Know-How

About the Author

Ram Charan is a renowned business consultant, author, and speaker, known for his profound insights into the world of business strategy and leadership. With a Doctorate in Business Administration and an MBA from Harvard Business School, Charan has spent decades advising some of the top CEOs and executives in the Fortune 500. His practical wisdom, distilled from years of experience in the corporate trenches, has made him a sought-after adviser and a prolific author. His works include bestsellers like "Profitable Growth Is Everyone's Business", "Boards That Deliver", and "What the CEO Wants You to Know". Charan's approach to business is grounded in real-world application, making his insights both accessible and actionable.

Main Idea

In "KNOW-HOW: The 8 Skills That Separate People Who Perform from Those Who Don't", Ram Charan offers a comprehensive guide to the essential skills and attributes that distinguish successful leaders from their less effective counterparts. Charan argues that leadership is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, influenced by a variety of factors including personal traits, cognitive abilities, and situational awareness. He introduces the concept of "know-how" as the key differentiator between leaders who achieve results and those who don't. By mastering these eight know-hows, leaders can navigate the challenges of a rapidly changing business landscape and drive their organizations to success.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Know-How: The Foundation of Leadership
3. Positioning and Repositioning the Business
4. Pinpointing External Change
5. Managing the Social System
6. Judging People
7. Molding a Team
8. Setting Goals
9. Setting Priorities
10. Dealing with Forces Beyond the Market
11. Conclusion

Introduction

Leadership in the 21st century is a daunting task, marked by unprecedented change and complexity. Ram Charan opens his book with a compelling argument: the magnitude, speed, and depth of today's business changes require a new kind of leader—one who possesses specific know-hows that go beyond traditional attributes like intelligence and charisma. According to Charan, the difference between leaders who perform and those who don't lies in their ability to apply these know-hows effectively.

Know-How: The Foundation of Leadership

Charan defines know-how as the hallmark of leaders who know what they are doing and who consistently deliver results. He emphasizes that personal traits such as intelligence and self-confidence are not enough; what truly matters is the ability to make sound business judgments and take effective actions. This section serves as the cornerstone of Charan's framework, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the eight essential know-hows.