Cawood
The Four Obsessions of an Extraordinary Executive
Patrick Lencioni
Are you a fan of leadership fables - those simplistic books that tell a story to help you become a better manager? Then you better get this book. Even if you aren't a fan, this book is still a good read.
It's about two CEOs of firms in the same industry. One worries about the competition, and the other just works on making his organization as strong as it can be. When an employee defects from the organization-focused company and spills the beans, the competitor worrier can't even take advantage of the information because it is so foreign to his (this is a story of two men) way of operating.
If you don't want to read the book, but want to know the obsessions, no problem. Here they are:
1. Build and maintain a cohesive leadership team
2. Create organizational clarity
3. Overcommunicate organizational clarity
4. Reinforce organizations clarity through human systems
But just knowing them isn't enough, is it?
If Disney Ran Your Hospital
Fred Lee
Have you heard hospitals or healthcare organizations talk about Disney-fied? Well, this is the book they're talking about. You think patient satisfaction is important - think again. What about this concept: "Patient loyalty is too important to be blurred with satisfaction." Or said another way "Customer loyalty is too important to be blurred with satisfaction."
How do you gain loyalty? Show more than simple courtesy. Engage each patient and show compassion. Express heartfelt empathy for the patient's anxiety and pain. Can you apply that to your customers?
This book may be about hospitals, but every manager can learn something about how to treat the customer .What's the most important way you can respond to an angry person? With empathy. At Disney, it's the acronym: LAST: Listen, apologize, solve the problem, and thank them.
The book gives a good blueprint for how Disney has earned its reputation for extraordinary customer service. Final two thoughts from the book: "Words are more than representations of thoughts. They actually shape our thoughts." and "Service should be changed to experience."
Meatball Sundae
Seth Godin
Well, he's done it again. Godin identifies 14 trends you can't ignore. That's how he answers the question: Is your marketing out of sync? Here's your first clue: "The New Marketing demands more than a meatball. It insists on a reinvention of the entire organization and the products it creates." Next clue, ". . . marketing is transforming what we make and how we make it." Clue number 3: "The New Marketing doesn't demand better marketing. It demands better products, better services, and better organizations."
For those of you who think marketing is an expendable service, Godin notes that ". . . marketing is at the core of every organization . . . The organization supports marketing." Got your attention? You're probably curious about those trends, so here's a few to intrigue you (Just because they sound familiar, don't assume they are. Godin looks at the world a little differently, and offers insights that are illuminating.):
Trend 4: Extremely short attention spans due to clutter
Trend 10: The shifts ins scarcity and abundance
Trend 13: The wealthy are like us
Trend 14: New gatekeepers, no gatekeepers
If you don't want your organization to be a Meatball Sundae, here's a book that will help you avoid that fate.
Through the Labyrinth
Alice H. Eagly & Linda L. Carli
Steve Stone (of Jazz Kings' fame) mentioned an RG article on discrimination against women at a Rotary program meeting, and I was intrigued enough to look for it – buried on the inside pages of section A. The article mentioned a book Through the Labyrinth by Alice H. Eagly and Linda L. Carli. Of the three women at the meeting, two weren't concerned about discrimination and one thought it was passé, a thing of the past. I was curious enough to read the book.
Well, lo and behold, the research proves discrimination against women still exists. Frightenly, much of it is automatic. Our reactions -– and expectations – of men and women are consistent and predictable. Of course, many women are in leadership positions today. There was a significant rise in those numbers in the seventies and eighties; now the growth has flattened. There doesn't seem to be a good explanation for why.
Packed with research and using meta-analysis, which involves combining a number of studies, the book provides indepth insights into women and the world of work, especially as it relates to managerial and executive positions. It also sheds light on men and the challenges they face in a changing workplace. Challenges that won't diminish as women gain additional leadership opportunities.
The book was an eye-opener.
Mindset
Carol S. Dweck
Mindset by Carol S. Dweck deals with the most important aspect of our lives - how we filter our experiences. The concept is simple: there are two basic mindsets. One is fixed, the other sees possibilities. In the fixed mindset, your abilities and talents are innate, but you have to keep proving them over and over. You may fear failure because in your mind it diminishes your abilities. For the person who sees possibilities (Dweck calls this growth), effort and hard work trump talent. Her research shows that the growth mindset leads to lasting success.
The daily implications of which mindset you follow are explored in depth. Your mindset affects how you raise your children, how they respond to you, how you collaborate (or don't) at work, how you relate to your significant other. A fascinating read, it provides thought-provoking concepts and techniques to evaluate how your mindset has impacted your life.
To give you a flavor of how the fixed and possibility (growth) mindset play out, here are some examples from the book:
Fixed
John McEnroe
Bobby Knight
Kenneth Lay
Growth
Tiger Woods
John Wooden
Anne Mulcah
Made to Stick
Chip & Dan Heath
The Heath brothers – Chip and Dan – wrote a book that explores a simple, memorable formula for how to make ideas stick. SUCCESs stands for simple, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional and stories. (Let’s not tell them they’re missing an “s” - that’s probably why they lower cased it!). It’s packed with stories that show how to put their concept to work every day. Stores like Mother Teresa, the Palm Pilot, “no school next Tuesday,” the Sinatra test, Jared the Sub guy, The Nature Conservancy and the list seems almost endless. Of course like anything that works, it takes diligence to nurture an idea. If you’re ready for a good read and think you might also be ready to work at making your ideas memorable, pick up a copy of Made to Stick (www.madetostick.com). As the subtitle says, then you’ll know “Why some ideas survive and others die.” And thanks, to our new client Chuck Marier of Modular Merchant (www.modularmerchant.com) for recommending it to me.
