Introduction.

In Search of a Great Manager.

Meeting A Great Manager.

Discovering the X-Factor.

R_x For Taming The X-Factor.

Step One: Plans.

Step Two: Relationships.

Step Three: Agreements.

Step Four: Maintenance.

Taming the X-Factor With Customers.

Taming the X-Factor With A Labor Union.

The End of a Great Morning.

He Became A Great Manager: A Summary.

Appendix A: Putting The X-Factor To Work.

Appendix B: Using The PRAM Model As A Diagnostic Tool.

Appendix C: Three Factors That Assure Your Success in Taming the X-Factor.

Index.

About the Author.

"The X-Factor is brilliant! Ross Reck has tremendous wisdom and it shows. This book contains nothing but rock-solid content."-Alex Pollock, Director, Environmental Health and Operations, Dow Chemical

"I've been working with Ross Reck's X-Factor for more than ten years and I've seen the results-that's why his concept serves as the basis for my sales training program."-T. Wesley Kench Sr., Director of Training and Career Development , Bertek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

"Finally a management and leadership book that has all the answers. Every manager, regardless of their level, ought to read this book."-Carol L. Summersgill, Director, Human Resources, Whirlpool North America

"The X-Factor does an outstanding job of describing the difference between successful and unsuccessful organizations. It helped me remember what is important!"-Joyce K. Williams, Vice President, Donor Services, American Red Cross Blood Services

"Ten years ago our annual sales were somewhere between four and six million dollars and we had just lost our best account. The situation looked grim until Ross Reck came and lit our fire by showing us how to tame the X-Factor. Today, our annual sales are more than $30,000,000! If you had told me ten years ago that this was going to happen, I would never have believed it."- John Bebbling, President, TDC Interiors, Tempe, Arizona

"A powerful read . . . Ross Reck analyzes the necessary components for relationship building in any organization. People are the link for productivity. A must for any leader developing a high-performing organization!"-Sandra McClelland, Principal, Rover Elementary School, An Arizona A+ School

Introduction. In Search of a Great Manager. Meeting A Great Manager. Discovering the X-Factor. Rx For Taming The X-Factor. Step One: Plans. Step Two: Relationships. Step Three: Agreements. Step Four: Maintenance. Taming the X-Factor With Customers. Taming the X-Factor With A Labor Union. The End of a Great Morning. He Became A Great Manager: A Summary. Appendix A: Putting The X-Factor To Work. Appendix B: Using The PRAM Model As A Diagnostic Tool. Appendix C: Three Factors That Assure Your Success in Taming the X-Factor. Index. About the Author.

Have you reached your potential for managerial greatness yet?

Would you rather a) barely survive in a highly competitive market or b) dominate a highly competitive market?

Would you rather a) cold-call new customers or b) attract new customers who call you?

Would you prefer to a) employ a staff that resists change or b) have your staff suggest change?

If you chose b) for each of these scenarios, you've identified yourself as a manager who aspires to achieve far beyond what most people would consider acceptable or good. You want extraordinary results and are willing to work exceptionally hard to accomplish them. But you can't do it alone. You need to know how to manage effectively in order to make outstanding results become routine and commonplace.

Recognizing that managerial theories today are analogous to the pieces of a large jigsaw puzzle, The X-Factor identifies all the relevant managerial pieces and illustrates how they work together to form a complete system called the "big picture"-one that enables any manager to achieve exceptional, off-the-charts results on a regular basis.

Written as a motivating parable, The X-Factor is an engaging tale of a very good manager, "Phil Ross," and his quest to become a great manager. Through this inspirational medium, bestselling author Ross Reck introduces a revolutionary, four-step management process-the PRAM model-that has yielded nothing less than remarkable results at Hewlett-Packard, John Deere, Xerox, and a host of other Fortune 500 companies.

With people and motivation the driving forces behind the X-Factor, this groundbreaking book shows you how to:
* Implement the PRAM model-Plans, Relationships, Agreements, and Maintenance-in your company
* Execute the four steps for putting together a plan to tame the X-Factor
* Create opportunities for people to satisfy their need for meaning at work
* Attract loyal customers who are excited about doing business with you, are willing to wait in line, and gladly pay premium prices
* Apply the X-Factor to labor unions and suppliers
* And much more!

The X-Factor also includes a number of examples of companies and individuals who have successfully used the PRAM model. These real-world case studies demonstrate the model's versatility-and how you, too, can use this ingenious system to achieve your own set of extraordinary results.