The No Excuse Guide To Success by Jim Smith, Jr. - Book review

The No Excuse Guide to Success

No Matter What Your Boss-or Life-Throws at You

By: Jim "Mr. Energy" Smith, Jr.

Published: June 22, 2012
Format: Paperback, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 1601632126
ISBN-13: 978-1601632128
Publisher: Career Press










"I am not breaking any new ground here if I tell you right up front that most of us are absolutely addicted to making excuses" writes empowerment/motivational speaker, trainer and coach, President and CEO of JIMPACT Enterprises, Inc., Jim "Mr. Energy" Smith, Jr., in his inspiring and transformational book The No Excuse Guide to Success: No Matter What Your Boss-or Life-Throws at You. The author describes the importance of moving past the blame game and provides his ten secrets to success through personal responsibility and the ending of making excuses.

Jim Smith, Jr. understands why so many people indulge in blaming others, and how it can become a limiting habit of behavior. The author points out that while blame may provide an excuse for one's own inaction or failings, assigning blame does nothing to help overcome obstacles and taking charge of the individual's own life. To counter this almost reflective urge to make excuses or to blame others, Jim Smith, Jr. guides the reader toward accepting personal responsibility, and being accountable to yourself by owning your own decisions. Whether the excuses are blamed on people or on rapidly changing technology, the author teaches readers to transcend those barriers and take charge of your own life, and to start being a winner.



Jim "Mr. Energy" Smith, Jr. (photo left) recognizes the value of making the conscious decision to no longer make excuses for failing to take action or for dwelling on perceived mistakes. Instead the author proposes a complete reassessment of how you approach your career and your life. Instead of blaming others, Jim Smith, Jr. offers the more positive approach of believing in yourself, owning the choices you make, embracing uncertainty, and end the fear of winning.

Jim Smith, Jr. provides a complete set of ten guiding principles that he calls the Winning Ways. Those ten pillars of personal success, overcoming barriers, and winning are as follows:

* Own your choices
* Focus on positive outcomes and expect the best
* Embrace the uncertainty
* Do more with your best
* Listen with three ears
* Remove self-created barriers
* Pursue your passion, not a paycheck
* Give up "right-fighting"
* Avoid the "taking credit" trap
* Live with urgency and purpose

For me, the power of the book is how Jim "Mr. Energy" Smith, Jr. provides the tools and techniques to make real change in your own life, and challenges the individual to take action on achieving that personal transformation. The book is much more than a collection of ideas, or even of powerful and proven strategies for changing your life. The book is also a very hands on workbook complete with self assessment guides, written exercises, and several questionnaires that drill down to uncover your most troubling barriers.

Jim "Mr. Energy" Smith, Jr. calls his philosophy and action plan for living one of no excuses. The exercises in the book, in its workbook form, deliver on that promise. The guides to behavioral change within the book build and develop a sense of personal responsibility and accountability through the application of the ten Winning Ways.

I highly recommend the very practical and life changing book The No Excuse Guide to Success: No Matter What Your Boss-or Life-Throws at You by Jim "Mr. Energy" Smith, Jr., to anyone seeking to break free of barriers, break through obstacles, and become successful. This book will rid you of the cycle of the blame game and end the constant excuses, so you can get on with your life and your successful career.

Tags: The No Excuse Guide to Success: No Matter What Your Boss-or Life-Throws at You, Jim "Mr. Energy" Smith, Jr., leadership and personal development, business book reviews

The Secret Of Teams by Mark Miller

The Secret of Teams

What Great Teams Know and Do

By: Mark Miller

Published: October 3, 2011
Format: Hardcover, 144 pages
ISBN-10: 1609940938
ISBN-13: 978-1609940935
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers











"If you can approach the idea of teams with fresh eyes,you could be on the verge of a tremendous breakthrough", writes vice president, training and development, for Chick-fil-A, Mark Miller, in his inspirational and transformational business fable The Secret of Teams: What Great Teams Know and Do. The author presents the idea unfolding narrative of newly promoted Debbie Brewster, as she sets out on a journey to discover the secret of successful teams, and learns some valuable and often surprising lessons from some unexpected places.

Mark Miller understands the fundamental importance of teams to an organization. With teams forming the foundation of change and development within organizations of all types, the leader who builds effective teams will create a powerful competitive advantage. Not only is a competitive advantage part of the impact of great teams, but even more importantly develops and transforms the individual members. The people will think differently about themselves, their team members, and the entire organization following a positive and effective team experience. Through the cast of characters in the fable, Michael Miller guides the reader toward a deeper and richer understanding of the dynamics and challenges of building successful teams.



Mark Miller (photo left) recognizes that building effective and cohesive teams is not an easy task for any leader. One of the most difficult challenges facing the team oriented leaders lies in changing existing, and often deeply entrenched modes of thinking, by the teams members. While the overall principles of team development and management may be readily understood, discovers protagonist Debbie Brewster, their application in real world settings with real teams, is much more difficult.

Mark Miller, through the narrative of the business parable, introduces three three important elements of team building and development. Those three pillars of successful and effective teams are as follows:

* Selection of the right team members for the task
* Training team members to succeed on a continuous basis
* Developing esprit de corps where members are enthusiastic about the team

For me, the power of the book is how Mark Miller presents complex managerial theory in an easily understood format. The use of the business fable concept provides a readily internalized overview of the three pillars of team success. At the same time, the narrative provides detail into why team building is so difficult, and offers the techniques and ideas for transforming any form, size or purposed team into an effective unit.

For most leaders, understanding the overall team leadership principles is not difficult. Where the real and often daunting problems arise, is in the implementation of these principles at the ground level. Mark Miller, through the lessons learned and actions performed by the characters in the story, demonstrates how to not only follow the three team pillars, but also create and guide effective teams through the entire process to a successful conclusion.

I highly recommend the engaging and wisdom packed book The Secret of Teams: What Great Teams Know and Do by Mark Miller, to any leaders, managers, non-profit executives, public sector leadership, sports team coaches, or anyone involved with the construction and management of teams for any purpose. This book will change the way that you approach the concept of teams and team building, and enhance greatly the results and overall success of the team in achieving their goals.

Tags: The Secret of Teams: What Great Teams Know and Do, Mark Miller, leadership and personal development, business book reviews

Tha Art of Being Unreasonable by Eli Broad - Book review

The Art of Being Unreasonable

Lessons in Unconventional Thinking

By: Eli Broad

Published: May 8, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 192 pages
ISBN-10: 111817321X
ISBN-13: 978-1118173213
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.












"In this book I want to show you how applying unreasonable thinking can help you achieve goals others may tell you are out of reach, just as it has for me", writes entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of two Fortune 500 companies, Eli Broad, in his inspirational and wisdom filled book The Art of Being Unreasonable: Lessons in Unconventional Thinking. The author describes how thinking and acting upon ideas and dreams that other people consider to be unreasonable, leads to success for both the individual and all of society; and shares his philosophy for creating greatness by doing the unreasonable.

