About the Book
Business can be complex, but we insist on making things complicated.
The concept behind deComplify is to simplify: Overcome the human fascination with complicating nearly everything in business in the pursuit of making a great company. Great companies are places people want to work, buy from, and invest in.
Align people and processes to simplify and focus on the right things and you will build a great organization that delivers for your customers, associates, and investors. It’s simple, but simple doesn’t mean easy!
Gary S. Michel shares rich lessons, insights, and tools to deComplify business. Gary introduces the concept of process debt and illustrates how reactive shortcuts create long-term complexity. Doing the right thing is the only path to lasting success.
Investing in associate development and alignment, strategic partnerships, and customer relationships are fundamental business drivers that deliver breakthrough performance and sustainable results. deComplify provides a practical roadmap from strategy to execution you can apply to simplify your business and create a culture of success.
This brief but compelling read is a refreshing take on the fundamentals, emphasizing what can be done to create a better business. It empowers leaders to take concrete steps toward building a great company. Beyond the tools and practical tips, readers will take away a renewed sense of purpose and vision, for their organization and themselves, which will define the difference they can make.
Gary is the former chair and CEO of JELD-WEN, Inc., and has nearly 40 years of strategy, business transformation, operations, and lean manufacturing experience leading iconic businesses and brands like Ingersoll Rand, Club Car, Trane, and Honeywell. Pulling from his leadership successes, Gary streamlines and distills valuable information into actionable insights.
deComplify is a thought-provoking and action-inciting book that will inspire readers to simplify their approach to business and aspire to greatness for their careers and organizations.
Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. Go and See 2. Fresh Eyes and Clear Voice 3. Engage and Deliver 4. Stop Selling, Start Helping 5. Commit to the Critical Few 6. Reliably Boring, Relentlessly Repeatable
Impact Your World
Conclusion | It’s That Simple
Acknowledgments
About the Author :
GARY S. MICHEL, former chair and CEO of JELD-WEN, Inc., has nearly 40 years of strategy, business transformation, operations, and lean manufacturing experience leading iconic businesses and brands like Ingersoll Rand, Club Car, Trane, and Honeywell. Gary with his wife, Jodi, enjoys time with their adult daughters and are active in the Charlotte, NC community.
Review :
“Gary Michel's book, DeComplify: How Simplification Drives Stability, Innovation, and Transformation, is a game-changer for anyone seeking to navigate today's complex business landscape. With practical insights and actionable strategies, Michel empowers leaders to cut through the noise, streamline processes, and unlock new levels of success. This book is a must-read guide for those looking to deliver breakthrough performance and transform their organizations for the better."
— Stan Askren, Former CEO and chairman, HNI Corporation
"DeComplify is a must-read for anyone seeking to navigate the complexities of our world with renewed clarity, purpose, and simplicity. This book is a beacon, providing a roadmap to simplify complex situations and uncover hidden opportunities. The author's ability to break down intricate concepts into actionable steps is truly remarkable. Through relatable examples and thought-provoking anecdotes, deComplify will equip you with the tools, mindset, and inspiration to simplify your life, fuel innovation, and create lasting change. Prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and transformed by this groundbreaking book. Get ready to unlock your full potential and unleash the power of simplicity."
— Damon Baker, CEO, Lean Focus
“In deComplify, Gary Michel has both identified and solved one of the most common yet least understood challenges in business today — the tendency to overcomplicate or ‘complify’ business challenges and processes. Michel provides a much-needed road map to personal and organizational effectiveness. This book should be required reading for all leaders and aspiring leaders in business today.”
— William L. Sparks, Ph.D., Author of Amazon #1 best-selling book, Actualized Leadership: Meeting Your Shadow & Maximizing Your Potential, Distinguished chair and professor of leadership, McColl School of Business, Queens University of Charlotte
“Michel provides a practical road map in deComplify, based on his successful application of the four leadership absolutes employed throughout his career. A great read to understand how to reduce complexity and deliver results.”
— John Holland, Former CEO and chairman, Butler Manufacturing
“Gary Michel has captured business wisdom in a framework that can simplify the most complex business challenges! Deeply engaging and starkly relevant, deComplify will inspire you to lead from a position of insatiable learning.”
— Katy Dickson, Former president, American Girl; Board director, Flexsteel Industries, Black Rifle Coffee, and Compana Pet
"For those who wish to remain stuck in theoretical constructs and impractical suggestions, deComplify is not the book for you. But if you crave a firsthand perspective from a proven business mastermind and operator, this book is a gold mine. Filled with dynamic strategies on employing lean design and engaged leadership, deComplify is your roadmap to business advancement, offering a pioneering approach to achieving stability, sparking innovation, and leading transformative change."
— John Rossman, Business advisor; Best-selling author, The Amazon Way, The Amazon Way on IoT, Think Like Amazon
"Gary’s approach to business draws upon a wealth of practical experience and is both actionable and personable. I highly recommended deComplify."
— Mark Morelli, CEO, Vontier Corporation
"In deComplify, Gary Michel shares a crucial message about how effective leaders engage and motivate team members with clear, direct communications that set expectations and drive business outcomes. This is an area where Michel excels as a leader, and I am grateful for his valuable insights in this important book."
— Dean Acosta, Former chief communications officer, Honeywell & Resideo
"DeComplify is a great example of Gary Michel's ability to present important thoughts in ways that everyone can relate to. Knowing him for many years personally, and working together on several boards, I have come to truly respect Gary’s leadership qualities. While much of Gary’s experience is in the manufacturing world, the concepts in deComplify have application in a wide range of industries."
— Barry Bobrow, Managing director, Regions Bank
“As someone who has benefited directly from Gary’s wisdom and experience, I can attest to the value created by continuously working to ‘deComplify’. Gary is able to incorporate and apply his concepts across the enterprise, from the shop floor to long-term strategic planning. Most importantly, Gary ‘deComplifies’ the presentation of his message by providing advice that is easy to understand and execute. Well done!”
— Brad Hughes, retired CEO, Cooper Tire & Rubber Company
