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 · 697 ratings  · 28 reviews
Start your review of Topgrading: How Leading Companies Win past Hiring, Coaching, and Keeping the Best People
Gary
Sep 17, 2017 rated it it was ok
This volume has some valuable information and ideas about how to amend your odds of hiring keepers, but information technology is as well painful to read.

First the painful part – The book shamelessly plugs its own brand and company and this borders on nauseating at times. The methodology explained in the volume is labeled "Topgrading" and if had a dollar for every fourth dimension this term was mentioned in the volume, I could retire. His success is cocky-evident considering of the adoption his processes, at companies such every bit GE, notwithstanding

This book has some valuable data and ideas about how to improve your odds of hiring keepers, simply information technology is also painful to read.

Starting time the painful part – The book shamelessly plugs its own make and company and this borders on nauseating at times. The methodology explained in the book is labeled "Topgrading" and if had a dollar for every time this term was mentioned in the volume, I could retire. His success is self-evident because of the adoption his processes, at companies such equally GE, nonetheless the author seemed compelled to go past the obvious benefits into ridiculous hyperbola at times. Ane passage says Topgrading may relieve your life or at the very to the lowest degree make your healthier. The other knock on the volume is that information technology could accept been half the length – if the self-promotion was eliminated as well as the back-up. At the commencement of one redundant passage, Smart writes he knows this was previously covered, merely since business people skim so much, he was repeating everything in case you missed while skimming the first time -- really?

A synthesis the core elements of the "Topgrading" methodology results in these ii steps:

i) Get-go OF INTERVIEW – At the get-go of the interview, tell the candidate you will be request them to arrange multiple interviews with their past bosses (assuming they move to the next hiring phase). The idea is that telling them this is a bit of a truth serum, since the candidate is less likely to exaggerate their accomplishments, if they know you lot volition be talking to each of their previous supervisors. Then subsequently the interview, assuming the candidate is still in the running, enquire them to accommodate reference calls with a list of previous bosses you have selected.

2) INTERVIEW -- Perform long in-depth interviews, by working through the history of candidate. Get-go with their mail service-secondary education, and move toward their most recent position. Focus on their relationship to with their dominate and peers in each of their past jobs. Dig deep into their relationships with others in these companies. Talk well-nigh their failures and success in each chore. Endeavor to understand what went right and what went wrong. Practice have simple answers that but make the candidate look strong (Instance: "I guess I just worked too hard in that position"). User follow upward questions to get to the truth of all issues. Keep careful notes.

Very solid ideas in this volume, simply very hard to push through to the stop due to is over-the-top cocky-gratification.

...more
Vickie
Aug 24, 2012 rated it did non similar information technology
Didn't find this book as ground-breaking as other readers. Yes, the chief concept was interesting, merely it seemed like a one long promo for his childrens' consulting busineses. Didn't detect this book as footing-breaking as other readers. Yes, the chief concept was interesting, but it seemed like a one long promo for his childrens' consulting busineses. ...more
Sue Learn
There are some good nuggets of best practices scattered throughout the book but the author'south amount of self promotion makes them easy to overlook. My CEO asked me to atomic number 82 a book social club at my visitor to discuss this book and senior leaders were so focused on the amount of times Smart used the word "Topgrading" that many were not able to focus on the value of best practices such equally interview standardization, using reference checking every bit a legitimate tool and doubling up for team interviews. Additiona There are some proficient nuggets of best practices scattered throughout the volume but the writer's corporeality of self promotion makes them like shooting fish in a barrel to overlook. My CEO asked me to lead a book club at my visitor to talk over this book and senior leaders were and then focused on the amount of times Smart used the word "Topgrading" that many were not able to focus on the value of all-time practices such equally interview standardization, using reference checking every bit a legitimate tool and doubling up for team interviews. Additionally, the book is incredibly repetitive in terms of introducing and reintroducing best practices. Had the author restricted himself to v% of the word "Topgrading" and express some of the repetition, I bet this volume would have been less than half of its current size and a more than productive and enjoyable read. Our managers (and I) could non wait for this volume to exist over! ...more
Heidi
This is a terrible book, based on hiring practices that are meant for intimidation under the Industrial Historic period rules.
Charles
Apr 08, 2019 rated it did not like it
Most entirely self-promotion. Rather than spending most of the volume explaining how to Topgrade, Smart instead brags about Topgrading'south success and occasionally promotes his (probable very expensive) Topgrading workshop.