Juicing the Orange
Pat Fallon & Fred Senn
"It's amazing what you can accomplish if you stay humble." In Juicing the Orange, Pat Fallon and Fred Senn tell it all. Both are affiliated with a US advertising powerhouse – Fallon Worldwide. You might recognize their agency for the iconic Time magazine ads, as the creators of Buddy Lee or for their cat herders commercial in the 2000 EDS Super Bowl commercial. They also talk about the ads that didn't cut it. They make advertising real by focusing on what makes it work - the research that is essential to creating successful campaigns. The research that ensures ads connect with the intended audience. The research that makes sure the client really knows who should be buying its stuff. And, in the process, they take risks and have fun. I always say we like best those things that we agree with - I loved this book.
Stumbling on Happiness
Malcolm Gladwell
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.
The Radical Leap
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.
Primal Leadership
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!
All Marketers Are Liars
Seth Godin
(The Power of Telling Authentic Stories in a Low-Trust World) With a title like that and Godin’s usual penchant for provocative writing, this book made for a great read. Early on he says that stories make it easier to understand the world. So what makes a great story? Truth and trust are key elements – you’ll find the rest on pages 9-11. Here’s the essence of Godin’s book: “Marketers aren’t liars. They’re just storytellers. It’s the consumers who are liars . . . Successful marketers are just the providers of stories that consumers choose to believe.” He’s clear this isn’t a book about lying; it’s a “book about telling (and living) the truth.” Here are some products that tell the truth, according to Godin: Fiji water, Riedel wine glasses, Avalon Organic Botanicals, Trek bicycles, Cold Stone ice cream, Toyota Prius. If you’re ready to challenge yourself, this is the book for you.
Blue Ocean Strategy
Chan Kim & Renee Mauborgne
Learn how to avoid the red oceans that result from battles between competitors. the authors show you how to make the competition irrelevant. No, it's not blue sky thinking! In fact, this book is based on years of study of successful businesses, as old as the Ford Model T. Other more recent examples include Cirque du Soleil, yellow tail wine, and Dell Computers. All three - and the other companies cited in the book - shared three complementary qualifies: focus, divergence and a compelling tagline. This systematic approach will change how you think about your business and help you create blue oceans - and profits!
What Can I Do?
Lisa Harrow
Subtitled An Alphabet for Living, this small - but information rich - book organizes hundreds of web sites that help you become sustainable. Sometimes you'll find a tidbit of useful advise. Some of the more interesting headings = transportation, formal dresses, coffee, golf, plastics and alternatives. You'll put this next to your computer and refer to it often. Sustainability awaits!
BANG!
Linda Kaplan Thaler & Robin Koval
(Getting your message heard in a noisy world) Stop thinking, forget the rules, take risks, and you will find that Big Bang idea. BANG! shows the creative process behind some of the industry’s best advertising campaigns. These seemingly unconventional, unrealistic, and impractical ideas have led to the AFLAC duck, Kodak moments, and the Herbal Essence’s sensual commercials. Let this book inspire you to create your own Big Bang idea.
As the Future Catches You
Juan Enriquez
Are you ready to have your world shake a little? Unconventional, thought provoking, futuristic, realistic, wonderful! You've got to read this book. If you think you know the alphabet you have a lot to learn. And it's not just about 1s and 0s. It's about these 1s and 0s getting together with the genetic code. Wow! Written in an unconventional manner. No paragraphs for Juan Enriquez. If you only read one book to help your business this year make it this book.
Blink
Malcolm Gladwell
(The Power of Thinking Without Thinking) This prolific New Yorker writer has done it again –created a provocative book with breakthrough insights. You’ll be intrigued by his assertion that “the best decisions are often those that are impossible to explain to others.” And learn about thin-slicing – the ability to make decisions by focusing on just a few factors rather than all variables. How we make decisions in the blink of the eye is unveiled in this easy to read, informative book.
How Customers Think
Gerald Zaltman
The old 80:20 rule applies, Zaltman says, because 80 percent of new offerings fail. That’s because customers say they want something, but they don’t buy it once it is offered. He notes that 95 percent of thinking happens in our subconscious, so you have to dig deep to understand the mind of the market. It may sound like the Twilight Zone, but you neglect this book at your own peril.
The Provocateur
Larry Webber
Provocateurs create community. They thrive in an upside down world surrounded by technoogy 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 excitment, momentum and engagement." This book will help any leader create a community rather than a company. Provocative stuff!
The Tipping Point
Malcolm Gladwell
Do ideas spread like a virus? Some catch on and spread while others just go away. That's Gladwell's hypothesis. An interesting read, especially his assertion that change happens dramatically and suddenly. He backs up his conclusions by analyzing several situations, including Paul Revere's famous ride and the reduction of crime in New York in the mid-nineties.
Trading Up
Michael J. Silverstein & Neil Fiske
Premium goods -- who buys them and why. That’s this book. Emotionally important products demand a premium price, while the same shopper will seek out bargains on commodity items or products that lack an emotional appeal. The authors predict the market for new luxury items will be $1 trillion just in the U.S. by the end of the decade. They talk about New Luxury goods as a language, “a nonverbal method of self-expression and social change.” Many also want to buy goods that reinforce their good intentions toward the world. Are you ready to trade up? At least, read the book.
The Wisdom of the Crowds
James Surowiecki
The subtitle of this book is informative: “Why the Many Are Smarter than the Few and How Collective Wisdom Shapes Business, Economies, Societies and Nations. It’s counterintuitive, but proven by actual real life examples. When the Challenger blew up, investors started dumping stocks of the major companies. One company’s stock was hit hardest – Thiokol. And, that is the company that was ultimately found to be at fault for the explosion. This book is full of down-to-earth examples. It’s not only an entertaining interesting read, but also offers insights that will benefit your business.