Results

Charlie Baker, a Republican who served as governor of Massachusetts and was among the most popular governors in the country, earned a name for delivering on his commitments. He and his longtime colleague Steve Kadish built their approach to getting results while working together in senior leadership roles in both government and the private sector. Their central idea is that divisive wedge issues may dominate the news but do nothing to advance anything, and that real progress is judged by what people accomplish together. Serving the public, they argue, means putting progress ahead of partisan politics.

The book distills this philosophy into a four-step framework meant as a practical implementation guide for people working in public service, as well as for leaders and managers in large organizations slowed by red tape and politics. Using a wide range of examples, Baker and Kadish, a Democrat, show how to move from spotting a problem to producing a result in ways that bring opposing sides closer rather than pushing them further apart. They make the case that government can be a dynamic force for good and a competent, well-run institution rather than an unresponsive bureaucracy.

Beyond the mechanics of execution, the authors aim to restore public trust. Hollow promises breed disengagement, and people need to have confidence in their government and the services it provides. The book was written against the backdrop of the January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol, which threatened the foundations of American democracy and public faith in government, and the authors argue that showing government can work is essential to protecting the country's democratic future.