That's as well bad, because many of the cadre concepts of Topgrading are reasonable: interviewing should have a good deal of fourth dimension, questions should be prepared, questions should be deeply probing, there should be a note taker, etc.

GE and Jack Welch play prominently hither. If you're stu

Almost entirely self-promotion. Rather than spending about of the book explaining how to Topgrade, Smart instead brags about Topgrading'southward success and occasionally promotes his (likely very expensive) Topgrading workshop.

That'due south as well bad, because many of the core concepts of Topgrading are reasonable: interviewing should have a good deal of time, questions should exist prepared, questions should be deeply probing, there should exist a annotation taker, etc.

GE and Jack Welch play prominently here. If you're stuck in the cult of Welch worship and haven't realized how many of his policies resulted in the problems at GE, yous'll observe that persuasive. I did non. Topgrading, especially if combined with rank-and-tank, is bound to atomic number 82 to a backstabbing civilization.

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Chris Holland
Dec 27, 2019 rated it it was amazing
The first time I interviewed someone, I had no thought what I was doing and the candidate could conspicuously run into that.

If I had read this, that would not have been the case at all. While near case studies are focused on large and medium sized companies- this is a critical handbook for hiring whether you're increasing your team by 1 or 100 people.

I started this book with a highlighter that had post it flags fastened to information technology. I used the unabridged highlighter upward and almost all the post it flags while annotating

The kickoff fourth dimension I interviewed someone, I had no idea what I was doing and the candidate could conspicuously see that.

If I had read this, that would not have been the case at all. While most case studies are focused on big and medium sized companies- this is a critical handbook for hiring whether you're increasing your squad by 1 or 100 people.

I started this book with a highlighter that had post it flags attached to it. I used the unabridged highlighter up and well-nigh all the post it flags while annotating this masterpiece.

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Onkar Singh
I of the best books read.......

This book is a must read for every executive, Manager, senior Director, General Manager, CEO...... Information technology's a Shre shot success pill.

1 of the best books read.......

This book is a must read for every executive, Manager, senior Manager, Full general Director, CEO...... It'southward a Shre shot success pill.

...more
Hanna
Useful information but the majority of the book was spent selling the concept instead of teaching it. Could definitely be reduced downwards to about 100 pages.
James Centenera
Practiced insights just written in a very corporate fashion
Ray Carroll
Too long and wordy. Would have been better packaged up in a book of less than 100 pages with links to resources and case studies. Too much "selling" of why TopGrading is valuable. Too long and wordy. Would accept been better packaged up in a book of less than 100 pages with links to resources and example studies. Too much "selling" of why TopGrading is valuable. ...more
Brian Nwokedi
Introduction
In Topgrading, Bradford D. Smart lays his cards on the table on the first page by stating unequivocally that "Topgrading will brand your visitor more than successful." Without question the single most important driver of organizational performance and private managerial success is man capital, or talent. Yet most of us business leaders struggle to consistently get the superior talent that nosotros demand. Topgrading sets out to provide the antidote to this struggle.

Why wouldn't you want to fi

Introduction
In Topgrading, Bradford D. Smart lays his cards on the table on the first folio by stating unequivocally that "Topgrading will make your company more than successful." Without question the single most important driver of organizational operation and individual managerial success is human capital, or talent. Yet nigh of us business concern leaders struggle to consistently get the superior talent that nosotros demand. Topgrading sets out to provide the antidote to this struggle.

Why wouldn't yous desire to fill your organization with null but A Players (people in the top 10% of the talent pool available)?

Why Yous Should Read This Volume?
Anyone who has hired knows how painful it is to get it incorrect. Given the current labor market and how challenging it is to find good people, it behooves all hiring managers to use whatever tools necessary to amend their odds of success. Topgrading claims to be the book to practice merely that.

In today's version of the State of war for Talent, it's getting harder and harder to consistently observe people in the top 10% of the talent pool. Similar to the California Gilded Rush of the 1850s, striking gold is becoming rarer and rarer with traditional recruiting techniques.

In club to take your own "Eureka" moment, y'all need to amend your odds, and Bradford D. Smart is hither to help. Topgrading companies tend to look harder to find talent, screen harder to select the right people, and act more quickly to confront nonperformance.

You should read this book if yous are similar me and want the top 20%, the heart 70%, and the bottom 10% of all employees to be A players in the right roles.

