Speed

About the Author

John H. Zenger is the CEO of Zenger Folkman, an organization dedicated to leadership development. His contributions to the field have earned him a place in the Human Resources Development Hall of Fame and the prestigious ATD’s Lifetime Achievement Award. With decades of experience, John Zenger has become an influential figure in enhancing leadership capabilities across diverse industries.

Joseph R. Folkman is the cofounder and president of Zenger Folkman. A respected authority on assessment and change, Folkman’s work as a renowned psychometrician has brought transformative results to prominent organizations such as General Mills, General Motors, and Yale University. His insights into leadership effectiveness are based on rigorous research and practical application.

Main Idea

"Speed: How Leaders Accelerate Successful Execution" by John H. Zenger and Joseph R. Folkman delves into the critical role speed plays in modern leadership and organizational success. The book posits that speed is not about frantic activity but about the skillful execution of key behaviors. Drawing from extensive data and field research, the authors outline eight essential behaviors that enhance speed and, consequently, leadership effectiveness. The ability to execute quickly and accurately is a vital competitive advantage in today's fast-paced business environment.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Need for Speed
3. Speed Laws
4. Speed Traps
5. Organizational Benefits from Leadership Speed
6. Tactics to Increase Speed
7. Companion Behaviors for Leadership Speed
8. Conclusion

The Need for Speed

In the modern business landscape, speed has become a pivotal factor in achieving success. The authors emphasize that the rapid pace of change in today's world demands that leaders and organizations move quickly to stay competitive. This necessity for speed is not just about reacting to external pressures but also about proactively anticipating trends and opportunities.

According to Zenger and Folkman, speed is a significant predictor of a leader's effectiveness. Their research, which includes over one million 360-degree feedback assessments of more than 75,000 leaders, shows a strong correlation between speed and overall leadership performance. Leaders who operate with greater speed accomplish more within the same timeframe, thereby enhancing their perceived effectiveness.

“Speed is not an end goal, but speed creates real value rapidly. It appears to be a powerful predictor of a leader’s effectiveness as well as the organization’s success.” - John H. Zenger and Joseph R. Folkman

Speed Laws

The book introduces several "speed laws" that help leaders understand and implement speed effectively within their organizations:

• Speed as a Source of Competitive Advantage: Organizations that can develop and deliver products and services faster than their competitors often secure a dominant market position. Examples include Agile development in software and Lean manufacturing in production.
• Importance of Leadership Pace: The pace set by leaders significantly influences the overall pace of the organization. Leaders who embrace and drive speed encourage their teams to follow suit, fostering a culture of quick and effective execution.

“The pace of the leader becomes the pace of the overall organization.” - Lee Iacocca

Speed Traps

While speed is crucial, it is equally important to balance speed with accuracy and effectiveness. Zenger and Folkman caution against common "speed traps" that can derail efforts: