaviors April 28, 2008
Smarts is an incredible read. With each chapter comes even more information that answers so many questions about why people behave the way they do. Smarts is easy to read and to understand. It provides great insight into really knowing who around you would be the most punctual, or the most organized, or who's bound to act on an impulse, and so on. Whether you are a top executive or a struggling student, this book will help you understand so much as to why the people around you act the way they do.
|
|
|
Franchise Books | |