Final Thoughts
By using Topgrading hiring managers will solve three huge consistent bug in hiring:

1. Rampant dishonesty by weak candidates who easily get away with fudging their resumes and faking their interviews,
2. Bereft data, because most companies utilise superficial hiring methods that enable candidates to control and hide what they share nigh themselves,
iii. Lack of verifiability, equally most reference checks are practically useless.

Ane thing you get throughout this book is the conviction that Bradford D. Smart has in his arroyo to hiring. At times it feels similar you lot are reading/watching an infomercial with a money back guarantee. But in reality, his confidence is well placed. After reading Topgrading, I have more conviction in my ability to inquire the correct questions and arrive deeper than I accept ever gone in virtually of my hiring interviews to engagement.

Peter Drucker one time said the ability to make proficient decisions regarding people represents 1 of the final reliable sources of competitive advantage, since very few organizations are very adept at information technology. Topgrading solves the three biggest hiring bug and then profoundly that managers get superior talent and their organizations ultimately perform better. And hopefully you and your company tin start to turn the tide in your favor when it comes to talent acquisition.

Topgrading Lite Version
If you do nothing at all please follow the "Lite Version" of Topgrading gear up out below:

· Apply the TORC (Threat of Reference Check) Technique to convince candidates to reveal the whole truth.
· Apply the Topgrading Career History Form, which produces the Topgrading Snapshot.
· Use the Starter Topgrading Interview Guide.
· Utilise two interviewers because two heads are manner improve than ane.
· Ask candidates to adapt personal reference calls with their one-time bosses and others you choose.

Other Key Takeaways

· It'south highly unlikely a company volition comprehend Topgrading launched by Hour and achieve 75%+ high performers if the C-Suite is unwilling to reinforce the Topgrading disciplines.
· Top-form (täp'grād) v. -graded, -grading, -grades, -er. 1. To make full at least 75% of positions in the arrangement with high performers (A Players) by hiring and promoting people who turn out to be high performers at least 75% of the fourth dimension.
· A Player: someone in the peak ten% of the talent pool available
· B Player: someone in the next 25% of the talent pool available
· C Thespian: someone in the bottom 65% of the talent pool available

Easy to Read: (three/5) threescore%
Deep Content: (4/v) 80%
Overall Rating: (3/5) 60%

Deeper Insights Hither

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Kiri Masters
Oct 24, 2016 rated it it was astonishing
Topgrading is a hiring process that is supposed to increase the percentage of "A Players" from 25% to xc% in your visitor.

The principle are that y'all keep chore candidates honest through thorough reference checks on their background, extremely articulate KPIs for roles and other principles, and y'all either weed out or convert B and C players into A players. A lot is focused effectually principles for large companies, which have actual Hour departments and more 1 person in a role so that position descripti

Topgrading is a hiring process that is supposed to increase the percentage of "A Players" from 25% to 90% in your company.

The principle are that you keep job candidates honest through thorough reference checks on their background, extremely clear KPIs for roles and other principles, and you either weed out or convert B and C players into A players. A lot is focused effectually principles for large companies, which have actual HR departments and more 1 person in a role and then that position descriptions & performance targets tin can be easily defined.

However, smaller companies similar mine (less than 20 employees) tin can still benefit from implementing the aforementioned principles from this book.

At my company we have started using all the Topgrading steps for finding, screening, and interviewing candidates, and while it is withal early days, I feel like our hiring process is at a minimum more than consistent, and at all-time, will prevent 95% of future potential mis-hires.

My i criticism is the rambling nature of the book and that besides reading the chapter headings, there is no succinct summary of the (many) steps involved. It is, ultimately, a marketing tool for the organization which administers and trains companies on the Topgrading procedure. Simply I absolutely recommend any business which is building a team, even so small initially, to read this book.

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John Boettcher
This book was good, as was the concept backside it, and the data that supports information technology. Still, I think that the volume was a chip long for what it was trying to prove, and they should take perhaps just stuck with teaching businesses how to conduct meaningful interviews and how to place good employees and separating them from the bad.

Besides the length and a piffling scrap of fluff in the volume, I gave it v stars considering anyone that has ever given an interview, or anyone who has ever had to write question

This volume was good, as was the concept backside it, and the data that supports it. Withal, I think that the book was a bit long for what information technology was trying to prove, and they should take maybe but stuck with teaching businesses how to comport meaningful interviews and how to identify practiced employees and separating them from the bad.