Eli Broad understands the power of thinking big and doing great things that other people will call impossible. His business and personal success were the direct result of developing and acting upon ideas that were considered unreasonable at the time. For the author, those seemingly unreasonable ideas were not irrational at all. They were the direct result of study and research into the hidden reality of possibilities. For Eli Broad, that quest for new and unreasonable concepts begins with the simple question of "Why not?" With that critical question as a starting point, the author then offers his proven road map to achieving even the most seemingly unreasonable or impossible goals.

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Eli Broad (photo left) recognizes that there are ways to be unreasonable in almost every aspect of business. As a result, the author has devises a series of principles about how to be unreasonable; and very successful in doing the unreasonable as well. Rli Broad shares ideas for asking the unreasonable questions that must be answered, either from others, through intensive and extensive research, and of oneself. Being unreasonable means striving to be the best, and seeking out the best of everything and everyone, in all areas of business and in life.

Eli Broad shares his timeless wisdom with the following philosophies:

* Forget conventional wisdom
* Do your homework no matter how much time it takes
* The value of being second
* How to work 24/7 and still get 8 hours of sleep
* The logic of being logical
* Motivating people by challenging them
* Giving back
* The unreasonableness of art and artists

For me, the power of the book is how Eli Broad combines his wisdom and philosophy of business and life, with the practical ideas to transform unreasonable ideas into reality. Unlike many books of this type, the author has put his ideas to the test in the real world, not once, but many times. In each case, the result was the unreasonable ideas were achieved through the author's blueprint for unreasonable success. The process of being unreasonable is a real world tested, and repeatable process.

Eli Broad adds depth to his concepts by sharing his real world business stories, and how he applied his principles of unreasonableness to reach his goals. As important as the achieving of success is the value of giving back to the society that made those achievements possible. Eli Broad is a strong proponent of sharing and giving back to the world. The author is also a vigorous supporter of artists and all forms of art, that beautify the world, but also ask the unreasonable questions of people and their society. As a collector of art, Eli Broad shares the opportunity for others to be inspired to be unreasonable in their dreams and ideas as well.

I highly recommend the engaging and deeply personal book The Art of Being Unreasonable: Lessons in Unconventional Thinking by Eli Broad, to anyone in any business, profession, non-profit organization, the arts, or interested in dreaming and acting on those dreams. This book will start you on that unreasonable journey, and provide the guidance to achieve those unreasonable goals.

Tags: The Art of Being Unreasonable: Lessons in Unconventional Thinking, Eli Broad, business philosophy, business book reviews

Speleothem Science by Ian J. Fairchild & Andy Baker - Book review

Speleothem Science

From Process to Past Environments

By: Ian J. Fairchild, Ph.D., Andy Baker, Ph.D.

Published: May 8, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 450 pages
ISBN-10: 1405196203
ISBN-13: 978-1405196208
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell











"This book is a response to the explosion of interest in speleothem archives of environmental change and our experience of being scientifically stretched to understand the processes that form them", write Professor of Geosystems, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, UK, Ian J. Fairchild, Ph.D.; and Professor within the Schools of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences at University of New South Wales, Australia, Andy Baker, Ph.D.,in their comprehensive and rigorously research based book Speleothem Science: From Process to Past Environments. The authors describe how the speleothems, mineral deposits formed in caves, are providing critical insights into the environments and climates during the ice ages and the following ages of civilization.



Ian Fairchild (photo left) and Andy Baker apply the principles of system science to Quaternary environments in a fresh and rigorous manner. The authors provide explanations based on a holistic examination of the relationship between the properties and composition of the speleothems, and the climatic and cave setting in which they are discovered. The authors recognize that Quaternary science is multidisciplinary in its approach, and the science of speleothems draws on many sciences and areas of study as well. The authors present the information as a companion to engaging in further, more specialized research into the many areas related to speleothems.



Andy Baker (photo left) and Ian Fairchild offer a complete scientific and geologic context for analyzing and utilizing speleothem as climatic archives. The authors demonstrate how to date and optimize the use of speleothems as proxies for climate change. The authors employ a systems science approach that offers both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

The authors organize their book into a series of overarching sections that cover all aspects of speleothems, their underlying scientific base and formation, and their importance as proxies and archives. The overview sections are as follows:

* Scientific and geologic context
* Transfer processes in karst
* Speleothem properties
* Paleoenvironments
* Archiving speleothems and speleothem data

For me, the power of the book is how Ian Fairchild and Andy Baker provide a complete overview of the science and insights gleaned from the study of speleothems. The authors take a system science approach to the study and analysis of Quanternary environments. The result is a comprehensive explanation of the various properties of speleothems and how they are produced in the various climatic and cave conditions through time and place.

The groundbreaking book provides a multidisciplinary examination of carbonate rocks, karst hydrogeology, climatology, aqueous geochemistry, carbonate geochemistry and the calibration of climatic proxies. The authors include countless data tables, and a series of black and white as well as color photographs to highlight and augment the text.

I highly recommend the landmark and very thorough book Speleothem Science: From Process to Past Environments by Ian J. Fairchild, Ph.D., and Andy Baker, Ph.D., to any students and professional scientists from a wide range of disciplines, who are seeking a holistic and comprehensive examination of the many topics and areas of research and study surrounding speleothems, climate, caves, and Quaternary science.

Tags: Speleothem Science: From Process to Past Environments, Ian J. Fairchild, Ph.D., Andy Baker, Ph.D., environmental management development, science book reviews

Strategic Issues in Public-Private Partnerships, 2nd Edition by Geert Dewulf, Anneloes Blanken & Mirjam Bult-Spiering - Book review

Strategic Issues in Public-Private Partnerships, 2nd Edition

By: Geert Dewulf, Anneloes Blanken, Mirjam Bult-Spiering

Published: April 17, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 186 pages
ISBN-10: 0470656352
ISBN-13: 978-0470656358
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell












"Worldwide, governments are depending increasingly on private investment for the development of large infrastructure projects. Government budgets are limited and the involvement of the private sector enables governments to carry out ambitious projects", write Professor of Planning and Development, and Head of the Department of Construction Management and Engineering at the University of Twente, The Netherlands; Policy Advisor to the Dutch Ministry of Finance, Annaloes Blanken; and Secretary of the 3TU Federation, The Netherlands, Mirjam Bult-Spiering, in the revised edition of their comprehensive and thought provoking book Strategic Issues in Public-Private Partnerships, 2nd Edition. The author describe how the public private partnership (PPP) is an increasingly important method for national governments to fund and develop infrastructure and urban development through private sector participation, and provide the tools and principles involved in these growing numbers of partnerships.



Geert Dewulf (photo left), Anneloes Blanken, and Mirjam Bult-Spiering provide an overview of issues surrounding concession PPPs, and how they are created around the world to generate Value for Money. The objective of the procurement processes is to optimize the cost benefit balance. Politically, Value for Money is easy to sell, and to utilize as a rationale for developing concession policies, but is difficult to quantify. As a result, public debate on concessions and their value are more theoretical and ideological, and less empirical and quantitative in nature.

The authors address the various issues, misconceptions, and general confusion that have grown up around concession PPPs. The authors enter into a discussion of improving the performance of concession PPPs, including a basis for creating and developing functional concessions.



Anneloes Blanken (photo left), Mirjam Bult-Spiering, and Geert Dewulf recognize the need for improved strategic decision making, through a deeper understanding of the developments within the PPP landscape, the various types and forms of concession PPPs, and the motives and rationales for entering into a concession PPP arrangement.

To provide a complete overview and analysis of the nature and types of concession PPPs, and their implications and rationales, the authors provide the following areas of study:

* The emergence of concessions
* Procurement of concessions
* Infrastructure concessions
* social infrastructure
* Concession PPPs and flexibility
* Economic context and concessions
* Concessions and public interest
* Value for Money revisited
* Conclusion: PPPs and future developments




For me, the power of the book is how Mirjam Bult-Spiering (photo left), Geert Dewulf, and Anneloes Blanken combine a strong theoretical foundation for understanding the nature and implications of concession PPPs with a practical analysis of the concepts at work in the real world. The book contains very informative chapters on the various types of concession PPPs, and including a wide range of applications where the process is in use.

The authors provide the lessons learned, from both success and failure of public private partnerships, with an eye to improved management in the future. The authors don't shy away from the controversies surrounding concession PPPs, and the various arguments used on the various sides of the issue.

At the core of the book is the concept of Value for Money, and the impact of concession contracts, including procurement and the various tools and approaches used in the procurement process. Tee authors emphasize that the book is not a simple manual, but instead is designed to stimulate strategic debate, and to develop an agenda for future research into the various aspects of public private partnerships.

I highly recommend the insightful and conceptual book Strategic Issues in Public-Private Partnerships, 2nd Edition by Geert Dewulf, Anneloes Blanken, and Mirjam Bult-Spiering, to anyone in public policy, elected office, industry leadership, engineering, finance, public watchdog organizations, non-profit organizations, academia, and graduate and undergraduate students in all disciplines who are seeking an approachable and well balanced guide to the ideas and principles involved in public private partnerships.

Tags: Strategic Issues in Public-Private Partnerships, 2nd Edition, Geert Dewulf, Anneloes Blanken, Mirjam Bult-Spiering, concession contracts, business book reviews

Global Environmental Issues, 2nd Edition Edited by Frances Harris - Book review

Global Environmental Issues, 2nd Edition

Edited by: Frances Harris

Published: February 7, 2012
Format: Paperback, 358 pages
ISBN-10: 0470684690
ISBN-13: 978-0470684696
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell














"Environmental issues have been a concern for many years. Yet somehow they are problems that we have not been able to resolve, despite research, media attention, increased public awareness about environmental problems, campaigns by environmental pressure groups, and international agreements. Our environment is dynamic, constantly changing and evolving in response to stimuli", writes Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geography, Geology and Environment at Kingston University, London, England, and editor of the revised and multidisciplinary book Global Environmental Issues, 2nd Edition. The editor provides a collection of articles, by internationally recognized experts, that approach global environmental challenges as complex issues, with many very different causes, and influenced by widely disparate actors with diverse agendas and goals.

France Harris presents the contributed articles in the context of environmental problems addressed on a global scale. The editor stresses the necessity to step back from one's own cultural viewpoint and recognize other points of view and priorities outside of our own. Considered from a basis in science as one of many underlying factors, the contributors bring forward the other complicating pressures and priorities including science, politics, social and economic considerations. The editor challenges the reader to consider the overarching aspect of how choices are made locally affect the environment on a global scale; and how ethics affect the way current environmental issues are managed at all societal scales.



Frances harris (photo left) Provides a interdisciplinary approach to the worldwide environmental challenges through a geographical perspective. Along with the scientific aspects of the problems, are found the interactions between environmental, technological, social, economic, and political components and factors. The chapters make clear the deep connections between humans and the environment on a global scale.

As editor, Frances Harris divides the book into sections that consider the various aspects of the global environmental problems. Those sections are as follows:

* Introduction to human-environmental interaction
* Negotiating environmental science
* The changing surface of the Earth
* meeting our needs
* Coping with our impact
* Conclusion: Sustainable development - Negotiating the future

For me, the power of the book is how Frances Harris combines the scientific and human elements through the selected chapter contributions. The multidisciplinary approach that considers scientific, social, economic, geographic, economic, and political factors in the cause and potential solutions to environmental issues is an effective one. This overall examination of the environmental challenges is a realistic one, and the case studies presented in the collection consider those critical elements in real world settings.

The editor includes chapters on the challenging topics of the politics of science, biodiversity, globalization, and sustainable development that consider the impact of these critical developments. The chapters also include examinations of multilateral agreements and their impact on finding solutions to environmental problems on a global level.

I highly recommend the thought provoking and solutions oriented book Global Environmental Issues, 2nd Edition edited by Frances Harris, to anyone involved in environmental science, geography, industry leaders, public policy makers, government officials, environmental NGOs, community groups, non-profit organizations, academics, and students at all levels who are seeking a clear and concise examination of the many faceted issues surrounding environmental problems. This book will guide decision makers and everyday people toward real solutions that consider all points of view in an inclusive and understanding manner.

Tags: Global Environmental Issues, 2nd Edition, Frances harris, environmental management development, science book reviews

Gravel-Bed Rivers: Processes, Tools, Environments Edited by Michael Church, Pascale Biron & André Roy - Book review

Gravel Bed Rivers

Processes, Tools, Environments

Edited by: Michael Church, Pascale M. Biron, André Roy

Published: February 7, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 580 pages
ISBN-10: 0470688904
ISBN-13: 978-0470688908
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell












"The workshop was designed to present an authoritative review of recent progress in understanding the morphology and processes in gravel bed rivers, a review that you have in your hands",write editors Michael Church, of the Department of Geography a the University of British Columbia; Pascale M. Biron, of the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment at Concordia University; and André Roy, of the Département de géographie à l'Université de Montréal; in their comprehensive and definitive book Gravel Bed Rivers: Processes, Tools, Environments. The editors provide an anthology of articles, from world renowned experts, on the processes, tools, and environments related to the study and understanding of the nature and morphology of gravel bed rivers.



Michael Church (photo left), Pascale Biron, and André Roy provide the papers and presentations, on a very wide range of topics relating to gravel bed rivers, compiled from the 7th International Gravel Bed Rivers Workshop, held at Tadoussac, Quebec, Canada from September 6 - 10, 2010. The papers, written by international authorities on the topics, are collected as chapters in the book. The first of the three themes include processes, which include the understanding of the fundamentals of gravel bed rivers. The second theme is tools for observing and measuring, the various instrument, as well as advances in remote sensing technology. The third of the three themes is environment, focusing on the very diverse conditions that create rivers that flow over coarse grained materials.



