Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney
Product ID: 9638476
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“It’s not the magic that makes it work; it’s the way we work that makes it magic.” The secret for creating “magic” in our careers, our organizations, and our lives is simple: outstanding leadership—the kind that inspires employees, delights customers, and achieves extraordinary business results. No one knows more about this kind of leadership than Lee Cockerell, the man who ran Walt Disney World ® Resort operations for over a decade. And in Creating Magic , he shares the leadership principles that not only guided his own journey from a poor farm boy in Oklahoma to the head of operations for a multibillion dollar enterprise, but that also soon came to form the cultural bedrock of the world’s number one vacation destination. But as Lee demonstrates, great leadership isn’t about mastering impossibly complex management theories. We can all become outstanding leaders by following the ten practical, common sense strategies outlined in this remarkable book. As straightforward as they are profound, these leadership lessons include: Everyone is important. Make your people your brand. Burn the free fuel: appreciation, recognition, and encouragement. Give people a purpose, not just a job. Combining surprising business wisdom with insightful and entertaining stories from Lee’s four decades on the front lines of some of the world’s best-run companies, Creating Magic shows all of us – from small business owners to managers at every level – how to become better leaders by infusing quality, character, courage, enthusiasm, and integrity into our workplace and into our lives. Review: Common Sense and Magic - Walt Disney World is an organization that has a 70% return rate for guests, as well as one of the lowest employee turnover rate. Disney World is considered to be the biggest tourist attraction, 25,000 acres with four parks, 32 hotels, as well as plenty of other buildings to maintain. When visiting, guests often feel as though they are in a land of magic due to how the front line employees (maids, street sweepers, desk clerks) treat the guests. Yet behind good front line employees are their leaders that enable them to create magic. Cockerell was once that leader; VP of Operations; the man who made the giant city sized tourist attraction run smoothly. His strategies are listed simply and filled with common sense ideas that although he doesn't reference any, can be backed up with research. The checklists at the end of every chapter enables the reader to easily put forth what they learn from the book into their own company or even in smaller leadership roles that they may have. Since it is filled with 'common sense' the strategies are very easy to understand, especially since in his work life, Cockerell has many examples to pull from that show why he leads the way he leads, and why you should lead that way too. Cockerell provides vivid examples of why he uses the strategies that he uses, as well as why the reader should use them as well. His writing style is simplistic as well as very organized, making it a very easy read. The way he organizes his book seems to also showcase how he is a very organized leader and gives merit to his book. His book allows the reader to go inside one of the most well-known companies and see exactly why the company works the way that it works. Reading it will give incite on why they have the lowest turnover rate, and why guests can’t seem to get enough of the theme parks. The leadership strategies Cockerell provides are very easy to understand, as well as to follow. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to be a leader, or even a great employee. The book not just for those in the workforce, the ten common sense strategies can be used by many people in different positions in their life. This makes the book a very good read for anyone who is interested in improving their relationship with those around them, being more trusting and fair. I gave this book five stars being that when one visits the park, you can see for yourself that the leadership strategies employed by Walt Disney Worlds are one worth attempting. Disney World does create magic, and reading this book will enable one to create magic in their organization or their life as well. Review: Great Book! Must read and re-read - This is a great book for several different groups. Leadership guru types and anyone who is thinking about leadership should read this book. It is a book about leadership and how it works in the real world with real-life examples. It is a book to read and understand, but also a book to re-read often. Many of the lessons need to be refreshed or you need to be reminded of them. This is a very accessible book and an easy read. It is also a great book if you want behind-the-scenes-info about Disney. It is not a book about Disney but many of the illustrations are from the author's time at Disney, or somehow connect to Disney. If you are interested in the company, or want to understand how and were the Disney Magic (no not the boat) comes from, this is the book to read. Many of the stories are heartwarming and charming. Finally, it is a great book for anyone who is thinking about leadership or going into a leadership role. It gives you a look at the "other side of the desk". Instead of fancy theories about leadership and what it takes to be a leader, the author gives simple outlines of what a leader needs in their toolkit to be successful. It takes away the mystery and provides very easy to follow advise for people who supervise one other person, to a CEO who supervises a whole company.
| Best Sellers Rank | #55,471 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #51 in Company Business Profiles (Books) #349 in Motivational Management & Leadership #626 in Leadership & Motivation |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 out of 5 stars 1,225 Reviews |
J**Y
Common Sense and Magic
Walt Disney World is an organization that has a 70% return rate for guests, as well as one of the lowest employee turnover rate. Disney World is considered to be the biggest tourist attraction, 25,000 acres with four parks, 32 hotels, as well as plenty of other buildings to maintain. When visiting, guests often feel as though they are in a land of magic due to how the front line employees (maids, street sweepers, desk clerks) treat the guests. Yet behind good front line employees are their leaders that enable them to create magic. Cockerell was once that leader; VP of Operations; the man who made the giant city sized tourist attraction run smoothly. His strategies are listed simply and filled with common sense ideas that although he doesn't reference any, can be backed up with research. The checklists at the end of every chapter enables the reader to easily put forth what they learn from the book into their own company or even in smaller leadership roles that they may have. Since it is filled with 'common sense' the strategies are very easy to understand, especially since in his work life, Cockerell has many examples to pull from that show why he leads the way he leads, and why you should lead that way too. Cockerell provides vivid examples of why he uses the strategies that he uses, as well as why the reader should use them as well. His writing style is simplistic as well as very organized, making it a very easy read. The way he organizes his book seems to also showcase how he is a very organized leader and gives merit to his book. His book allows the reader to go inside one of the most well-known companies and see exactly why the company works the way that it works. Reading it will give incite on why they have the lowest turnover rate, and why guests can’t seem to get enough of the theme parks. The leadership strategies Cockerell provides are very easy to understand, as well as to follow. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to be a leader, or even a great employee. The book not just for those in the workforce, the ten common sense strategies can be used by many people in different positions in their life. This makes the book a very good read for anyone who is interested in improving their relationship with those around them, being more trusting and fair. I gave this book five stars being that when one visits the park, you can see for yourself that the leadership strategies employed by Walt Disney Worlds are one worth attempting. Disney World does create magic, and reading this book will enable one to create magic in their organization or their life as well.
