On Leadership
The Future of Management by Gary Hamel
You do not succeed in the global bazaar by running things the way we have always done, only faster and cheaper. We must look for new ways to lead change. To get ideas, observe the way five highly adaptable and accountable systems work: free markets, nature, faith, democracy, and cities. In a one-year executive program I did with an entrepreneurial company, each session focused on one of these systems. Most amazing were the lessons we learned from natural systems during a leadership safari in Londolozi.
You do not succeed in the global bazaar by running things the way we have always done, only faster and cheaper. We must look for new ways to lead change. To get ideas, observe the way five highly adaptable and accountable systems work: free markets, nature, faith, democracy, and cities. In a one-year executive program I did with an entrepreneurial company, each session focused on one of these systems. Most amazing were the lessons we learned from natural systems during a leadership safari in Londolozi.
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap … and Others Don’t by Jim Collins
I was invited to facilitate an executive dialogue with Jim Collins, Stephen Covey, and 20 CEO’s the month this book was published. What a day! There are many things I love about Collin’s research, but were I to pick one it would be the sequence for how to build a great culture: disciplined people, discipline thought, and disciplined action. Building such cultures is what leadership is all about.
I was invited to facilitate an executive dialogue with Jim Collins, Stephen Covey, and 20 CEO’s the month this book was published. What a day! There are many things I love about Collin’s research, but were I to pick one it would be the sequence for how to build a great culture: disciplined people, discipline thought, and disciplined action. Building such cultures is what leadership is all about.
On Research
What Were they Thinking? by Jeffrey Pfeffer
Leaders have a reservoir of behavioral science and business research at their fingertips, yet they don’t use it. They also know how to conduct tests, experiments, and pilots, but they rarely do it. I came across Pfeffer’s work when we both spoke at a European conference, and he is fierce about evidence-based management. I encourage all leaders to heed his message.
Leaders have a reservoir of behavioral science and business research at their fingertips, yet they don’t use it. They also know how to conduct tests, experiments, and pilots, but they rarely do it. I came across Pfeffer’s work when we both spoke at a European conference, and he is fierce about evidence-based management. I encourage all leaders to heed his message.
Design is in the Details by Paul Bennett
If you feel your team is out of fresh ideas, maybe it is time for everyone to spend some time with your customers (internal or external). Maybe it’s time to experience the world the way they do. Before you head out, however, take a look at this video. Then after the visits, see if you can come up with at least ten new ideas for how to make the customers’ lives easier.
If you feel your team is out of fresh ideas, maybe it is time for everyone to spend some time with your customers (internal or external). Maybe it’s time to experience the world the way they do. Before you head out, however, take a look at this video. Then after the visits, see if you can come up with at least ten new ideas for how to make the customers’ lives easier.
On Change
A Simpler Way by Margaret J. Wheatley and Myron Kellner-Rogers
This is a beautiful book about human nature and the nature of change. It makes the case that when living beings connect, they form systems that create more possibilities and more freedom. As they experiment, they then create more information, more experiences, more insights. Meg is a good friend of mine and she is a wise soul.
This is a beautiful book about human nature and the nature of change. It makes the case that when living beings connect, they form systems that create more possibilities and more freedom. As they experiment, they then create more information, more experiences, more insights. Meg is a good friend of mine and she is a wise soul.
The Dance of Change: The Challenges to Sustaining Momentum in Learning Organizations by Peter Senge
If you are baffled by why your change initiative isn’t gaining the traction you expected, take a look at pages 26 – 29 and diagnose the problem. Once you have a sense of what the real challenge is, turn to that section for ideas on what to do about it. Like The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook, this one is a great reference book on change.
If you are baffled by why your change initiative isn’t gaining the traction you expected, take a look at pages 26 – 29 and diagnose the problem. Once you have a sense of what the real challenge is, turn to that section for ideas on what to do about it. Like The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook, this one is a great reference book on change.
The Secret Language of Leadership: How Leaders Inspire Action through Narrative by Stephen Denning
Nothing changes until the story changes, and as the leader you are the chief storyteller. That means you’d better be good at it. This book shows how to get people’s attention and stimulate a desire for change. Then, once you have connected to their emotions, you reinforce what you said with reason. The final step is to turn your presentations into a conversation, into an ongoing dialogue about change.
Nothing changes until the story changes, and as the leader you are the chief storyteller. That means you’d better be good at it. This book shows how to get people’s attention and stimulate a desire for change. Then, once you have connected to their emotions, you reinforce what you said with reason. The final step is to turn your presentations into a conversation, into an ongoing dialogue about change.
On Society
The Executive Compass: Business and the Good Society by James O’Toole
Every leader deals with values-based conflicts regarding issues such as the environment, diversity, outsourcing, and executive pay. These tensions have deep historical and philosophical roots, which can be understood through the executive compass. The north-south axis represents the tension between liberty and equality, while the east-west axis illustrates the one between community and corporatism (efficiency). The good leader is the one who negotiates these tensions respectfully.
Every leader deals with values-based conflicts regarding issues such as the environment, diversity, outsourcing, and executive pay. These tensions have deep historical and philosophical roots, which can be understood through the executive compass. The north-south axis represents the tension between liberty and equality, while the east-west axis illustrates the one between community and corporatism (efficiency). The good leader is the one who negotiates these tensions respectfully.