Sudden Impact on the Job Top Business Leaders Reveal the Secrets to Fast Success

In today's job market, organizations are impatient for results, so managers need to make a fast and powerful impact to establish themselves in a new position. Based on interviews with many successful executives including such business luminaries as Jeff Immelt (GE), Bob Nardelli (Home Depot), and Paul Pressler (The Gap), who endured highly visible transitions. Sudden Impact on the Job explores the factors that contribute to success and provides best practices for starting off on the right foot. At the same time, it also dispels many commonly held beliefs about successful executives.

Your Handbook for Creating Sudden Impact on the Job!

"Sudden Impact dispels the notion that leadership change dictates broad organizational disruption as a consequence. Quandt uniquely demonstrates through leaders' own stories how they sense the rhythm of an organization and improvise for success based on the unique context of each organization. A must?read for any aspiring leader."
Denise Rousseau, outgoing president, Academy of Management; HJ Heinz II Professor of Organizational Behavior and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University

"When you're about to start in a new leadership position, the last thing you need is a formulaic, cookbook approach with someone dictating what you must do. Instead, it is much more productive and infinitely more enjoyable to learn the experiences of those who have come before you and adapt the lessons to your unique situation. That's what Sudden Impact is all about. If you believe in learning from the very best business leaders, then read this book."
James M. Citrin, senior director, Spencer Stuart; coauthor, You're in Charge, Now What?

"Sudden Impact shows how great leaders can make a great difference fast! Great 'real?world' examples that apply to all levels of management. Great coaching for new leaders!"
Marshall Goldsmith, leading executive coach; University Professor at Alliant International University's Marshall Goldsmith School of Management

Executives featured in Sudden Impact on the Job include:

Jay Amato Viewpoint

Stephanie Burns Dow–Corning

Jamie Dimon JP Morgan Chase

Peter Dolan Bristol–Myers Squibb

Dave Dorman AT&T

Jeffrey Joerres Manpower

Andrew Liveris – Dow Chemical

Dick Notebaert Qwest

John Parker– American Culinary ChefsBest

Irene Rosenfeld Frito–Lay

Pat Russo Lucent Technologies

Stephanie Streeter Banta

Dave Vander Zanden School Specialty

Ed Zander Motorola

Introduction: So You re the New Kid on the Block.

1. Got It!

2. To Plan or Not to Plan?

3. Reach for the Stars.

4. Rewind.

5. A Little Help from My Friends.

6. They ve Got Rhythm.

7. Net 90?

8. The Real Scoop.

A Few Final Words: My Best Advice .

Notes.

Acknowledgments.

About the Author.

Index.

Susan Quandt is managing partner of The ROI Partnership, a management consulting firm in Chicago, and adjunct professor of business at the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. Quandt successfully climbed the corporate ladder in such organizations as AT&T, Ameritech, and Sprint Canada, serving more than fifteen years of her career in senior–level positions.