Kramers believes that running a successful company requires using a variety of tools as part of an organized, disciplined management process. His process consists of seven discrete steps: 1) Use goals to motivate employees, 2) Communicate to get meaningful results, 3) Track performance, 4) Anticipate the future and realize it, 5) Place and coach winners, 6) Organize yourself and others, and 7) Celebrate success.

Using this model as a framework, Kramers organizes "CEO Tools" around these essential steps. Each chapter contains an eclectic mix of ideas, tools and management practices for getting more out of employees and improving bottom line results. While many business books would stop here, Kramers takes it to the next level by offering numerous practical tips and techniques for implementing these principles.

What really sets "CEO Tools" apart from other business books, however, is the companion CD-ROM (tucked inside the back cover) that contains more than two dozen forms, charts, spreadsheets and tracking templates. These easily downloadable tools enable you to immediately put Kramers' goal setting and other management concepts to work in your business, using your data and your key indicators.

Ultimately, good management comes down to making the right decisions in a timely manner and then following through with appropriate action. "CEO Tools" is designed to help you do just that. Most of the tools and techniques discussed in the book come directly from Kramers' personal experience as CEO of eight different companies. Others come from ideas and practices he has picked up from consulting with companies of all sizes around the world.

Regardless of where the tools come from, they all have one thing in common -- they work! Whether you're a business owner, CEO, senior manager or anyone in charge of managing and leading a group of people toward a common goal, this book belongs on your work bench, not on your shelf.


CEO Tools: The New Nuts & Bolts of Business   March 17, 2003
F. Richard Wemmers, Jr (Marietta, GA United States)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

This is a TERRIFIC book for any manager and especially small business owners! It is filled with real world, easy to use, proven tools to make good things happen, including more profits. Here's a guy who has done it all and boiled down the real secrets into not only an easy book to read but to understand how to make what he has learned work in my business. There is even a CD included that I used to put my own business data into and work his secrets on my problems. WOW! I learned more useable stuff from this one book than dozens of others I have read. Buy it now! You will not be disapointed.


Terrific Book for any CEO or leader!   July 11, 2003
Richard Andreini (Sunnyvale, California USA)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful

I feel that in many ways this is the ultimate book for a CEO or leader. I jokingly told one of my CEO clients, "Read this book and you won't have to read any others and you can throw away the ones you have read!" The inclusion of the CD is a special plus and the many forms and tools make this an ACTION book. I have heard Kraig speak and he is a zealot about leadership tools and it certainly comes across in this jam packed book. Each of his Top Ten lists stand on their own and are very powerful. It is the kind of book that you could keep on your desk and use as a reference each time you are dealing with one of the primary areas of your business. Every CEO should own this book!


all you will need to know and then some   September 15, 2004
Ole Carlson (La Quinta, CA)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful

If you are leading a business, small, medium or behemoth, this book should be your reference "Bible" and be worn out before too long. It's scource is from a leader who has been "there" and has done "that" many times. Not much theory or academic nonsense...just the real world when your name appears at the very top of the "org chart" and you are wondering what to do. Buy it! Read it! Do it!


CEO Tools   January 22, 2007
Hollis Bascom
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Excellent book. I have bought approximately 80 books and have all my vice presidents and managers using it.