Product Description

Twelve specific and very important cognitive functions begin developing in the brain at birth. These "skills" are built in to every individual and are fully developed -- and unchangeable -- by adulthood. Everyone has these same capabilities, but to varying degrees. And it is this unique and unalterable combination of one’s strengths and weaknesses that determines success or failure in any given role.

Smarts contains the groundbreaking Executive Skills Profile: a powerful self-assessment tool that will identify, once and for all, a person’s innate strengths and weaknesses. The results offer tangible proof of why we gravitate to certain tasks and struggle with others. With this newfound clarity, readers will learn to play to their stronger skills, and avoid wasting time on lesser ones they can never improve upon. Most important, they will discover their own unique potential for excellence.

Supported by proprietary primary research and grounded in widely accepted principles of clinical and neuro-psychology, Smarts is a truly eye-opening book that will change how we think about ourselves -- and others.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #317941 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 240 pages

From the Inside Flap
It remains one of the great mysteries in life--what qualities truly define successful people? While we are all destined for greatness, we also possess one or two weaknesses that may be holding us back. While you consider yourself to be highly focused and cool under pressure, you may lack flexibility. You know that you are talented, gifted, and great at what you do, but in trying to overcome your shortcomings, you may be frustrating yourself and others and neglecting those strengths that will lead you to excellence. We all possess twelve specific and very important cognitive functions, including Time Management, Organization, Working Memory, and Stress Tolerance, which begin developing in the brain at birth. Everyone has these same capabilities but to varying degrees. These skills are largely unchangeable by adulthood, but the good news is that they can be enhanced. Smarts reveals what separates those people who continue to excel in their lives and in their careers. These highly successful people know that the real opportunities lie in playing to their strengths, not trying to improve their shortcomings. And in understanding their own innate assets and limitations, they are more tolerant and more patient with the strengths and weaknesses of others, making them better bosses, exceptional workers, and more understanding partners.

Using groundbreaking new research, best-selling author Chuck Martin reveals how embracing our two or three strongest Executive Skills can help us achieve excellence, while denying our weaknesses can undermine our progress. This book includes the revolutionary Executive Skills Profile you can use to spot your own strengths, and leverage them both at work and at home. You will begin to understand why you--and those around you--act or behave the way they do. Smarts shows you how to nurture your positive skills; identify, accept, and deal with your own weaknesses; and manage those characteristics of the people with whom you live and work.

Impeccably researched and grounded in proven scientific principles, this is a truly eye-opening and empowering book that redefines the way we understand the potential for greatness--in ourselves and others.

About the Author
Best-selling author Chuck Martin is a noted researcher, business strategist, syndicated columnist and Chairman and CEO of NFI Research, a top management research firm. He is a New York Times business best-selling author of seven business books, including Tough Management and Coffee at Lena's, and a highly sought-after speaker who lectures around the world on management and business issues and regularly appears on television business shows. Peg Dawson, Ed.D., is a psychologist at the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders at Seacoast Mental Health Center. Richard Guare, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist and is Director of the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Customer Reviews

Excellent contrarian view of strengths-development
As a professional, I found the Executive Profile to be a fantastic tool for determining my personal strengths and style. The sections describing how your key strengths and weaknesses combine to create unique opportunities and challenges was fabulous; almost all the books I've read deal with one or the other, but not both and certainly not the synergy between one's strengths and weaknesses.

If you liked "Now, Discover Your Strengths", then "Smarts" is a great combo of focus on strengths combined with weakness mitigation.

Recognizing and Maximizing One's Executive Skills
Chuck Martin has taken the insights he has accumulated from the ongoing executive panel of his NFI Research efforts and has created an insightful, practical Executive Skills Guidebook.

Identifying twelve "built-in" specific brain (cognitive) functions which he labels as "Executive Skills", the book in a clear and concise fashion provides readers / users a very useful tool to assess their own strengths and weaknesses of each function.

The book goes on to provide guidance and a map on how to maximize one's strengths and minimize one's weaknesses, as well as how to consider positions that intensify and reward the strengths.

Throughout, the authors reinforce their findings and guidance with practical quotes from a wide array of executives, the commentary gathered from the 2000 senior executives and managers globally that have participated in NFI Research during the past eight years.

Using the book in an internal organization seminar format would provide considerable strenghtening of a management team.

Chuck emphasizes aligning people's strengths with the tasks to drive results
A football coach wouldn't move a great lineman to wide receiver and then wonder why he didn't perform well in the new role. Yet we to do this often in the business world. Smarts will help you better assess the abilities of yourself and others so employees will be "playing the positions" that make the most of their talents. By enhancing the chances for individual success you will drive the best results in your organization. You would be smart to read "Smarts".
-- David Blackwell, Vice President and CFO, Wal-Mart Global Procurement