Book Review

1. BOOK REVIEW
Carol Lamb
The University of Texas at Arlington
School of Nursing
In partial fulfillment of the requirements of
N5343 Leadership in Complex Health Care Systems
Jeannette Crenshaw, DNP, MSN, RN, LCCE, IBCLC, NEA-
BC
December 5, 2012

2. Topgrading
How Leading Companies Win
by Hiring, Coaching, and
Keeping the Best People
By
Bradford D. Smart, Ph.D.

3. Author
• Brad Smart, Ph.D. is a well-renowned
management psychologist and consultant
• More than thirty years in practice with many
Fortune 500 companies
• He has written six books, several topgrading
videos, and was featured in Fortune
magazine and The Wall Street Journal
• Resides in Wadsworth, Illinois
Reference:
Smart, B.D. (2005). Topgrading: How leading companies win by hiring, coaching, and keeping
the best people. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

4. Purpose of the Book
• To assist companies to hire and invest in the best
human capital, A players, and promote these
people to top positions
Reference:
Smart, B.D. (2005). Topgrading: How leading companies win by hiring, coaching, and
keeping the best people. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

5. Target Audience
• Leadership at all levels in all companies
• Leadership who strive to be A Players and want to
develop top teams with A players
Reference:
Smart, B.D. (2005). Topgrading: How leading companies win by hiring, coaching, and
keeping the best people. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

6. Strengths
• It clearly defines what topgrading is all about
• It provides a highly developed conceptual
roadmap to get there
• It includes lots of easy to understand examples of
how topgrading has been applied
• Provides a clear assessment technique and an in-
depth interview guide
Reference:
Smart, B.D. (2005). Topgrading: How leading companies win by hiring, coaching, and
keeping the best people. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

7. Weaknesses
• Author did not provide supporting research to
back up opinions
• The interview process is time-consuming and
could take hours to interview one candidate
• Book is long and difficult to read
Reference:
Smart, B.D. (2005). Topgrading: How leading companies win by hiring, coaching, and
keeping the best people. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

8. Objectives Outcomes
• Book is highly respected and used in companies
world-wide
• Many success stories shared by revised and
updated 2005 volume
• Book and author’s technique has been featured
in well respected publications
• According to top executives, topgrading works
Reference:
Smart, B.D. (2005). Topgrading: How leading companies win by hiring, coaching, and
keeping the best people. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

9. Recommendation of the Book
• Highly recommend
• Supplements of book are detailed and very useful
• Great tool for all new managers
• An excellent manual for an individual striving to
be an A player
Reference:
Smart, B.D. (2005). Topgrading: How leading companies win by hiring, coaching, and
keeping the best people. New York, NY: Penguin Group.

10. Questions?

11. Reference
Reference:
Smart, B.D. (2005). Topgrading: How leading companies win
by hiring, coaching, and keeping the best people. New York,
NY: Penguin Group.