Peak Performance: Aligning the Hearts and Minds of Your Employees

AORN Journal, June, 2004 by Sharon Giarrizzo-Wilson

Peak Performance: Aligning the Hearts and Minds of Your Employees Jon R. Katzenbach 2000, 304 pp $29.95 hardcover

The issue of creating and maintaining peak performance in organizations is especially prevalent today as multiple generations of workers come together in the workplace. Managers struggle to find qualified individuals who align with an organization's vision, and they hope when a vacancy is filled, maximum productivity returns.

Jon R. Katzenbach, a respected authority on teams and leadership, believes the key to achieving peak efficiency is an impassioned work environment. By thoroughly analyzing 25 businesses known for high performance and worker satisfaction, Katzenbach identifies commonalities, described as pathways, to building and sustaining extraordinary levels of employee performance.

Drawing on fundamental needs psychology, Katzenbach creates a corporate blueprint for developing emotional commitment in employees. He continues to build on this foundation through detailed case studies of organizational achievement. He categorizes each organization's attributes into five paths:

* the mission, values, and pride path--characterized by noble purpose, a rich history, value-driven leadership, and ample team opportunities;

* the process and metrics path--characterized by clear measures and focused process reflecting worker perspectives and performance priorities;

* the entrepreneurial spirit path--characterized by abundant high-risk, high-reward opportunities, significant employee ownership potential, and a hands-off leadership approach;

* the individual achievement path--characterized by abundant opportunities and incentives for personal growth and individual advancement; and

* the recognition and celebration path---characterized by a priority for nonmonetary recognition and rewards for individual and group accomplishments.

Katzenbach does not identify one path as the best approach to success. He allows readers to determine which method is appropriate for their organization and provides a flexible template to sustain performance. By harnessing or blending paths, corporate leaders move from motivating to enlightening the work team. Consistency and balance in the selected path yields high performance through the energized commitment of frontline workers.

Katzenbach's work is as informative as it is enjoyable to read. Important concepts are delivered clearly and provide a straightforward approach to engaging employees. Managers will gain fresh insight into intrinsic qualities found in highly productive organizations. In the end, the unquestionable illustration of peak performance lies within the value of the individual and how resources are used to validate the importance of commitment.

SHARON GIARRIZZO-WILSON

RN, MS, CNOR

CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST, PERIOPERATIVE SERVICES

ELLIOT HOSPITAL

MANCHESTER, NH