Heroz: Empower Yourself, Your Coworkers, Your Company

by William C. Byham, Jeff Cox

"I hate Mondays."
"They say I'm responsible, but my boss makes all the decisions."
"We're supposed to work as a team, but everybody's out for themselves."
Sound familiar? You don't have to take it anymore!
In HeroZ, you'll actually have fun learning how to survive and even thrive in today's work world. Step-by-step techniques--proven by thousands of companies around the globe--show you how to make meaningful decisions, measure your progress, and work efficiently in teams. By the time you finish reading HeroZ, you'll feel that you control your job, not that your job controls you.
Millions of leaders have been energized by its bestselling predecessor, Zapp!: The Lightning of Empowerment. The Wall Street Journal declared that "Zapp! helped redefine the genre" of business books. Fortune magazine's reviewer raved, "I couldn't put it down."
Now, with HeroZ, you can restore meaning and purpose to your work life and make a real difference--no matter where you fall on the organizational chart!

Genres: Leadership, Business, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 1994

About the author

Bill Byham is Founder and Executive Chairman of Development Dimensions International (DDI), an internationally renowned human resource training and consulting company. An Industrial/Organization Psychologist, Bill has developed many significant human resource technologies over the course of his career. These innovations include the assessment center method, behavior-based interviewing, the use of behavior-modeling in supervisor and management training, behavioral job analysis methodology as the basis for selection and training programs, and Acceleration Pools® to select and rapidly develop people for high-level leadership positions. These technologies have been described in 23 books and more than 300 monographs and articles. In addition, he has appeared on numerous radio and TV programs through the world.

Reviews

[Phasathorn Suwansri · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love it; it's fun and easy to read. Personally, I enjoy reading management novels, such as 'Zaap' or other books by Patrick Lencioni.

This book is good and demonstrates situations that can help you apply the concepts on your own.

Unfortunately, I didn't like the ending of the book, which isn't the main point of the book anyway :)."

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

1. Problems before "Zapp" was introduced: lack of communication, vague goals, immeasurable goals, not seeing the bigger goal, unable to define who the customer is.

2. "Little" Secrets:
Little gains can add up in time to a big improvement
Little goals mark the road to bigger goals
Making a lot of little improvements can be more effective than chasing after a big breakthrough

3. Three Keys Spell - Behaving Toward Others - the golden rule
Maintain or enhance self esteem
Listen and respond with empathy
Ask for help and encourage involvement

4. Action Spell - to solve problems and implement solutions
Assess the situation and define the problem
Determine causes
Target solutions and develop ideas
Implement ideas
Make it an ONgoing process

5. The Master Spell of Support
Coaching spell:
Cast by those with experience - ask questions, listen for understanding, share knowledge and experience
Cast by those needing coaching - Shares needs and problems, listen, ask questions

Guide Through Feedback Spell - Positive feedback and improvement feedback

Encouragement Spell: Be honest, specific, timely, celebrate success, but don't overdo

Make sure the goal you set out to achieve is the right goal. Ex: the Knights had requested twice the arrows be produced when they really needed better quality

Always keep in mind who should be allowed input - who should be involved

The real heroes are the people who work together at ordinary jobs, struggling day after day, often against great odds and indifference, to make the world around them better and better and better.

[Beth Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd time I’ve read this book in the past 23 years and it is surprisingly timeless and still relevant. Glad I decided to read it again.

[Judith the Book Gobbler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a personal development guide. I had not realized there was more after Zapp!

[Barbara Ixba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I would have never have chosen to read this book. I only read it because I had to read it for my job, but it really wasn't that bad. It was a quick and easy read, and it honestly made me think about how I could be more efficient and how I could empower others as we work to accomplish a common goal. I wouldn't say that I learned anything groundbreaking, but I will say that it was a nice reminder to think things out and to communicate effectively with others.

[Adam Hughes · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit hokey, but nibbles around the edges of Critical Chain concepts. Goldratt's books make most of the same points much more coherently.

[Mark Cichonski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sequel to Zapp. Same style, easy read.

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice story. Unfortunately, not very practical.

[Debby · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this book 0 stars I would. I didn't choose to read this one, but regardless of that, the didactic plot was contrived and insulting to one's intelligence.

[Hope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good work...Used it in my company.