Blog: Liz Cawood

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Primal Leadership

by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, Annie McKee

(Learning to lead with emotional intelligence) This book builds on Goleman’s highly acclaimed book, Emotional Intelligence, and takes that content one step further – into organizational leadership. Turns out our minds have a lot to do with how we lead – “This brain circuitry that interweaves thought and feeling provides the neural basis of primal leadership.” Understanding that circuitry is central to becoming a primal leader. But “without a healthy dose of heart, a supposed “leader” may manage – but he does not lead.” The concepts in this book are dense at times, as the writers mesh the physiology of the brain with their extensive management research. Bottom line: “The fundamental task of leaders . . . is to prime good feeling in those they lead. This occurs when a leader creates resonance – a reservoir of positivity that frees the best in people.” Intrigued? Start reading!

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Written by Liz Cawood Tagged in: Book Reviews on Jan 29, 2009

Rules to Break & Laws to Follow

by Don Peppers & Martha Rogers

Turning conventional business wisdom on its head, Peppers and Rogers say current sales and profits aren’t the best measure of success. Their new model is based on two principles:
1. Customers will do business with companies they trust. 2. Employees will earn customer trust only after they trust their employer.

So, success isn’t about sales – it’s about trust. And that moves businesses from a short-term focus on how much money they are making to how much value they are creating by building trusting relationships with their customers.

They point out that customers are in short supply, so most of what passes for customer acquisition is just competitors trading customers with each other. That means you have to manage the customer’s experience with your company by making sure you understand the customer’s perspective and treat them right. Customers who trust you are loyal and come back to do business with you – again and again.

The authors caution against staying in the crisis of short-termism. They suggest 12 laws to follow. My two favorites:

1. Culture will drive value or culture will drag value
2. Dissent and diversity drive creativity and innovation

Bottom line: long-term value is as important as current sales and profit.

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Written by Liz Cawood Tagged in: Book Reviews on Jan 29, 2009

Stumbling on Happiness

by Daniel Gilbert

When Malcolm Gladwell speaks, I listen. So when he said, “If you have even the slightest curiosity about the human condition, you ought to read Stumbling on Happiness.” I bought the book. Written by Daniel Gilbert, a Harvard psychologist, there’s plenty of science, and as a friend said, “The best parts are the first quarter and the last quarter.” In between, Gilbert is busy making sure we know that he can prove his thesis and conclusion. Turns out we are very poor predictions of what will make us happy, especially in the future. Gilbert says there’s a simple solution: “...find someone who is having the experience we are contemplating and ask them how they feel.” (He’s obviously not a master of the English language). Of course, because we’re human we think we are unique and special, so other people’s experiences wouldn’t be ours. We dismiss what science has proven. Interested? Read the book.

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Written by Liz Cawood Tagged in: Book Reviews on Jan 29, 2009

The Provocateur

by Larry Webber

Provocateurs create community. They thrive in an upside down world surrounded by technology and global challenges. But most of all, they put the customer at the center of it. Larry Webber says the successful Provocateur, '... acts like a great mayor of the community, creating excitement, momentum and engagement." This book will help any leader create a community rather than a company. Provocative stuff!

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Written by Liz Cawood Tagged in: Book Reviews on Jan 29, 2009

The Radical Leap

by Steve Farber

(A personal lesson in extreme leadership) This isn’t just another leadership parable – this one is an entertaining read. No formulaic pretense or contrived structure. You’ll learn how to take the Radical LEAP:

• Cultivate Love
• Generate Energy
• Inspire Audacity, and
• Provide Proof

And you’ll enjoy every minute. Be prepared to change things for the better.

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Written by Liz Cawood Tagged in: Book Reviews on Jan 29, 2009