Review

Gerson's urge managers to identify what employees do well and build on those strengths. -- HR Magazine, August 2006

From the Publisher

What good is a technologically enhanced, needs-assessed view of performance if the individual performer is not fully engaged, committed, and motivated to ensure that the procedures and flowcharts work? In a radical departure from today's technology-focused interventions, POSITIVE PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT zeros in on the most critical--yet most often overlooked--component of any initiative: people. Drawing from the latest research in positive psychology, appreciative inquiry, and sport psychology, this dynamic author team details how to help individuals build a positive CORE--Confidence, Outcomes, Relationships, and Engagement--and move from ordinary to extraordinary performance.

Authors Gerson and Gerson dispel the prevailing myths that limit the success of today's improvement efforts and introduce instead a human-focused Talent Optimization Performance System that makes their Positive CORE model both tactical and practical in any coaching, performance appraisal, or ongoing performance management situation.

Questionnaires and assessments help uncover the clues to what drives an individual's success, sample interview questions and rating scales identify strengths in such key areas as competence and culture, and real-life examples--from sports to health care--illustrate how these powerful concepts have helped workers everywhere play to their strengths, focus on positive accomplishments and emotions, and achieve higher levels of productivity and peak performance.