Pascale Biron (photo left), André Roy, and Michael Church offer additional themes to the ones listed in the book title as well. The contributions include a study of river ice, dams for hydro-electric power generation, and the environment of the rivers for fish. The editors also include a report on tectonic basin of the St. Lawrence River opposite the host site of Tadoussac.

The editors divide the contributed papers into the following categories within the overall framework of the book:

* Secondary flows in rivers
* Sediment transport
* Modelling morphodynamics
* River restoration and regulation
* Ecological aspects of gravel-bed rivers
* Tools for study
* Steep channels
* Semi-alluvial channels
* River channel change
* Ice in gravel-river beds



For me, the power of the book is how editors André Roy (photo left), Michael Church, and Pascale Biron offer a wide range of well researched articles, that summarize the most recent research findings and state of knowledge, on the subject of gravel-bed rivers. The chapters were specially commissioned to share the advances in knowledge in the field.

The chapters are arranged logically to follow in sequence from hydraulics, sediment transport, river morphology, tools and methods, and applications of science. The various chapters are divided into overview sections for ease of study within a specialized area of interest. The topics covered are both fundamental and applied research into gravel-bed rivers.

I highly recommend the landmark and very accessible book Gravel Bed Rivers: Processes, Tools, Environments edited by Michael Church, Pascale Biron, and André Roy, to any river engineers, geomorphologists, environmental groups, policy makers, industry leaders, river managers, and advanced students who are seeking a complete overview of the latest knowledge in the processes, tools, and environments of gravel-bed rivers. This book provides the most comprehensive and authoritative collection of information and research available, and is definitely a landmark publication.

Tags: Gravel Bed Rivers: Processes, Tools, Environments, Michael Church, Pascale Biron, and André Roy, environmental management development, science book reviews

Structured Decision Making by Robin Gregory, Lee Failing, Michael Harstone, Graham Long, Tim McDaniels & Dan Ohlson - Book review

Structured Decision Making

A Practical Guide to Environmental Management Choices

By: Robin Gregory, Lee Failing, Michael Harstone, Graham Long, Tim McDaniels, Dan Ohlson

Published: March 27, 2012
Format: Paperback, 312 pages
ISBN-10: 1444333429
ISBN-13: 978-1444333428
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell










"This book is about decisions. More specifically, it is about making decisions concerning the management of environmental resources", write Senior Researcher, Decision Research, Robin Gregory; Principals at Compass Resource Management, Lee Failing, Michael Harstone, Graham Long, Dan Ohlson; and Professor in the School of Community and Regional Planning and the Institute for Resources, Environment and Sustainability at the University of British Columbia, Ti McDaniels, in their multidisciplinary and very practical book Structured Decision Making: A Practical Guide to Environmental Management Choices. The authors describe a framework for making good decisions regarding activities that may influence use or protection of natural resources, in the form of an approach called Structured Decision Making or SDM.

Robin Gregory, Lee Failing, Michael Harstone, Graham Long, Tim McDaniels, and Dan Ohlson recognize that while the context in which decisions are made may vary, there are a set of best practices for effective environmental decision making. The authors point out that there is a growing consensus as to the basic outline of what constitutes a responsible decision making process. The authors introduce a framework for thinking about and addressing challenging environmental choices through Structured Decision Making (SDM). The SDM concept is a multidisciplinary approach that utilizes the analytical methods of decision sciences and applied ecology, with ideas from cognitive psychology and experience of practitioners.

Robin Gregory, Lee Failing, Michael Harstone, Graham Long, Tim McDaniels, Dan Ohlson understand the necessity of a repeatable process for guiding decision makers in resolving difficult environmental problems. The best practices outlined in the SDM approach provide a theoretical and practical method for gathering information and developing innovative solutions to problems in environmental management. The approach is valuable for groups of people working together to achieve workable solutions through a framing methodology that is rigorous, inclusive, defensible, and transparent.

The authors divide their book into a series of chapters that address the following aspects of SDM:

* Structuring environmental management choices
* Foundations of structured decision making
* Decision sketching
* Understanding objectives
* Identifying performance measures
* Incorporating uncertainty
* Creating alternatives
* Characterizing consequences
* Making trade-offs
* Learning
* Reality check: Implementation

For me, the power of the book is how Robin Gregory, Lee Failing, Michael Harstone, Graham Long, Tim McDaniels, Dan Ohlson combine both the theoretical framework of SDM, with the practical steps to utilizing it effectively in any environmental management situation. The authors go beyond simply offering a how to manual, and include the important background to why the decision making process works in both theory and practice. The author take a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to SMD to ensure that the problem is addressed from the many different perspectives of the stakeholders.

The author dispense with the need for understanding advanced mathematics or complicated technical tools or skills. Instead, they provide an approach that can be understood and applied readily by any groups, organizations, governments, or businesses facing any environmental management problems. The book also contains a group of informative case studies, including ones where the result was failure, to illustrate the use of the SMD process at work in the real world.

I highly recommend the groundbreaking and very accessible book Structured Decision Making: A Practical Guide to Environmental Management Choices by Robin Gregory, Lee Failing, Michael Harstone, Graham Long, Tim McDaniels, Dan Ohlson, to anyone in resource management, risk analysis, land use planning, industry leadership, environmental NGOs, facilitation and negotiation, government, policy making, academia, and undergraduate or graduate studies who is seeking a clear and concise approach to developing workable solutions to even the most challenging environmental problems.

This book is a must for anyone who is serious about resolving environmental problems in an inclusive, rigorous, defensible, and transparent manner.

Tags: Structured Decision Making: A Practical Guide to Environmental Management Choices, Robin Gregory, Lee Failing, Michael Harstone, Graham Long, Tim McDaniels, Dan Ohlson, environmental management development, science book reviews

Team Turnarounds by Joe Frontiera & Daniel Leidl - Book review

Team Turnarounds

A Playbook for Transforming Underperforming Teams

By: Joe Frontiera, Daniel Leidl

Published: July 24, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 272 pages
ISBN-10: 1118144783
ISBN-13: 978-1118144787
Publisher: Jossey-Bass











"is it possible to transform a losing climate into one that fosters collaboration , innovation, and productivity, especially when leaders in all sectors are forced to do more with less?", write managing partner at Meno Consulting, Joe Frontoera; and co-founder and managing partner of Meno Consulting, Daniel Leidl, in their thought provoking and action oriented book Team Turnarounds: A Playbook for Transforming Underperforming Teams. The authors describe how teams of different types, in radically different industries utilized the same six basic stages of development to implement a successful turnaround in their fortunes.



Joe Frontiera (photo left) and Daniel Leidl a[plied the results of their five year research project into what factors result in successful transformation from a failed team to one that became competitive leader. The same stages of the turnaround development took place in all successful changes, regardless of the previous level of failure. Not only did the authors discover that the circumstances of the turnarounds often varied widely, there was a uniformity in the steps to renewed success. At the same time, leaders not only emerged at the top of organizations, to facilitate these six crucial steps, but leaders appeared at all levels to guide the teams forward.



