Book Review: Six Disciplines for Excellence

Some of the folks at Six Disciplines recently contacted me and asked if I'd be willing to share some comments about their most recent book, Six Disciplines for Excellence, with the blog's readers. Here are some of my thoughts on it:

The book is written for small business owners to provide them with a systematic business-building methodology in order to help them consistently improve all facets of the business. The author, Gary Harpst, a former CEO, has identified six key steps for a small business to focus on: Decide what's important; Set goals that lead; Align systems; Work the plan; Innovate purposefully; and Step back.

What makes this book unique, not to mention worthwhile? The book is filled with concrete examples, processes and checklists that will help a business owner in creating a successful business. Anyone who is in need of ways to move an organization forward will find a treasure chest of ideas in its pages.

Do I have any reservations about the book? Yes. The biggest concern I have is the timing of engaging the entire team (all team members) in the development of the organization’s mission, values and vision of the company. In small business, bringing everyone into the conversation after the key company documents have been written and all the goals are set will not develop an environment of trust and consensus; rather it will be about persuading and cajoling employees to get on board. Despite my reservations, there is a lot of quality content in this book.

Interestingly, I found out that the book is just the tip of the Six Disciplines "iceberg." Behind the book is Six Disciplines Corporation, which has invested over $10 million dollars developing practical Internet-based technologies that make the Six Disciplines Methodology practical.

One aspect of the Six Disciplines approach to business-building that will be of interest to our readership: Six Disciplines Leadership Centers are being launched nationwide, using a business coaching component that employs many servant-leadership principles, helping small business team members to use the Six Disciplines Methodology – to keep on track, and work toward achieving excellence that lasts.

Any small business owner with 100 employees or less will find a great deal of practical insight from reading “Six Disciplines for Excellence” that will be very helpful in an attempt to build a successful business.