The Advantage

There is a competitive advantage out there, arguably more powerful than any other. Is it superior strategy? Faster innovation? Smarter employees? No, New York Times best-selling author, Patrick Lencioni, argues that the seminal difference between successful companies and mediocre ones has little to do with what they know and how smart they are and more to do with how healthy they are. In this book, Lencioni brings together his vast experience and many of the themes cultivated in his other best-selling books and delivers a first: a cohesive and comprehensive exploration of the unique advantage organizational health provides.

Simply put, an organization is healthy when it is whole, consistent and complete, when its management, operations and culture are unified.  Healthy organizations outperform their counterparts, are free of politics and confusion and provide an environment where star performers never want to leave. Lencioni’s first non-fiction book provides leaders with a groundbreaking, approachable model for achieving organizational health—complete with stories, tips and anecdotes from his experiences consulting to some of the nation’s leading organizations. In this age of informational ubiquity and nano-second change, it is no longer enough to build a competitive advantage based on intelligence alone. The Advantage provides a foundational construct for conducting business in a new way—one that maximizes human potential and aligns the organization around a common set of principles.

“'Something in it for everyone…a lot of value in it' ( Alan Jordon, Sales Director of Bookbuzz) 'The book contains a wealth of practical yet profound advice that would be of benefit to any HR or organisational professional.' (HR Zone, September 2012) 'geared mainly at leader's, I believe it is applicable to any medium sized to large organisation.' (Professional Manager, November 2012)”

Consulting executive Lencioni (The Five Dysfunctions of a Team) has an answer for floundering businesses—aim for organizational health. In other words, businesses that are whole, consistent, and complete, with complementary management, operations, strategy, and culture. Today, the vast majority of organizations have more than enough intelligence, experience, and knowledge to be successful. Organizational health is neither sexy nor quantifiable, which is why more people don't take advantage. However, improved health will not only create a competitive advantage and better bottom line, it will boost morale. Lencioni covers four steps to health: build a cohesive leadership team, create clarity, overcommunicate clarity, and reinforce clarity. Through examples of his own experiences and others', he addresses the behaviors of a cohesive team, peer-to-peer accountability, office politics and bureaucracy and strategy, and how all organizations should strive to make people's lives better. This smart, pithy, and practical guide is a must-read for executives and other businesspeople who need to get their proverbial ducks back in a row. (Apr.) (Publishers Weekly, 1/16/12)

Patrick M. Lencioni is founder and president of The Table Group, a management consulting firm specializing in organizational health and executive team development. As a consultant and keynote speaker, he has worked with thousands of senior executives in organizations ranging from Fortune 500 and mid-size companies to start-ups and nonprofits. Lencioni is the author of 11 best-selling books including The Five Dysfunctions of a Team and The Ideal Team Player.

To learn more about Patrick, and the products and services offered by his firm, The Table Group, please

Praise for The Advantage " The Advantage has more common sense in its 200 pages than I have ever found in a business book. A must-read." -- Colleen Barrett , president emeritus, Southwest Airlines Co.; coauthor, Lead with LUV "Here is the next business classic. Even the best leaders will read this and wonder, 'Why aren't we already doing this?'" -- Enrique Salem , president and CEO, Symantec "We are doing what most said could not be done in a down economy--start and exponentially grow a business. Using Lencioni's model for organizational health is an everyday choice and a way of life for our company." -- Liz Townsend , COO, My Fit Foods "For more than a decade I've been using Lencioni's approach to run the departments I lead, and it has never failed me." -- Rick Friedel , vice president, AT&T Service Management "Our teams and leaders have really embraced Lencioni's methodology. We've put these ideas into practice and we're experiencing the results that prove it works." -- David Gordon , COO, The Cheesecake Factory "In The Advantage , Lencioni cuts through the corporate 'bull' that creates a culture of stonewalling and feet-dragging, and shows leaders at every level how to build up a culture of productivity and communication." -- Dave Ramsey , New York Times best-selling author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host

Praise for The Advantage " The Advantage has more common sense in its 200 pages than I have ever found in a business book. A must-read." Colleen Barrett , president emeritus, Southwest Airlines Co.; coauthor, Lead with LUV "Here is the next business classic. Even the best leaders will read this and wonder, Why arent we already doing this?" Enrique Salem , president and CEO, Symantec "We are doing what most said could not be done in a down economy start and exponentially grow a business. Using Lencionis model for organizational health is an everyday choice and a way of life for our company." Liz Townsend , COO, My Fit Foods "For more than a decade Ive been using Lencionis approach to run the departments I lead, and it has never failed me." Rick Friedel , vice president, AT&T Service Management "Our teams and leaders have really embraced Lencionis methodology. Weve put these ideas into practice and were experiencing the results that prove it works." David Gordon , COO, The Cheesecake Factory "In The Advantage , Lencioni cuts through the corporate bull that creates a culture of stonewalling and feet-dragging, and shows leaders at every level how to build up a culture of productivity and communication." Dave Ramsey , New York Times best-selling author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host

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