Synopses & Reviews
Many leaders perceive interruptions in their days as annoying and troublesome. However, the authors see interruptions and other incidental points of contact as opportunities to promote the organization's values, purpose, and agenda. They go further to suggest that the most powerful and long-lasting effects of skilled leadership take place in such informal moments--not in the formal, scripted, and often elaborately staged presentations where leaders attempt to energize and inspire their employees, shareholders, and customers. Doug Conant is known from moving The Campbell Soup Company from poor to great by valuing the moment-by-moment contact he had with the people who were capable of restoring greatness to the company. The intersection of the leader, the other(s), and the issue is the TouchPoint.
The authors maintain that the four essential components of TouchPoint preparation are (1) the head, (2) the heart, (3) the hands, and (4) touch. One of the most valuable uses of a leader's time is the constant preparation of the leader's cognitive circuitry, emotional maturity, orientation for action, and sensitivity to the wants and needs of others. Reading, researching, reflection, and practice all combine to prepare leaders to make the most of TouchPoints, no matter how spontaneous and incidental they might be.
Instead, leadership can be seen as a sequence of hundreds, even thousands of moments in time--each one packed with potential to help individuals learn, apply, and align their sense of purpose, personal values, and agendas with the corporate sense of purpose, values, and strategic agenda of the organizations they serve. The authenticity of an individual leader and that leader's purpose, values, and agenda are tested, re-tested, and confirmed or compromised during every informal or incidental interaction that takes place between leaders and those they lead.
TouchPoints speaks to the theory and craft of leadership, promoting a balanced presence of rational, authentic, active, and wise leadership practices. Leadership mastery in the smallest and otherwise ordinary moments can transform aimless lethargy in individuals and entropy in organizations into focused energy--one magical moment at a time.
Review
“Tremendous! Doug Conant and Mette Norgaard have written a literal masterpiece on leadership in
TouchPoints. Simultaneously filled with profound wisdom and practical application, this book demonstrates how our moment-to-moment interactions with others are really two-way opportunities to listen, learn, teach, and understand the pulse of our people and organization. This remarkable book will forever change how we view the work of leadership.”
—Stephen M. R. Covey, Author of The New York Times and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling book, The Speed of Trust
“TouchPoints treats the intersection between leadership and interactions in a new, innovative way. Throughout his impressive career, Conant has driven results and culture by adhering to a set of core values. In this leadership perspective, with co-author Norgaard, he offers an impatient call to action and lessons to learn for all leaders and aspiring leaders.”
—Charles H. Moore, Executive Director, Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy
“Great books on leadership can be inspirational or instructive in a highly practical way. TouchPoints is both, and enormously entertaining, to boot. If you aspire to have a highly positive impact on any kind of organization – whether it’s big or small, private or public – you must read this book.”
—Jeffrey E. Garten
Professor and former dean, Yale School of Management
“TouchPoints is a vivid reminder that leadership is a 24/7 role. Every human contact is an opportunity for leadership. This book is required reading for current and aspiring leaders. It will make you rethink how to approach the most demanding role of the CEO.”
—Carlos Gutierrez, Former Secretary of Commerce and Former Chairman and CEO, Kellogg Company
“Conant and Norgaard have captured the essence of great leadership by emphasizing the importance of what happens every day in both formal and informal interactions. All too often, leaders fall short of their potential because they focus more on time efficiency than personal impact. This book will convince you that the latter is what matters most – and can help you make it happen.”
—Jon Katzenbach, Senior Partner, Katzenbach Center at Booz & Company
“Leadership at the top is tough, and getting it right really matters. Every leader today struggles with the question, “How can I have more impact in the midst of increasing demands and uncertainties?” As Conant and Norgaard know, you do it by managing your TouchPoints well – moment upon moment, day upon day. Everyone who aspires to great and sustainable performance must master this discipline.”
—Saj-nicole Joni, Confidential CEO advisor, and author of The Right Fight
“As I read the book, I couldn’t help but remember a mentor who guided my development, and while he never used the term TouchPoints, his advice was all about TouchPoints, how to make the most of them and how they, in turn, helped you make the most out of your team. He would say, “It doesn’t matter how trivial the associate’s question may seem… the fact that they asked it means it is important to them. Take the time to work it. Walk all three shifts on the factory floor; you will learn more from that than what you read in the productivity reports. Make yourself available 24/7. Care about people; they are the business.” And so on. This book is all about effective leadership, and effective leadership is what drives shareowner value and career progression. It’s a read for all.”
—Bill Perez, Retired President and CEO, William Wrigley Jr., Former President and CEO, Nike, and Retired President and CEO, SC Johnson
Synopsis
A fresh, effective, and enduring way to lead—starting with your next interactionMost leaders feel the inevitable interruptions in their jam-packed days are troublesome. But in TouchPoints, Conant and Norgaard argue that these—and every point of contact with other people—are overlooked opportunities for leaders to increase their impact and promote their organization's strategy and values. Through previously untold stories from Conant's tenure as CEO of Campbell Soup Company and Norgaard's vast consulting experience, the authors show that a leader's impact and legacy are built through hundreds, even thousands, of interactive moments in time. The good news is that anyone can develop "TouchPoint" mastery by focusing on three essential components: head, heart, and hands.
