Jacked Up: The inside story of how Jack Welch talked GE into becoming the worlds greatest company is an account of Bill Lane’s experience working as a speech writer at GE. He focuses on his experience working as Jack Welch’s speech writer and Manager of Executive Communications for GE, having joined GE shortly before Jack Welch took over and retired not long after Jack Welch handed over to Jeff Immelt.

Throughout the book he refers to GE’s management training centre in Crotonville (since renamed John F. Welch Leadership Center) and provides a fascinating insight into how GE changed under Jack Welch’s leadership. At the same time Lane use the insights to deliver a number of lessons on how to deliver world class business presentations using the staff at GE as his case studies.

Lane joined GE when it was under the leadership of Gary Wendt following several years working at the Pentagon. He went on to become the Manager of Executive Communications for GE, working closely with Jack Welch as his speech writer.

The book is a collection of stories that cover Lanes time at GE and which provide a backdrop to the points he wishes to make about communication skills. It makes for interesting reading and I for one wish that more business people were subjected to the regime at GE, there’d be a lot less dull, pointless and tiresome presentations that we’d all have to sit through.

If you’re a CEO, Director or manager looking to improve communication within your organisation it’s well worth a read.

You can buy it from Amazon UK or Amazon USA.

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