THE OPEN-BOOK COMMUNITY
As Open-Book business leaders, we have a common desire to grow our businesses, learn from each other and share our experiences. In fact, we know first hand that when you harness the collective wisdom of your employees, great things can and do happen. It's this sincere belief in people that has made us who we are. Imagine a community that allows you to come together with other Open-Book leaders on the same path to capture their collective knowledge and experience. The Great Game of Business has created just this -– the Open-Book Forum –- the only peer-to-peer learning network available for business leaders committed to operating their organizations "Open-Book".
THREE WAYS TO JOIN THE COMMUNITY
1. National Gathering of Games. The Gathering is the only practitioner-led conference on Open-Book Management. For 16 years, hundreds of business leaders from around the world have convened to discover the different processes people are using to win in their markets, their organizations and in their lives. Whether you are just getting started or are a seasoned practitioner looking for new inspiration, The National Gathering of Games is the place to learn, share and win, through a series of programs, keynotes, workshops, breakouts and panels.
2. Open-Book Forum. Open-Book Forums bring together like-minded business leaders in a peer group setting. Facilitated by a Great Game Coach, OBF members share trusted advice from their peers and function as each other's encouragement, confidant and sounding board, all in an Open-Book environment. As part of an Open-Book Forum, you'll help both yourself and your peers succeed.
3. Open-Book Forum Online. A virtual version of the Open-Book Forum provides members with a wealth of resources, including an extensive library of articles, case studies and helpful tips; networking via discussion boards -- a great way to share with other practitioners and coaches; and the Think Tank, featuring blogs and articles posted by the thought leaders in Open-Book Management. The Open-Book Forum Online features a detailed search function to help you quickly find what you are looking for.
SHARING SUCCESS…
Brushing aside all the business growth fads and "flavor-of-the-month" programs, you will find a growing number of businesses that are practicing Open-Book Management: a whole new way of thinking about business. They don't always share the same approaches or use the same techniques, but they do operate according to remarkably similar principles. These leaders are forging ahead on an Open-Book Management journey. Want to be a part of it?
Click here to read the brochure.
WHO SHOULD APPLY
Open-Book Forum welcomes leaders (CEOs, presidents, owners and other top executives from any organization) who aspire to run their business in a way that includes employee education and involvement, shared risks and shared rewards, and open communication. As part of an Open-Book Forum, you'll help both yourself and your peers succeed.
MEMBER BENEFITS
Fresh Perspectives and Insights. New insights and perspectives are needed to grow and sustain any business, and Open-Book organizations are no exception. The Open-Book Forum is the place to explore new ideas, share best practices, coach and be coached by your peers and share experiences -- all allowing you to utilize the Open-Book advantage to it's fullest within your organization.
A Network of Advisors. It can be very difficult to find a network of like-minded advisors. That's why the Open-Book Forum was created -- to provide a trusted support network that truly understands the unique challenges and rewards of running a workplace "Open-Book".
Smarter Decisions. As a business leader, you must make tough decisions and many times there's a lot riding on those decisions. Membership in an Open-Book Forum provides you with a network of peers who stand ready and willing to serve as a sounding board during times when the stakes are high. Members bank on one another's experiences to eliminate blind spots and help each other make confident, successful business decisions.
Enhanced Performance. Open-Book Forums are dedicated to improving members' performance, thus enhancing results within their organizations. Each member and Great Game facilitator is focused on helping Forum members succeed by exploring new opportunities, challenging one another, holding each other accountable and fostering growth through continued learning.
Leadership Development. Open-Book leaders believe in High-Involvement, widespread, servant leadership. In an Open-Book Forum, you will have the opportunity to share and learn the unique skills, knowledge and behaviors required to lead in an Open-Book environment.
HOW IT WORKS
Organized and professionally facilitated by a Great Game Coach, The Open-Book Forum is a group of business leaders from diverse, non-competing organizations who get together monthly in a candid, creative, structured & confidential environment to exchange ideas, share challenges, find solutions and offer one another support.
Locations. When possible, meetings are held at various Forum members' organizations, so members can observe, learn from and experience one another's Open-Book workplaces.
Special Events. Trusted experts and guest speakers are invited to group meetings from time to time to share their professional advice on a variety of business topics.
One-on-One Coaching. Each month, Forum members have access to a Great Game Coach for one-on-one coaching sessions. These sessions are dedicated to enhancing the member's performance as a leader of a world-class Open-Book organization.
Annual Conference. The International Gathering of Games conference offers members the opportunity for peer-to-peer networking beyond their own groups. Best practice workshops and panels led by worldwide OBM business leaders create unique learning experiences for everyone in your organization.
On-line Forum. Members of the Open Book Forum are offered additional support through online resources such as: case studies, articles, tips, advice, best practices and member discussions.
WHAT IS OPEN-BOOK MANAGEMENT?
Open-Book Management has grown from a mere curiosity to a significant and profitable business practice. It's a different approach to running an organization, based on this simple proposition: "The best, most efficient, most profitable way to operate a business is to give everybody in the company a voice in how the company is run and a stake in the outcome, good or bad."
In its simplest form, Open-Book Management is a way of running a company that gets everyone focused on helping the business be successful. Employee goals and accountabilities are tied directly to the success of the company. It teaches all employees, from the top down, the goals of the company and how they can make a difference -- both individually and as part of a team. Employees know and understand how they each contribute to the financial performance of the company, in such a way that they truly understand how the business works.
Open-Book Management transforms organizations and gives them a major advantage over other organizations who still keep employees in the dark. It's not just about generating profits, cash and wealth but also about distributing it for the good of everyone involved -- giving those who embrace Open-Book Management a spirit of generosity and a willingness to openly spread the word to help each other succeed.
WHAT ARE THE PRINCIPALS OF OPEN-BOOK MANAGEMENT?
Open-Book organizations believe…
…every employee should be given the measures of business success and taught to understand them.
…every employee should be expected to use their knowledge to improve performance.
…every employee should have a direct stake in the company's success -- and in the risk of failure.
It starts with a sincere belief in people and fostering creditability, trust and mutual respect.
WHY DOES OPEN-BOOK MANAGEMENT WORK?
Open-Book Management works because employees get a chance to act -- to take responsibility rather than just "doing their job". Each employee knows enough about the company to understand how their actions will affect business results -- and understand that they share a stake in the outcome.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF OBM?
- improved financial performance
- intelligent decision-making throughout the organization
- increased accountability, alignment, focus and sense of urgency at all levels within the organization
- employee growth and development
- greater employee satisfaction
- ability to engage and retain the best people
- improved creativity and innovation among all employees
- greater customer satisfaction.