TouchPoints speaks to the theory and craft of leadership, promoting a balanced presence of rational, authentic, active, and wise leadership practices. Leadership mastery in the smallest and otherwise ordinary moments can transform aimless activity in individuals and entropy in organizations into focused energy—one magical moment at a time.
Synopsis
Leadership is tough. You must hit your marks despite back-to-back meetings, endless emails, and chance encounters in the hallway.
Most leaders feel that these inevitable demands keep them from doing their "real work." But in this groundbreaking book, authors Douglas Conant and Mette Norgaard argue that these interactions are overlooked opportunities to expand your influence and deliver measurably better results.
Through untold stories from Conant's tenure as CEO of Campbell Soup Company and Norgaard's consulting experience, TouchPoints shows how a leader's impact and legacy are in fact built through hundreds, even thousands, of interactive moments in time.
The good news is that everyone can attain greater "TouchPoint" mastery. Conant and Norgaard show how by delving into three essential assets your head, heart, and hands. As the authors explain, one of the greatest investments you can make is constant attention to your mental model, your emotional maturity, and your bias for action. Then inquiry, reflection, and practice all combine to help you make the most of your TouchPoints, no matter how planned or incidental they may seem at the time.
TouchPoints speaks to the theory and craft of leadership by promoting a rational, authentic, active, and wise approach. With greater skill and energy, you can start transforming otherwise ordinary interactions into powerful leadership momentsone TouchPoint at a time.
Synopsis
Praise for TouchPoints"A profoundly relevant book on the fundamental power of human connections—and how it drives lasting change for every leader, every time."
—Stephen R. Covey, author, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and The Leader in Me
"Being an effective executive in today's over-scheduled, fast-paced 'interruption age' is not mutually exclusive with being an accessible and engaged leader. Indeed, recognizing that everyday 'TouchPoints' represent opportunities to teach and to enhance corporate culture is a prerequisite for success."
—Duncan Niederauer, CEO, NYSE Euronext
"Doug Conant has proven himself to be a very disciplined CEO – focused, able to let go of what doesn't fit, building greatness step-by-step, laying foundations for decades down the road while delivering results today. His example shows how effective business leadership can be quiet and bold, studious and decisive, disciplined and creative. He and Mette Norgaard make a great team for bringing these leadership lessons to the world."
—Jim Collins, author, Good to Great
"Like much of the best advice, TouchPoints makes immediate good sense; and taking it won't even add to your workload."
—Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO, WPP
"Leave it to Conant and Norgaard to define the future of leadership. In this brilliant new view, they uncover hidden opportunities we each have to turn everyday 'warm moments' into powerful venues for breakthrough thinking in your organization. This book makes all the rest seem old and tired."
—Faith Popcorn, CEO of BrainReserve, futurist, and bestselling author
"Conant and Norgaard reveal the secrets of great leadership. Yes, hard skills count, but soft skills – deftly managing a conversation, caring about the people around you, posing the perfect question in a crisis – make all the difference. This practical and insightful book shows how to transform the behaviors and results around you."
—Daniel H. Pink, author, Drive and A Whole New Mind
"A superb leadership guide."
—Bill George, author of True North
About the Author
Douglas Conant is president and CEO of Campbell Soup Company. Under his leadership, Campbell reversed a precipitous decline in market value and employee engagement, improving its financial profile, enhancing its diversity and inclusion practices and raising its corporate social responsibility profile. Previously Conant held management positions at Kraft and General Mills, and was president of the Nabisco Foods Company.
Mette Norgaard is an expert on strategic leadership and learning. She advises executive teams around the world on how to create distinct learning solutions that advance their companies' strategies. She has worked with senior-level leaders from Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, GE Capital, Nucor Corp., Estée Lauder, Harley-Davidson, the U.S. Navy, and Pfizer. Previously Norgaard was a consultant for FranklinCovey Co.
Table of Contents
Editor's Note xvii
Foreword xxi
Preface xxv
1 THE POWER OF TOUCHPOINTS: THE ACTION IS IN THE INTERACTION 1
2 THE COMMITMENT TO MASTERY: THE CHOICE IS YOURS 25
3 USE YOUR HEAD: THE COMMITMENT TO INQUIRY 47
4 USE YOUR HEART: THE COMMITMENT TO REFLECTION 73
5 USE YOUR HANDS: THE COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE 95
6 MASTERING THE TOUCH: HOW CAN I HELP? 123
CODA 149
Recommended Reading 151
Acknowledgments 153
About the Authors 157
Index 161