Review: Crucial Accountability—Patterson, Grenny, Maxfield, McMillan & Switzler

Ian Sharpe

July 29, 2013

Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Rob McMillan and AL Switzler, authors of the renowned Crucial Conversations have focused their talents on practical ways to restore and raise accountability in the workplace.

Crucial Accountability takes an ‘inside out’ approach on accountability (‘first get your head right’), then explains in plain English why and how to structure accountability conversations to empower employees, without raising fear or creating power struggles.

I especially enjoyed how each chapter enabled the leader to build upon earlier actions, so that accountability cultures are achieved in ‘bite-sized’ pieces; from my personal experience this is an effective and sustainable approach.

Project leaders of all experience levels will find sound judgment from real-world experience and useful approaches throughout the book and I highly commend it.

Crucial Accountability
By Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, David Maxfield, Rob McMillan and AL Switzler
RRP $20.95 (buy online)
Published by McGraw-Hill

Ian Sharpe

Ian Sharpe is a respected professional in the fields of project leadership and capability development. He has worked with a wide range of global organisations as a senior adviser on portfolio, program and project excellence, helping them build their internal capabilities by providing sustainable and effective development programs for staff.