R**R
Great Book! Must read and re-read
This is a great book for several different groups. Leadership guru types and anyone who is thinking about leadership should read this book. It is a book about leadership and how it works in the real world with real-life examples. It is a book to read and understand, but also a book to re-read often. Many of the lessons need to be refreshed or you need to be reminded of them. This is a very accessible book and an easy read. It is also a great book if you want behind-the-scenes-info about Disney. It is not a book about Disney but many of the illustrations are from the author's time at Disney, or somehow connect to Disney. If you are interested in the company, or want to understand how and were the Disney Magic (no not the boat) comes from, this is the book to read. Many of the stories are heartwarming and charming. Finally, it is a great book for anyone who is thinking about leadership or going into a leadership role. It gives you a look at the "other side of the desk". Instead of fancy theories about leadership and what it takes to be a leader, the author gives simple outlines of what a leader needs in their toolkit to be successful. It takes away the mystery and provides very easy to follow advise for people who supervise one other person, to a CEO who supervises a whole company.
R**R
Excellent business and life lessons
Overall, Mr. Cockerell's book provides straightforward and common sense lessons for creating better companies, better employees, and a better you. I appreciate the frank and honest approach taken in the book. The author discusses his successes and failures evenly, even when his mistakes led to physical retribution from his employees! Considering the hospitality industry's complex operational and HR issues, I can appreciate his recommendations that are easily implementable yet powerful ways to improve a business. One issue I have with the book, while not directly relevant to the overall subject, is not discussing in enough detail the importance of developing a company's long-term strategy for success. Anecdotally, I have heard that Disney has a large number of fresh out of business school MBAs that are more concerned about short term profits and cost control than maintaining high quality standards and preserving long-term brand identity. I would be interested to get the author's reaction to this challenge, which he surely must have dealt with during Eisner's last years as CEO. While the author must consider his relationship with his former employer, it would have been interesting to get his reaction to a sore subject that many would argue has challenged the long-term success of Disney's brand. I hope Mr. Cockerell considers writing more life and business lessons in a future book. I will be among those to purchase a copy!
V**A
Simple, Practical Magic
I really liked this book. Disney does everything top-notch! I think these 10 leadership strategies are spot on. They make sense. They're simple & practical. This book will help us all improve our effectiveness in work environments, at home, in volunteer arenas, in all facets of life. Lessons like everyone is important, give people a purpose not a job and others are valuable in all walks of life.
R**K
Disney cultural success at your fingertips!
What an incredible book. Lee Cockerell is the master and designer behind many of the practices that make Disney great. This was a walk down memory lane for me at a time when I needed it most. I worked at Disney on the College Program in 1998 and returned to work as a FT Cast Member between 200 and 2003. I am so glad I purchase the Kindle Edition and the narration as well. Lee reinforced the methods that I had learned so long ago. These methods can be implemented in nearly all business models and types. Specifically, R.A.V.E. - Respect, Appreciate, and Value Everyone. Just these three little actions can change a corporate culture. Lee highlights the famous 7 Guest Service Guidlines, the importance of recognizing Purpose, and driving employees to fulfill their purpose through encouragement. In a time when the country is so divided because of its politics, which inevitably pours over to the workplace, this narrative is a needed handbook for all managers everywhere. Not only is it for managers but the front line staff should read this book as well. It would be a great gift to an entire organization to give this book to every employee and hold weekly "book club" sessions to discuss the methods and lesson within. I will be reading this book a second time. Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney
T**E
Magical Book
"Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney" is an outstanding book! The author shares practical and insightful leadership strategies drawn from their experience at Disney. A must-read for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills and create magic in their organization. Highly recommend this book!
L**A
Proven Leadership Strategies That Are Common Sense Yet Magical
In my opinion, there are very few companies out there that represent the gold standard for leaders & leadership strategies. Companies were all employees embody the core principles of that company in their daily roles. This embodiment starts from the top down. The leaders/founders of these companies set the tone for these companies. Notably for me, Chick-fil-A & Disney are very high on my list of such companies. Cockerell breaks down his core principles & how these principles help make Disney such a magical place. This is a leadership book for all leaders must to add to their leadership toolkit. I highly recommend this book!!!
G**.
How anyone can create the magic in their business.
Nice business practices to try to practice...meeting needs and wishes when you can by putting the customer first.
P**O
Excellent book
One of the best book about leadership that I have ever read. Encouraging and teaching by practical examples and past experiences how to become a better leader in your work and personal life
C**8
Fairytale
Lot of positivism, but not great reading
R**A
Abordagem prática e objetiva da liderança baseada em princípios
Excelente abordagem do autor sobre a perspectiva da liderança baseada em princípios. Com uma linguagem objetiva e prática, oferece várias dicas que podem ser aplicadas em diversos segmentos de negócio.
D**R
Great book
Great read. Recommended for leaders who wish to take the customer service of their organisation to high levels of satisfaction.
Y**N
Excellent book about great leadership
Everybody should read this book even if you don't aspire to be a leader. This will teach you how to treat people well, not only your coworkers but also your friends and family. Creating magic is within your reach
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