Great People Decisions Book Summary - Great People Decisions Book explained in key points
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Great People Decisions summary

Claudio Fernandez-Araoz

Why They Matter So Much, Why They Are So Hard and How You Can Master Them

4 (28 ratings)
18 mins

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Great People Decisions by Claudio Fernandez-Araoz is an innovative management guide that offers insight on how to overcome career challenges. The book provides practical advice on how to develop successful leadership strategies that can lead to better business outcomes.

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    Great People Decisions
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    Great people decisions are vital to maximizing your career potential.

    There are plenty of books out there that promise to reveal the secrets to business success. But although they might offer plenty of sound advice, they often miss one of the most important factors on your journey to success: other people.

    Books boasting the best business secrets don’t teach you how to make great people decisions, that is, how to find great people and put them in the right places.

    While there are, of course, many factors that will determine your career successes, being adept at people decisions is critical.

    It’s certainly true that genes, education, career choices and personality, among other factors, play an important role in boosting some people toward success and leaving others behind. However, people decisions are just as important as these other factors, and perhaps even more so.

    First, as your career progresses, you will be more likely to move into roles that require you to manage more and more people. Naturally, being highly skilled at finding the right people for the right positions is essential.

    Second, you can never do your best work alone. According to career expert Marcus Buckingham, no one has unlimited potential. If you want to keep developing and succeeding, you’ll need the help of others who can complement your skills and help you move forward.     

    Unfortunately, despite the great importance of people decisions, many of us fail to develop this valuable skill. This is in part because people tend to think that the ability to judge people is based on “gut” feelings and intuition – it’s not something that can be learned, but something you either have or don’t.

    But this simply isn’t true. The ability to make great people decisions – to judge whether someone is good at a particular job or in your team – is one that can, and indeed must, be learned.

    How exactly? That will come a little later; the next step is to look at the benefits that great people decisions bring to organizations.

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    What is Great People Decisions about?

    Great People Decisions (2007) explains the many ways in which personnel choices can make or break an organization. Full of practical, immediately actionable advice, this step-by-step guide to finding and hiring the right candidate for the right job is helpful for businesses of all shapes and sizes.

    Great People Decisions Review

    Great People Decisions (2007) by Claudio Fernandez-Araoz is a valuable resource for anyone involved in hiring and managing talent. Here's why we recommend reading it:

    • With real-world examples and insights from top executives, it offers practical strategies for making successful hiring decisions.
    • The book provides a comprehensive framework for assessing potential and performance in candidates, helping readers identify the best fit for their organizations.
    • Backed by extensive research, the author debunks common myths and presents innovative approaches to selecting and developing top talent, ensuring a stimulating read.

    Best quote from Great People Decisions

    In good times and bad times alike, we tend to postpone making important people decisions until it is too late.

    —Claudio Fernandez-Araoz
    example alt text

    Who should read Great People Decisions?

    • Anyone who has ever hired the wrong person for a job
    • Anyone who is in charge of building solid and efficient teams
    • Entrepreneurs, managers and CEOs

    About the Author

    Claudio Fernández-Aráoz is an author, speaker and internationally recognized expert on talent and leadership. He is also the author of another bestselling book, It’s Not the How or the What but the Who.

     

    © Claudio Fernández-Aráoz: Great People Decisions copyright 2007, John Wiley & Sons Inc. Used by permission of John Wiley & Sons Inc. and shall not be made available to any unauthorized third parties.

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    Great People Decisions FAQs 

    What is the main message of Great People Decisions?

    Great People Decisions emphasizes the importance of making smart decisions when it comes to hiring and developing people.

    How long does it take to read Great People Decisions?

    The reading time for Great People Decisions depends on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.

    Is Great People Decisions a good book? Is it worth reading?

    Great People Decisions is a must-read for anyone interested in making effective people decisions. It provides valuable insights and practical advice.

    Who is the author of Great People Decisions?

    The author of Great People Decisions is Claudio Fernández-Aráoz.

    What to read after Great People Decisions?

    If you're wondering what to read next after Great People Decisions, here are some recommendations we suggest:
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