Daniel Leidl (photo left) and Joe Frontiera understand that executing a successful turnaround requires a strategy and implementation process. The authors discovered that the same elements existed in all successful transformations, and that those principles were repeatable as a turnaround procedure. Each of the steps must be followed and mastered before advancing to the next level forward in the overall process.

In effect, the authors outline a proven turnaround playbook that is based on those six common steps forward in the turnaround process. Those six steps are as follows:

* Leading past losing
* Committing to growth
* Changing behaviors
* Embracing adversity
* Achieving success
* Nurturing a culture of success

For me, the power of the book is how Joe Frontiera and Daniel Leidl combine a strong, research based theoretical outline for successful turnarounds, with a ready to apply game plan to execute that process effectively. The authors researched and studied in depth organizations ranging from corporations to sports teams to governments over their five year project. The key components that emerged were the common elements that formed the turnaround development stages. The authors provide case studies of how the six elements emerged, in their correct order, in the real world.

With these common themes understood and established, the authors deconstructed them into a turnaround playbook, that is repeatable and effective in any type of organization. The authors stressed that while there may be factors and events that occur outside of the turnaround leaders' control, these six factors can all be implemented effectively, through planning and execution.

I highly recommend the empowering and practical book Team Turnarounds: A Playbook for Transforming Underperforming Teams by Joe Frontiera and Daniel Leidl, to any business, political, public sector, non-profit, educational, healthcare, sports team, or other organizational leaders who are seeking a proven and effective game plan for facilitating a successful and lasting team turnaround. This book is the playbook a leader needs to affect real change in their teams, and in their entire organization, regardless of its current achievement level.

Tags: Team Turnarounds: A Playbook for Transforming Underperforming Teams, Joe Frontiera, Daniel Leidl, organizational turnarounds, business book reviews

Speak Business Spanish Like An Executive by Louis E. V. Nevaer - Book review

Speak Business Spanish Like an Executive

Avoiding the Common Mistakes that Hold Latinos Back

By: Louis E. V. Nevaer

Published: March 31, 2012
Format: Paperback, 222 pages
ISBN-10: 0979117666
ISBN-13: 978-0979117664
Publisher: Hispanic Economics








"I have often seen how many bright and earnest U.S. Latinos fail. And they fail to succeed not because they are incompetent or ill-prepared. They fail because they cannot speak proper business Spanish", writes Hispanic consumer and employment analyst, and director of Hispanic Economics, Louis E. V. Nevaer, in his empowering and engaging book Speak Business Spanish Like an Executive: Avoiding the Common Mistakes that Hold Latinos Back. The author describes how not being fluent in business Spanish holds back the career success of many talented Hispanic and Latino employees, and provides the proper Spanish words and phrases that are essential for achieving full fluency.

Louis E.V. Nevaer understands that Hispanic and Latino employees, who use incorrect Spanish in business settings, will be thought of as lacking knowledge in other areas as well. The author also points out that an individual who lacks the necessary Spanish business vocabulary will appear less confident and will be less likely to achieve their business goals. To remedy this vocabulary problem, Louis Nevaer provides a comprehensive program of what he calls empowerment through language. The author presents the words and phrases for proper business Spanish, to empower the employee. The result is increased self confidence and enhanced career success.



Louis E.V. Nevaer (photo left) recognizes that the correct business words and phrases, used throughout the Spanish speaking world, are empowering within the United States as well. The author refers to these words and phrases as the vocabulary of success in business. Even for non-Hispanic business people, the correct Spanish words and phrases are essential as well. As diversity reaches a linguistic tipping point, the reality for success in business will require a command of proper business Spanish.

The benefits of using and understanding correct business Spanish include the following:

* A job candidate fluent in business Spanish has a competitive hiring advantage
* In a diverse workplace, fluency will result in more and quicker promotions
* Bilingual employees earn more money than others in their industries
* Bilingual employees have a wider range of career choices in a diverse economy

For me, the power of the book is how Louis E.V. Nevaer presents a complete and accessible course in the usage of proper business Spanish. The author provides a unique and approachable technique for teaching the appropriate words and phrases. Instead of the usual lists of words, Louis Nevaer offers a series of paragraphs that not only demonstrate the correct word usage, but also why the phrase is preferable to the inappropriate alternatives.

The author utilizes wit and story telling methods to share the phrases that form the foundation to becoming fluent in business Spanish. The author also blends in important aspects of Hispanic history and culture to provide additional background to the words and phrases taught in the book.

I highly recommend the valuable and very practical book Speak Business Spanish Like an Executive: Avoiding the Common Mistakes that Hold Latinos Back by Louis E.V. Nevaer, to any Hispanic or Latino executives, managers, employees, and students; as well as to any non-Hispanic people, who are seeking to improve their command and fluency in proper business Spanish. In an increasingly diverse work environment, this book and its empowering message and lessons will be a permanent reference book for anyone in advancing their career.

Tags: Speak Business Spanish Like an Executive: Avoiding the Common Mistakes that Hold Latinos Back, Louis E.v. Nevaer, business Spanish language skills, business book reviews

Revenue Disruption by Phil Fernandez - Book review

Revenue Disruption

Game-Changing Sales and Marketing Strategies to Accelerate Growth

By: Phil Fernandez

Published: May 1, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 224 pages
ISBN-10: 1118299299
ISBN-13: 978-1118299296
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.












"The core processes that many global companies use to generate revenue - finding prospective buyers and selling to them - have changed little, if at all, over our lifetimes",writes cofounder, President, and CEO of Marketo, Phil Fernandez, in his comprehensive and revolutionary book Revenue Disruption: Game-Changing Sales and Marketing Strategies to Accelerate Growth. The author describes how companies must completely overhaul how they create, generate, and manage revenue; and shares a fresh approach to addressing revenue that transforms the organization completely.

Phil Fernandez recognizes that spend between twenty and thirty percent of their overall revenue, on sales and marketing, to further increase total revenue. With this much expenditure earmarked to boost revenues, any amount of improved results in terms of productivity and efficiency would have a positive impact on the company's growth and profit levels. The author recommends getting rid of existing sales and marketing processes, and implementing a new approach. Phil Fernandez calls this improved process Revenue Performance Management or RPM. The fundamental insight into the power of RPM is the realization that the power has shifted from the seller to the buyer.



Phil Fernandez (photo left) understands that with the transfer of marketplace power from the seller to the customer, that previous sales and marketing processes are rendered obsolete. Through game changing technologies, including the internet and social media, prospective customers have an unprecedented access to information.

The previous model of marketing and sales is no longer effective or even welcome in this new marketplace. Marketing and sales must be readily and easily accessible, at the time of the buyer's choosing. At the same time, the sellers must align with the interests and goals of the purchaser; and on the terms desired by that potential customer.

