QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability in Work and in Life
- Book Review,
by John G. Miller
Amazon.com
QBQ! by John G. Miller is a motivational primer aimed at purging the "blame, complaining, and procrastination" from the workplace. Miller believes that one of the hallmarks of today's business culture is a lack of personal accountability; he prescribes the cure in this series of short stories and personal observations drawn from his years of experience running his organizational development firm. His main point is that positive change begins with individuals changing themselves: "Instead of asking, 'When will others walk their talk?' let's walk our talk first." The result is choppy (39 chapters in 115 pages), and at times Miller's advice boils down to truism and cliché. Nevertheless, managers whose workplaces demand remedial, straightforward advice should find a useful tool here. --Harry C. Edwards
From Publishers Weekly
This is a quick but deep book that explores the role of personal accountability in one's work and personal life. In his own work experience, Miller found that many people look for others to blame their problems and conflicts on. He proposes that instead of asking who is to blame for the situation, we should ask, "What can I do to improve the situation?" Only by being able to ask this "question behind the question" can we take ownership of the problem and start working toward a solution. Throughout the book, Miller (who has consulted for major corporations with his firm, QBQ, Inc.) recounts real-world situations—in customer service, retail sales, personal relationships and the corporate boardroom—and the positive and not-so-positive ways they were handled. Each example reinforces the message that personal accountability and ownership of a problem not only leads to a resolution but also lifts people willing to take ownership and action above those looking to play the "blame game." From responsibility, says the author, comes leadership and greater career opportunities. In one's personal life, Miller says, ownership of conflict can also lead to enhanced relationships and greater enjoyment of daily life. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From AudioFile
This upbeat business guide instructs corporate and managerial all and sundry to accept personal responsibility in the workplace. Miller trains companies to communicate clearly and offer superior service with humor and a sense of attaining excellence. Narrating in a perky, enthusiastic lecture style, Miller guides listeners clearly and logically to attaining the much vaunted catbird seat in corporate and retail service. The titular question behind the question is a matter of looking beyond the surface of a need to its heart and delivering more, better, faster. An invigorating listen. D.J.B. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
Press Release
Country Inn & Suites hotels provides 15,000 copies of QBQ! to guests/staff worldwide in Book It and Return program!
Book Description
Have you ever heard questions like these? "Why do we have to go through all this change?" "Why don't they communicate better?" "When is someone going to train me?" "Who dropped the ball?" "When is that department going to do its job right?" "When will someone share the vision?" "Why is this happening to me?" "When will we get more tools and better systems?" If so, QBQ! is the book for you and your organization. In today's business culture, the lack of personal accountability is a problem that has resulted in an epidemic of blame, complaining, and procrastination. No organization - or individual - can achieve its goals, compete in the marketplace, fulfill its vision, or develop people and teams without personal accountability. The solution is an entirely new approach - characterized by new thinking and behaviors - where we no longer give lip service to teamwork, but ask, "What can I do to contribute?" and "How can I make a difference?" John G. Miller helps us make this happen. This new, hard-hitting book from the author of Personal Accountability shows us all how to become more effective and successful. Using succinct, lighthearted stories and easy-to-read chapters, Miller gives us a practical method for putting personal accountability into daily action, which can bring astonishing results: Problems get solved, internal barriers come down, service improves, teamwork grows, and people adapt to change more quickly. In QBQ! The Question Behind the Question, John G. Miller presents a winning handbook you'll want to keep close by for situations requiring personal accountability. It's a terrific resource for anyone seeking to learn, grow, and change. Using this tool, each of us can add tremendous value to our organizations and our lives by eliminating blame, complaining, and procrastination.
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