The Oz Principle: Getting Results Through Individual and Organizational Accountability

This book has already started to make me a more effective co-worker, boss, customer service provider - and even father and husband. I recommend this book to anyone that wants to be more successful in their work or in their life. The authors do an excellent job laying out the foundations for being accountable - something that is hard to find in today's business world. This is an excellent book for those just starting out in their career, but is also a great source of renewed focus for those (like me) who are a bit further along. It is also one of those books that will help you if you allow it to. If you tend to view these books through the cynical eye of "my boss told me I should read it", then you likely will find it is a waste of your time. If you tend to try to find meaning and value in everything you look at, then you just may find this book to be a turning point in your life. Interestingly enough, if you're more the cynic, but you allow yourself to open up to the concepts in this book, you just may find that you're less cynical after reading this. My only gripe is that the links to the Wizard of Oz story are a bit of a stretch - but they do serve as a catchy point of reference.

Love the book so far

This book was a required reading for my job! Very thought-provoking and had some great activities and questions about life and career. Great for life and work!

I read this book at a time in my life when it felt like the whole world was against me. I was going through a divorce, there were multiple layoffs at my job(including a close friend that I convinced to come work with me) and I had just had a huge amount of workload dumped on me with no extra pay. I very quickly fell into a victim cycle. This book helped me to See how I controlled my own destiny. By taking accountability into my own hands I was motivated to not let anyone or any event deny me from being successful. After reading this book and making a commitment to always strive to be above the line I was able to get a promotion, move on from my failed marriage, improve my health and complete my first Marathon and help others be successful in their own way. Many reviewers have degraded this book as corporate nonsense to make the employees take the blame. I won't deny that probably is the case in several companies, however, there are great lessons in this book that helped me realize that blaming corporate gets me nowhere. My actions have the ability to improve my situation, but rarely does playing the blame game ever produce desired results.

I’ve taken to entrepreneurship as a financial planner and this is really a great book to open your eyes about taking responsibility for your actions and working for what you want in life!

Item was advertised as new but seemed used or not well take care of. Scrapes on covers and some pages bent. Overall Item is still usable and works for its purpose.

Of all the books dealing with performance accountability, this one ranks at the top. In a world where simple words often take on confusing (and even misleading) connotations, accountability may head the list. For some people, accountability is about punishment. When others use the word, it may contain nuances of guilt or even ridicule or derision. In the simplest of terms, accountability is really about responsibility or being answerable for a result. When I shop at a retailer I often pay for my selected merchandise with cash. I seldom have exact change, so the clerk gives me a receipt and counts out my change - demonstrating accountability for the transaction. There's no punishment involved, no guilt. Just accountability. In the workplace, everyone at every level should feel accountable for each and every transaction. The Oz Principle provides a handy framework for managing those transactions. In their "Blame Game" the authors show what happens when someone operates "Below the Line." Such people invest most of their energy in denying responsibility, pointing fingers at others, waiting to be instructed, protecting their turf, and other unproductive behaviors. When faced with performance challenges, those operating "Above the Line" See It, Own It, Solve It, and Do It. Several self-assessment instruments in the book help bring the principles even closer to home. The Oz Principle is accountable for delivering what it promises.

I work in a leadership development HR role and I asked over 30 people to read the Oz Principle as part of their leadership development training plan. I have never seen so many people have "ah-ha" moments. The Oz Principle authors have captured the philosophy of personal accountability in such a common sense and real approach. The books concepts can be easily applied in both work and personal experiences. The biggest reward that I've seen from my team reading the book, is actual application. In my opinion, the ability to apply concepts from a book is the highest form of flattery. The only downside of listening to a book on CD is the inability to highlight key concepts and thoughts (when driving).

Livre à recommander sans réserve. Si tout le monde pouvait le lire et mettre en pratique les principes proposés, la face du monde changerait radicalement. Avec en prime le bonheur et l'épanouissement des adeptes et de leur entourage.

Must read for accountability training

Häufig sind die lösungen klar vor augen. Jedoch fehlt es häufig an der anerkennung eigener veränderunsnotwendigkeit und der akzeptanz unternehmerischen risikos. dieses buch beschreibt wege konsequent zu handeln, um ziele und ergebnisse zu erreichen. am ende bleibt es dem geneigten leser überlassen zu handeln. Do it!

Very relevant to corporate life anywhere in the world. Simple yet very powerful message, with lots of cases to ponder upon.

Utilizo o conhecimento encontrado no livro em minhas atuações profissionais.