Companies who fail to embrace the RPM concept, writes Phil Fernandez, are doomed to irrelevancy. The author describes the current outdated sales and marketing process, and its replacement with RPM, in the following book sections:

* The problem: Causes and consequences of revenue dysfunction
* The road to revolution: Transforming the revenue model
* The levers of revenue transformation
* Putting the pieces together: Inciting your revenue revolution

For me, the power of he book is how Phil Fernandez systematically describes why the existing sales and marketing process is not working, how the concept of Revenue Performance Management is a more effective concept, and how to implement RPM in any company effectively. The author makes a compelling case for RPM as a completely revolutionary change, not only in marketing and selling, but in the organizational outlook and culture as well. The principle of RPM is a complete reversal of the dynamic between seller and buyer; with the latter now in complete control of the buying process.

Phil Fernandez presents his concepts in a logical order from the devising of the overarching strategy to the effective implementation and execution of the principles. With the extreme pressure within organizations to increase revenue, the author provides an effective and cost effective alternative to the usual methods. |For ease of reference, and for chapter review, Phil Fernandez offers a series of key points that summarize the essential elements of each principle.

I highly recommend the groundbreaking and transformational book Revenue Disruption: Game-Changing Sales and Marketing Strategies to Accelerate Growth by Phil Fernandez, to any business leaders, executives, marketers, sales managers, and entrepreneurs who are seeking a fresh approach to marketing and sales that is both effective and repeatable throughout every step of the revenue process. This book will change the way your company approaches the perennial revenue producing problem, and turn your company into a more profitable and competitive business overall.

Tags: Revenue Disruption: Game-Changing Sales and Marketing Strategies to Accelerate Growth, Phil Fernandez, revenue development, business book reviews

Smart Grid Applications, Communications, and Security Edited by Lars T. Berger & Krzysztof Iniewski - Book review

Smart Grid Applications, Communications, and Security

Edited by: Lars T. Berger, Ph.D., Krzysztof Iniewski, Ph.D.

Published: April 10, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 488 pages
ISBN-10: 1118004396
ISBN-13: 978-1118004395
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.













"Fostered by growing governmental support, it is expected that the world's energy infrastructure will undergo a major transformation in the coming decade. This transformation is commonly referred to as Smart Grid", write founder of BreezeSolve, Lars T. Berger, Ph.D., and manager of R&D at Redlen Technologies Inc., Krzysztof (Kris) Iniewski, Ph.D., in their comprehensive book Smart Grid Applications, Communications, and Security. The editors provide a wide ranging group of contributors, who cover the entire range of topics involved in the diverse and interrelated technology that goes into the building and maintenance of smart grids around the world.

Lars T. Berger, Ph.D., and Krzysztof Iniewski, Ph.D. draw upon the expertise of leading industry stakeholders that provide a complete introduction into the nature of the smart grid. The included essays offer insights into the depth of the ever increasing importance of the smart grid into people's lives. Power grids become smart when advanced communications technologies collect and exchange data and information, transforming the network into one where electrical power is provided when and as needed by end users. Wired, wireless, and optical technologies are discussed, as is the crucial importance of demand response for energy requirements.

Lars T. Berger, Ph.D., and Krzysztof Iniewski, Ph.D. provide a structure where the contributed articles guide the engineer and student through the areas of smart grid applications, communications, and security in a logical and cross-referenced format. The editors group the contributed articles into four overall categories, combining technical and more accessible articles on the same topics. The chapters guide the reader through the entire process from introduction to applications, communications, and grid security.

The four overall sections of the book are as follows:

* Smart grid applications including transmission, distribution, and the customer
* Communications solutions from the physical to sensing, automation, and control
* Cyber security ,threats, standardization, authentication and encryption
* Self contained case studies and field trials involving smart grids

For me, the power of the book is how Lars T. Berger, Ph.D., and Krzysztof Iniewski, Ph.D. provide a complete overview of the salient issues surrounding the smart grid, through the contributions of leading industry experts. The essays range from the accessible to any audience, to those of a more technical nature. This blend of article styles adds depth to the book, and enables the reader to utilize them in any order.

Since the book is fully cross-referenced, the reader can follow any course of inquiry into the various aspects of the smart grid as needed. The case studies and field tests are completely self contained, as stand alone articles, and can be read and studied in any order, or as background information for any of the chapters. The case studies reflect the growing importance and impact of the smart grid, both now and in the future.

I highly recommend the very complete reference book Smart Grid Applications, Communications, and Security, edited by Lars T. Berger, Ph.D., and Krzysztof Iniewski, Ph.D., to any engineers, power utility executives, business leaders, policy makers, government officials, and engineering students who are seeking a useful overview of the various aspects of the smart grid and its impact. This book will provide the essential foundation to understanding the smart grid, and will lead to further more specialized research and study as well.

Tags: Smart Grid Applications, Communications, and Security, Lars T. Berger, Ph.D., and Krzysztof Iniewski, Ph.D., smart grid development, engineering book reviews

Seeing The Big Picture by Kevin Cope - Book review

Seeing the Big Picture

Business Acumen to Build Your Credibility, Career, and Company

By: Kevin Cope

Published: March 6, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 176 pages
ISBN-10: 1608322467
ISBN-13: 978-1608322466
Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press












"Business acumen is keen, fundamental, street-smart insight into how your business operates and how it makes money and sustains profitable growth, now and in the future", writes successful executive, speaker, and founder of Acumen Learning, Kevin Cope, in his business building and very hands on book Seeing the Big Picture: Business Acumen to Build Your Credibility, Career, and Company. The author describes how to understand and apply the same five drivers - cash, profit, assets, growth, and people - that create the success or failure of any business.

Kevin Cope understands how recognizing these key factors, in the daily operations and decisions of the company, have an impact on the big picture for the organization. The author points out that regardless of industry or size of the business, the five key drivers remain the same. Kevin Cope describes how understanding this interrelationship between the drivers, the day to day operations, and the overall big picture, as having acumen. To delve more deeply into the five key drivers, the author provides the tools for understanding the numbers that underline the success or failure of the company. With the development of acumen, a business person at any point in their career, can influence the direction and strength of the entire organization.



Kevin Cope (photo left) provides evidence that business people want to be more effective and valuable to their companies. They want to make decisions, be consulted on ideas and direction, and to contribute to the organizational success. Kevin Cope shares the insights that business people want work that is both engaging and worthwhile. At the same time, they understand that to enhance both their own career and the success of the company, they must have a complete grasp of the five drivers of business success and failure.

To make a real difference, Kevin Cope offers the following competencies that business people must achieve, in order to have business acumen:

* Seeing the big picture of the organization
* Understanding company communications, data, and financial statements
* Using knowledge to make and influence good decisions
* Understanding how your decisions relate to the company's objectives
* Effectively communicate your ideas to employees, managers, and executives

For me, the power of the book is how Kevin Cope provides the insight of identifying the five key drivers of a company is critical to successful management, both on a daily basis and to the overall big picture. The relationship between individual decision making and big picture objectives of the organizations is often a challenge for many managers. Kevin Cope describes the ability to make the overall connection as having acumen. Being in possession of acumen creates a vast improvement in the ability to communicate ideas, influence organizational direction, and the development of strategy at all levels.

