The Must Read List
Acquiring knowledge to develop more effective leadership is critical to any organization. To that end, the Business Journal hosts a book review section of recommendations for your personal library.
“Who Moved My Cheese” by Spencer Johnson, M.D.
Who Moved My Cheese, running 94 pages is a very quick read, but don’t let that fool you. What this book lacks in length, it more than makes up for in message. With subsequent readings, the message it carries becomes more timely and relevant.
If you are trying to get your team to realize that things have changed, that the old ways of doing business may not be as effective as they use to be, that the entire organization is in need a new face lift, this book will enhance that task.
One understands quickly that “the cheese” has moved. In the ongoing search for new cheese, there are two groups, first, those few who are up to the challenge and second, those able only to whine and complain.
The question facing readers then is to decide if they, like the first group, have enough courage to head blindly into the maze to find the solution, or like the second group, refuse to accept reality and choose instead to whine, complain and stop the organization from moving forward.
Not only will this book provide readers with crystal clear insight to their personal motivation, it will also engender a better understanding of the role everyone in the organization plays as well.
This narrative provides readers with a greater understanding and awareness of just who are the top performers within their organization, as well as identifying individuals who currently hold the company back.
I like it so much, I made it required reading for my entire office!
“The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell
The world is filled with equally talented and gifted individuals. There are literally thousands of companies or businesses around the world uniquely talented individuals that offer similar products or services, yet some people achieve fame and fortune while others, just as talented never reach their full potential. Why do some businesses like Bill Gate’s Microsoft grow to dominate the market, while other businesses with even better products or services never get off the ground?
The difference between success and failure is often one key factor which occurs at just the right time, in just the right sequence to create “the tipping point.” The tipping point is that event in the organization’s life when all the collective activities, experience and resources come together to instantly transform an organization from what it always has been to what it has always desired to be. It is the tipping point which creates a Paul Revere or a William Daws.
The author clarifies that to lead an organization successfully through the transformative process takes all kinds; connectors, mavens and salesmen. He illustrates how they work in unison to support one another and grow the organization.
Often the differences between an average, well-functioning organization and a world class organization that dominates the global market are the small things. This book provides readers with the skills and knowledge to help identify the tipping point for their organizations.
Often in the heat of battle, given limited resources, or severe time constraints, leadership may let the small stuff slide. The Tipping Point brings home the realization that little things often make the biggest difference.
This book will change forever how a successful leader views the small stuff.
“Good to Great” by Jim Collins
“Good is the enemy of great,” if that doesn’t sound like a real page turner, I don’t know what does. When I first discovered this book, I could not put it down. What Jim Collins is sharing is so important that the reader gains knowledge to use immediately.
In 1996 John Kotter wrote the book, Leading Change. As a result of this seminal work, Kotter became the guru of what we now call change management. Jim Collins through his work Good to Great becomes Kotter’s equal. It is a must read for anyone interested in learning how to lead an organization successfully. Whether you are a new supervisor, a mid-level manager or an executive, Good to Great has something to offer.
Those of us in a leadership positions like to think that we are providing quality leadership and direction for our parts of the organization. While we all like to believe we are highly competent in our positions, are we really “Level 5 Leaders?” A “Level 5 Leader” asks and answers Collin’s questions.
- Do you have the right people on the bus? Do you have the right people doing the right things?
- Do you really have you finger on the pulse of the organization and how do you know?
- Are you a hedgehog or a fox? Why is it important to know?
- Does your organization really have a culture of discipline?
- If your goal is to be an industry leader, why aren’t you there?
Some companies or organizations make the transition to greatness, while others wallow in mediocrity. One thing is for sure, success is no accident. The creation of a world class organization/institution requires leadership with world class skills. Good to Great is an incredibly well-researched book that will provide the reader with skills and knowledge to help transform an organization from a want-to-be to an industry leader.
Success may not always go to the swiftest but in business it often goes the most prepared. The fastest way to “get your smart on” is through reading. I recommend you start with any of these three selections, you won’t regret it.
“Our Iceberg is Melting” by Dr. John Kotter
Through the ages man has used stories to teach, train and entertain. Aesop’s fables have been passed from generation to generation because of the lessons they teach. This book follows the fable pattern of teaching. Building on his seminal work Leading Change, Kotter follows the lessons taught in that book with a “business fable” to illustrate the points.
The narrative follows a colony of penguins that discover their iceberg is melting and that they will have to relocate or perish. Using the eight principles for change Kotter outlined in Leading Change, the penguin leader begins the difficult process of change. The story unfolds as the leadership team works their way through the problem, using situations and activities to illustrate each principle. Kotter’s principles are:
- Create urgency
- Form a powerful coalition
- Create a vision for change
- Communicate the vision
- Remove obstacles
- Create short-term wins
- Build on the change
- Anchor the changes in your culture
If you feel like your organization is stuck in a rut and needs to change, this book is an excellent primer for you. The story is written in such a way that is easy to find application to your situation and create a platform for formulating your own plan for change.
Change is never easy and the story’s focus on the relationship-building aspect of creating change is important in making the change permanent. Before beginning any change process, buy a copy of this book for your leadership team and use it as a springboard for discussion during your planning sessions.
“Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable” by Seth Godin
I am a huge Seth Godin fan and will unabashedly recommend everything he writes. I find his ideas refreshing, insightful and inspiring. He provides many hours of reflection and contemplation.
This is a book about marketing, but the lessons apply in many areas of business for entire companies and individuals. The premise for the book is this: The old rule of creating safe products and combining them with great marketing is broken; the new rule is that you create remarkable products that the right people seek out.
The purple cow concept originated in France while Godin was driving through scenic countryside looking at storybook cows grazing in pastures next to the road. After a few miles of looking at the picturesque scene, he started ignoring the cows because they had become common and possibly even boring. Godin realized what had happened and began to wonder what would happen if there were a purple cow thrown in the mix, how interesting that would be. It would be interesting because it was remarkable, worth discussing and noticing.
The book follows that train of thought through numerous examples of remarkable products brought to light by seemingly unremarkable people. It also compares the success of seemingly opposite companies like Neiman Marcus and Wal-Mart by highlighting that it was their differences from the competition that made them what they are today. They were purple cows in the beginning!
Today’s marketplace is crowded and fiercely competitive, but the ideas and concepts covered in this book will help your business create something remarkable that will cause people to seek you out and buy your product. Go ahead, be a purple cow and change the world. Steve Jobs did it, so can you!