Besides the length and a piddling bit of fluff in the book, I gave information technology 5 stars because anyone that has ever given an interview, or anyone who has ever had to write questions or perform an interview, this book will provide not only crucial, invaluable information, but as well give a great guideline for conducting interviews that will produce those employees that are productive, efficient, fit into the business model, etc.

I would say that this volume is a must for mid managers and anyone in HR in whatsoever capacity, from small businesses to big corporations.

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Leader Summaries
Desde Leader Summaries recomendamos la lectura del libro El valor del upper-case letter humano, de Bradford Smart.
Las personas interesadas en las siguientes temáticas lo encontrarán práctico y útil: recursos humanos, atraer, motivar y retener a los empleados.
En el siguiente enlace tienes el resumen del libro El valor del capital humano, Cómo identificar a los empleados excelentes: El valor del majuscule humano
Desde Leader Summaries recomendamos la lectura del libro El valor del capital humano, de Bradford Smart.
Las personas interesadas en las siguientes temáticas lo encontrarán práctico y útil: recursos humanos, atraer, motivar y retener a los empleados.
En el siguiente enlace tienes el resumen del libro El valor del uppercase humano, Cómo identificar a los empleados excelentes: El valor del capital humano
...more
Rob
Apr 30, 2012 rated it really liked it
This volume was on the shelf in my one-time dominate's office, so I borrowed information technology just to see what she was reading. Xiii years later the lessons in the the volume have stuck with me.

Most of the book is about why the hiring determination is then important, and why it's important to retain meridian talent. The reason I notwithstanding have it on my shelf though, is the swell section on how to properly conduct an interview. Run across p. 226 "A brusk version of the CIDS interview."

I highly recommend information technology for anyone making a hiring decisi

This book was on the shelf in my old boss's office, so I borrowed it just to see what she was reading. 13 years later the lessons in the the book have stuck with me.

Most of the book is about why the hiring conclusion is so of import, and why it's of import to retain meridian talent. The reason I still have information technology on my shelf though, is the great section on how to properly conduct an interview. Encounter p. 226 "A short version of the CIDS interview."

I highly recommend it for anyone making a hiring conclusion.

...more than
Charlane Brady
A must read for anyone hiring anyone. It is hard to think of an organisation in any field that cannot benefit from this volume. After working in the hi-tech start-up manufacture for 10+ years (Silicon Valley + International) I agree with about 99% of this volume.

Many merely cannot get the people affair right.

Phillip
Apr 28, 2015 rated it did not like it
May have had some good points... I don't know, because I didn't make information technology by the second cd. Information technology seemed similar a giant advertisement for his company. May have had some good points... I don't know, considering I didn't make it past the 2nd cd. It seemed similar a giant advertising for his company. ...more
Guy Byars
Very good and important concept, accented slog of a read.

Read the start two chapters and stop.

R.W. Clark
Catchy title in the category of management tool of the month.
Argawal
Book was skillful but not groundbreaking. The concept is audio only maybe should've been shorter in length and explained in simpler manner. Volume was good simply not groundbreaking. The concept is sound but maybe should've been shorter in length and explained in simpler style. ...more
Colin Keeley
The book has bang-up ideas merely xc% of the pages are wasted trying to convince the reader to follow the program. Should exist ~100 pages.
Susan
Read this for piece of work - very interesting concept for "upping" the talent at an organization. Principles tin exist practical, but really needs to come from the leadership down in order to be effective. Read this for work - very interesting concept for "upping" the talent at an organization. Principles can be applied, just really needs to come from the leadership downwards in order to be effective. ...more than
Brook
Feb 22, 2013 rated it really liked it
Thorough if perhaps overly long. Its prescription for extended interviews helped u.s. steer clear of some potential hires. Would that I had read it sooner!
Cris V.
October 21, 2013 rated it actually liked it
This was a great book, top notch for people who desire to lead HR in a different style. Highly recommended.
Andrew
Jul 23, 2008 rated it really liked it
The importance of 'A' level employees and why the 90/10 rules is always true The importance of 'A' level employees and why the 90/ten rules is always truthful ...more than
Josette Russell

News & Interviews

Weatherwise, February is the worst—in the northern hemisphere, anyway. December has the holidays to distract us, January has the promise...
"The power to make adept decisions regarding people represents ane of the last reliable sources of competitive advantage, since very few organizations are very good at it. —Peter Drucker" — 1 likes
"Mediocrity knows zero higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes talent. —Sir Arthur Conan Doyle" — 0 likes
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