Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney

Walt Disney World is an organization that has a 70% return rate for guests, as well as one of the lowest employee turnover rate. Disney World is considered to be the biggest tourist attraction, 25,000 acres with four parks, 32 hotels, as well as plenty of other buildings to maintain. When visiting, guests often feel as though they are in a land of magic due to how the front line employees (maids, street sweepers, desk clerks) treat the guests. Yet behind good front line employees are their leaders that enable them to create magic. Cockerell was once that leader; VP of Operations; the man who made the giant city sized tourist attraction run smoothly. His strategies are listed simply and filled with common sense ideas that although he doesn't reference any, can be backed up with research. The checklists at the end of every chapter enables the reader to easily put forth what they learn from the book into their own company or even in smaller leadership roles that they may have. Since it is filled with 'common sense' the strategies are very easy to understand, especially since in his work life, Cockerell has many examples to pull from that show why he leads the way he leads, and why you should lead that way too. Cockerell provides vivid examples of why he uses the strategies that he uses, as well as why the reader should use them as well. His writing style is simplistic as well as very organized, making it a very easy read. The way he organizes his book seems to also showcase how he is a very organized leader and gives merit to his book. His book allows the reader to go inside one of the most well-known companies and see exactly why the company works the way that it works. Reading it will give incite on why they have the lowest turnover rate, and why guests can’t seem to get enough of the theme parks. The leadership strategies Cockerell provides are very easy to understand, as well as to follow. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes to be a leader, or even a great employee. The book not just for those in the workforce, the ten common sense strategies can be used by many people in different positions in their life. This makes the book a very good read for anyone who is interested in improving their relationship with those around them, being more trusting and fair. I gave this book five stars being that when one visits the park, you can see for yourself that the leadership strategies employed by Walt Disney Worlds are one worth attempting. Disney World does create magic, and reading this book will enable one to create magic in their organization or their life as well.

This is a great book for several different groups. Leadership guru types and anyone who is thinking about leadership should read this book. It is a book about leadership and how it works in the real world with real-life examples. It is a book to read and understand, but also a book to re-read often. Many of the lessons need to be refreshed or you need to be reminded of them. This is a very accessible book and an easy read. It is also a great book if you want behind-the-scenes-info about Disney. It is not a book about Disney but many of the illustrations are from the author's time at Disney, or somehow connect to Disney. If you are interested in the company, or want to understand how and were the Disney Magic (no not the boat) comes from, this is the book to read. Many of the stories are heartwarming and charming. Finally, it is a great book for anyone who is thinking about leadership or going into a leadership role. It gives you a look at the "other side of the desk". Instead of fancy theories about leadership and what it takes to be a leader, the author gives simple outlines of what a leader needs in their toolkit to be successful. It takes away the mystery and provides very easy to follow advise for people who supervise one other person, to a CEO who supervises a whole company.

Required for a class. Easy to read but great principles for every business

I really enjoyed this book and thought there were quite a few great leadership tips for the future. It had a slow start in my opinion, but his back story was necessary to understand where he was coming from throughout the book and why you should trust him. I definitely had a few take aways that are going to be important for my business in the future. The reason I gave 4 stars is because it is not the best leadership/management book for my profession that I have ever read (I would give the book 4.5 if I could)

What an incredible book. Lee Cockerell is the master and designer behind many of the practices that make Disney great. This was a walk down memory lane for me at a time when I needed it most. I worked at Disney on the College Program in 1998 and returned to work as a FT Cast Member between 200 and 2003. I am so glad I purchase the Kindle Edition and the narration as well. Lee reinforced the methods that I had learned so long ago. These methods can be implemented in nearly all business models and types. Specifically, R.A.V.E. - Respect, Appreciate, and Value Everyone. Just these three little actions can change a corporate culture. Lee highlights the famous 7 Guest Service Guidlines, the importance of recognizing Purpose, and driving employees to fulfill their purpose through encouragement. In a time when the country is so divided because of its politics, which inevitably pours over to the workplace, this narrative is a needed handbook for all managers everywhere. Not only is it for managers but the front line staff should read this book as well. It would be a great gift to an entire organization to give this book to every employee and hold weekly "book club" sessions to discuss the methods and lesson within. I will be reading this book a second time. Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney

"Creating Magic: 10 Common Sense Leadership Strategies from a Life at Disney" is an outstanding book! The author shares practical and insightful leadership strategies drawn from their experience at Disney. A must-read for anyone looking to enhance their leadership skills and create magic in their organization. Highly recommend this book!

This book was read for a training class and is one of the best books I have read on leadership in my life...it is really interesting and gives personal experiences that really impress upon you the goal of the lesson to be learned for that chapter. Highly recommend everyone in business, working with people, has employees, community leaders to read this book.

Lee Cockerell, by his own admission, wasn't a very easy person to work with. After getting whacked on the head a few times with various office supply products, wielded by unhappy co-workers, he got the message: Lighten up. It's a message many people currently engaged in "business" (including more than a few CEOs) need to heed. Watch out, that next clipboard may have your name on it. Sometimes it takes a good smack on the head by a clipboard, or a swift kick in the pants, to make us understand that we need to get along with people in order to succeed. That's such a simple concept, but one that so often is dismissed by so many, especially the higher up the corporate ladder they climb. Fortunately, Lee Cockerell got the message, loud and clear. The rest is contemporary American business history. He went on to great accomplishments with the Disney empire, simply by learning how to effectively engage with people; especially those working under him. For anyone looking for the most basic & wonderfully "common sense" approach to leadership, look no further than this terrific book. Read it, and you too, may create some magic.