To ensure that the business person has the tools to achieve acumen, Kevin Cope provides very accessible and readily understood concepts of business finance. With the complete grasp of the numbers, and what they really mean, a manager or executive can see readily whether the company is on the road to success or to failure. A business person with acumen takes these numbers seriously, as they understand their crucial importance as the illustration of the five main drivers of success.

I highly recommend the very practical and personal outlook changing book Seeing the Big Picture: Business Acumen to Build Your Credibility, Career, and Company by Kevin Cope to any business people, at any level of the organization, or at any point in their career, who are seeking a concise course on the importance of the drivers of business success, and how to master them. This book will demonstrate the relationship between everyday decision making and its impact on the overall big picture goals of the organization.

Tags: Seeing the Big Picture: Business Acumen to Build Your Credibility, Career, and Company, J. Keith Murnighan, leadership development, business book reviews

Critical Risk Research - Editors: Matthew Kearnes, Francisco Klauser & Stuart Lane - Book review

Critical Risk Research

Practices, Politics and Ethics

Edited by: Matthew B. Kearnes, Francisco R. Klauser, Stuart N. Lane

Published: May 1, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 0470974877
ISBN-13: 978-0470974872
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell













"Our presumption is not that risk research is inherently uncritical. Rather, we argue that the intellectual foundations of contemporary risk research need more critical attention", write international researchers in risk research, Matthew B. Kearnes, Francisco R. Klauser, and Stuart N. Lane, editors of the comprehensive and interdisciplinary book Critical Risk Research: Practices, Politics and Ethics. The authors present a series of essays, written by distinguished international experts, that address the fundamental questions of what is risk and how do people relate to it; how are those risks framed, approached, and studied; and what do people know and do about and in the name of risk.

Matthew B. Kearnes, Francisco R. Klauser, and Stuart N. Lane provide essays that takes as its basic premise that to approach and address risk, people must look beyond the usual practices and assumptions. Through the lenses of scientific, economic, and social studies, the essays challenge the current practices, the usual framing, and standard approaches to risk and risk management. The editors offer essays that demonstrate the importance of risks and risk research to the contemporary political process and public awareness. With the focus on risk, risk research, and research analysis in light of current events, risk research is now a critical component of modern policy making efforts.

Matthew B. Kearnes, Francisco R. Klauser, and Stuart N. Lane recognize risk management as an subject for critical study and for renewed debate in the face of constant challenges. Not only does risk research concern itself and its practitioners with natural disasters, but also with urgent new challenges from human created sources. The response to risk and real disaster has ranged from effective to other additional failures in practice.

To address these growing and ever increasing risk research factors, the editors group the contributions into three overall sections. Those three sections ars:

* Practices in risk research
* Politics in risk research
* Ethics in risk research

For me, the power of the book is how Matthew B. Kearnes, Francisco R. Klauser, and Stuart N. Lane provide a collection of academic essays that provide an overview of the practices, politics, and ethics of risk, risk research, and risk management. The editors go beyond the usual studies that focus on the process of managing risk, after the fact, and include the crucial human elements of politics and ethics. With a renewed societal interest in ethics, this book is especially timely, with the inclusion of an important section on ethics.

The contributed essays are well researched, accessible, and completely annotated for additional research and study. The editors succeed in presenting alternative viewpoints that openly challenge the usual procedures and processes of risk, and open up discussion to fresh debate, policy, and actions.

I highly recommend the essential reference book Critical Risk Research: Practices, Politics and Ethics edited by Matthew B. Kearnes, Francisco R. Klauser, and Stuart N. Lane, to any academic researchers, students, business leaders, non-profit organizations, policy makers and analysts, and elected officials at all levels of government, who are seeking a useful overview of the crucial elements of contemporary risk research. This book is an excellent reference for any discussion and debate for finding a new direction for meeting the challenges facing modern risk research.

Tags: Critical Risk Research: Practices, Politics and Ethics, Matthew B. Kearnes, Francisco R. Klauser, Stuart N. Lane, risk research studies, public policy book reviews

Rapid Realignment by George Labovitz & Victor Rosansky - Book review

Rapid Realignment

How to Quickly Integrate People, Processes, and Strategy for Unbeatable Performance

By: George Labovitz, Victor Rosansky

Published: June 5, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 256 pages
ISBN-10: 0071791132
ISBN-13: 978-0071791137
Publisher: McGraw-Hill










"Alignment is a condition in which the key elements of an organization - its people, strategy, customers, and processes - work in concert to serve the primary purpose of the enterprise: increasing value for stakeholders", write founder and CEO of ODI, George Labovitz; and cofounder and president of LHR International, Inc., Victor Rosansky, in their transformational and comprehensive book Rapid Realignment: How to Quickly Integrate People, Processes, and Strategy for Unbeatable Performance. The authors describe how the principles of alignment and realignment are the most powerful tools in organizational improvements, and share the strategies and processes to achieve rapid and lasting cultural change within for profit and non-profit organizations.

George Labivitz and Victor Rosansky recognize that that both for profit and non-profit organizations face the serious challenges of change and complexity. Change is taking place at lightning speed, and arriving from several directions at once, including globalization, technological change, demographics and skills of the workforce, and in customer expectations. Complexity increases with the sizes of business units, product lines, and customer demographics. The authors point out that organizations must sense and respond rapidly to these and other challenges. To counter the tide of seemingly overwhelming challenges, the authors recommend the alignment and rapid realignment of strategy, customers, processes, and people.



George Labovitz (left in photo left) and Victor Rosansky (right in photo left) understand the critical importance of cultural change within an organization. For the authors, the change is in the form of cultural realignment, to better align that culture with the overall organizational goals. The authors provide real world evidence of how moving slowly at first, to collect data through listening to employees, customers, and all other stakeholders, builds the foundation for a very fast realignment.

The authors present a complete process for achieving rapid realignment in any type or size of organization.

* An overview of alignment in the big picture
* Aligning people with strategy; and with one another
* Achieving strategy buy in with a passion for its implementation
* Connecting the value creation of the organization with the customers
* Moving people to think outside their silos
* Put the tools of the realignment process into action

For me, the power of the book is how George Labovitz and Victor Rosansky combine the theory of realignment with real world proven processes for its successful implementation. The authors present a holistic approach to integrating the people, processes, customers, and strategy into a unified system. The authors provide the strategy and the reasons why that realignment strategy is important. At the same time, the need to listen to all stakeholders is emphasized as a key to achieving quick realignment.

The authors also understand the importance of culture change, and how to achieve that change effectively, as essential to any realignment goal. The authors share several case studies that demonstrate the principles in action in the real world. The book also contains key chapter self assessments, applicable takeaways and action items that move the leader along in the process.

I highly recommend the very practical and results oriented book Rapid Realignment: How to Quickly Integrate People, Processes, and Strategy for Unbeatable Performance by George Labovitz and Victor Rosansky, to any business leaders seeking a powerful strategy and process for meeting and overcoming the many challenges facing their organizations. This book will change the company culture, both more quickly than ever thought possible, and create the necessary alignment to achieve the overall organizational goals effectively.

Tags: Rapid Realignment: How to Quickly Integrate People, Processes, and Strategy for Unbeatable Performance, George Labovitz, Victor Rosansky, organizational strategy development, business book reviews

Do Nothing! by J. Keith Murnighan - Book review

Do Nothing!

How to Stop Overmanaging and Become a Great Leader

By: J. Keith Murnighan

Published: June 14, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 240 pages
ISBN-10: 1591845300
ISBN-13: 978-1591845300
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin












"Most leaders clearly try to do way too much at work; not only that, because they try to do too much, they perform worse than they otherwise could - and their teams don't perform as well as they could either", writes award-winning Professor at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, J. Keith Murnighan, in his insightful and very practical book Do Nothing! mHow to Stop Overmanaging and Become a Great Leader. The author describes how managers attempt to do too much, causing them to fail to perform their real role as leaders, while stifling the efforts of their teams at the same time; and instead offers the counter-intuitive but highly effective advice of doing nothing.

J. Keith Murnighan understands that the first impulse of most managers is to do something in what they perceive to be a crisis; whether one exists of not. Instead of trusting their team members to do their jobs, the tendency of the over managing leader is to try to do too much. The author points out that this urge to action is precisely the wrong approach to management. It results in two problems that harm the organization. Instead of performing the role of leader, and devising strategy, developing plans, and making important decisions, the micro-manager under-utilizes team members and reduces their level of trust. Instead, J. Keith Murnighan recommends focusing on the job as leader, trusting the staff to do their job, and building team morale and productivity.



J. Keith Murnighan (photo left) recognizes that simply working is not synonymous with leadership. Indeed, the author makes clear that doing the wrong things, or the jobs of team members, actually makes things worse. When tempted to micro-manage or over-manage, the author recommends doing nothing at all. While doing nothing may seem anathema to many driven managers, J. Keith Murnighan provides evidence that instead of the anticipated disaster, good things follow the inaction. Team members feel more trusted to do their jobs and to make decisions, they exceed all expectations including their own, and productivity and morale increase.

J. Keith Murnighan recommends the following strategies for leaders to strengthen their teams, remove their own fear, and build trust:

* Do nothing
* Focus on them
* Start at the end
* trust more
* Release control, deviously
* Bear down warmly
* ignore performance goals
* De-emphasize profits

For me, the power of the book is how J. Keith Murnighan addresses head on the ubiquitous managerial problem of over-managing, and provides practical and actionable solutions to achieve superior results. The author diagnoses the problem the challenges facing leaders who feel the urge, through fear, to do something or anything, when the optimum solution is to do nothing. Instead of micro-managing, the author presents a powerful process for trusting team members, so they can display their true abilities.

The author bolsters his thesis with case studies of the concept of doing nothing in the real world. The results of changing the managerial focus, from the manager to the team, changes the overall dynamic improving both trust levels and net results. Instead of doing more, the concept of doing less is paradoxically more effective in achieving goals.

I highly recommend the transformational and idea filled book Do Nothing! How to Stop Overmanaging and Become a Great Leader by J. Keith Mornighan, to any leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs seeking an alternative approach to the failed techniques of over-managing and micro-managing. This book will change the way you manage your team, build their trust, and achieve superior results.

Tags: Do Nothing! How to Stop Overmanaging and Become a Great Leader, J. Keith Murnighan, leadership development, business book reviews

Idea-Links: The New Creativity by Jim Link - Book review

Idea-Links

The New Creativity

By: Jim Link

Published: February 12, 2012
Format: Hardcover, 280 pages
ISBN-10: 1592982751
ISBN-13: 978-1592982752
Publisher: Beaver's Pond Press














"We begin our journey by rethinking creativity and seeing how the allure of the fabled eureka moment actually distracts us from focusing on the important work that leads us there", writes consult and teacher of creativity, Jim Link in his demystifying and results oriented book Idea-Links: The New Creativity. The author describes how the most commonly understood theories and practices of creative thinking miss the point that creativity is a skill that can be developed, learned, and applied as a reliable problem solving process.

Jim Link cites a 2010 IBM poll which reported that CEOs considered creativity to be the most important leadership competency. The problem for these CEOs, writes Jim Link, is that they have no idea how to develop creativity within their employees or organizations. As a result, the CEOs simple wait from some magical unleashing, of some supposed creative energy, that never seems to happen. At the same time, countless hours and dollars are spent on creative thinking training sessions, seminars, and books that fail to produce more creativity either. Jim Link presents an alternative approach, where creativity is treated as another skill to be learned by individuals, and a process to be put into place by organizations.



Jim Link (photo left) begins by dispelling the myth that creativity is something that happens at random to supposedly gifted people. He also dispenses with the notion that creativity can be added to a person's skill set overnight, but instead requires hard work at learning and developing the proper disciplines. Jim Link guides the reader through the needed skills and disciplines that lead to enhanced creativity through a complete rethinking of the entire creative process and how it works in practice.Jim Link presents the concept of idea-links that connect what you already know to the problem at hand. With those links in hand, the author then moves to the next step of creatively re-framing what you already know to develop new ideas.

Jim Link presents a series of steps for the making of these all important idea-links. The making of idea-links includes the following:

* Digging deeper to use analysis to create idea-links
* Curiosity through the asking of why questions
* Storing idea-links by banking them for future use
* Finding idea-links for important subject areas
* Finding idea-links for specific projects or problems
* Creatively re-framing to access your already owned idea-links
* Asking the important what if questions
* Planning for success through a shared process and vocabulary

For me, the power of the book is how Jim Link transforms the entire concept of creativity, from one of random chance and supposed eureka moments, to one of a learned and repeatable skill. The author moves beyond the standard books on creative thinking, and presents creativity as a learned skill, that will become a reusable problem solving process. Jim Link demonstrates that creativity is not some random event, but is a discipline that can be learned, practiced, and mastered by anyone.

The author rightly cautions the reader that learning to think creatively requires work and dedication to understanding and employing this new competency effectively. To his credit, Jim Link doesn't posit any get creative quickly approaches, but instead shares the techniques to establish creativity as a core competency, and as an organizational process. Jim Lake adds to the texture of his concepts through real world case studies of the principle of idea-links in action.

I highly recommend the organizational and individual creativity skill development book Idea-Links: The New Creativity by Jim Link, to anyone seeking a realistic, and proven skill building approach to developing their own creativity skills, and those of their entire organization. This book will move you away from thinking that creativity is only an unleashing of a eureka moment away, and will guide you toward learning and practicing an important and valuable new skill.

Tags: Idea-Links: The New Creativity, Jim Link, creativity development, business book reviews