A Sense of Urgency - John P. Kotter

This book is so timely and relevant given the current global financial meltdown that is affecting businesses in every industry. The world changes very quickly now and being complacent is not something any company can sustain and remain viable. Awareness has been heightened in the last several months as many long standing business icons have gone out of business or been acquired. This is probably only the beginning of the fight for survival many companies will face in the coming year.

John P. Kotter has written many books on change and leadership including Leading Change, The Heart of Change and Our Iceberg is Melting. In this book, he discusses the importance of creating a feeling of urgency that propels everyone within an organization to engage in tackling issues NOW. He outlines what brings many companies to a place of complacency, how a false sense of urgency can be damaging, and what strategies and tactics can be employed to get people to recognize that urgency is critical to managing change.

This is as much a "how to" book as an analysis of organizational change and how leaders need to respond in keeping their organizations competitive over the long term. Kotter covers important issues like modeling the type of behavior we expect from those we lead. He points to how important it is to purge low return activities on a daily basis and to delegate effectively. Meetings should end with a clear action plan and accountability in place so everyone understands what is expected in moving initiatives forward. He covers the importance of communication - what needs to be communicated and how. It is very much a "nuts and bolts" kind of book, and the summaries and charts he provides are excellent in capturing these ideas as clearly and simply as possible.

I found the book to be an engaging read and a quick one. This is not a heavyweight academic tome. It's about motivating the reader to quit reading the book and get going already on creating a daily sense of urgency. I think this book is in the "must read" category. There is not an organization of any kind anywhere, that does not face a constant battle against complacency. And truly, it can kill a company if allowed to go on to the point where competitive advantage disappears entirely. I highly recommend it.

The Black Swan - Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Subtitled: The Impact of the Highly Improbable. This book is challenging, but in a good way. It sets what we know and assumptions we hold dear on their ear, and Dr. Taleb shows us in an engaging and entertaining way how even the most revered "experts" can be dead wrong. The challenge is applying these theories of randomness to our perceptions and decision making processes once we return this book to the bookshelf.

I thought it was eye-opening and astonishing, and already I look at things differently based on ideas he has such as "silent evidence." Once you can grasp concepts like "absence of proof is not the same thing as proof of absence" you can see how our decision making process is heavily skewed toward that which we know and can confirm, and we ignore and don't factor in that which we don't know or which is unknowable. I think this is probably one of the most intellectually challenging and important books I've read since college, and it took me a long time to read it.

These concepts are far from academic. In fact he rails against the academic community and their focus on elegant mathematics, predictive modeling and theories. Having been a stock trader in his previous career, he considers himself a "practitioner." And what matters is applying theories of randomness to our decision making process so we end up with the result we want - not being suckers. He calls himself irreverent and I think that's an accurate description. It also makes the book engaging and entertaining to read despite the complex and complicated subject matter.

Much of what has happened with the current global financial meltdown Taleb foreshadows in the book. Right down the collapse of Fannie Mae which is covered in a footnote on page 225: "The giant firm, J.P. Morgan put the entire world at risk by introducing in the nineties Risk Metrics, a phony method aiming at managing people's risks, causing generalized use of the ludic fallacy . . . Likewise, the government-sponsored institution Fanny Mae, when I look at their risks, seems to be sitting on a barrel of dynamite, vulnerable to the slightest hiccup. But not to worry: their large staff of scientists deemed these events 'unlikely.'" And with that, we have a real world, up-to-the minute example of what a Black Swan really is. The book was written in 2006 and published in 2007.

I could go on and on in giving examples of the accuracy of Dr. Taleb's thinking as evidenced by headlines in today's newspapers. That's not the point however. He's giving us new words to explain new concepts and works to help us understand empirical skepticism and its effect on the world around us. I highly recommend this book. It is well worth the investment of time and effort to read it.

How We Lead Matters - Marilyn Carlson Nelson

Subtitled: Reflections on a Life of Leadership, I pre-ordered this book based on a recommendation that appeared in one of Harvey Mackay's weekly columns. It did not disappointment. A beautiful little gem of a book, I read it in a single evening. It is inspiring in it's simplicity, warmth and authenticity.

The format works well. On the left page is a quote or poem that has some special meaning to the author, and on the facing page is a short story about her life that illustrates an important lesson that has informed her life and leadership.

Reading this book is like eating a box of fine chocolates - each story a unique and delectable experience that lingers in the mind. I found it engaging, enjoyable and very inspiring. So inspiring I ordered 8 copies to give as gifts.

I highly recommend How We Lead Matters and would suggest that as leaders, what we read matters as well.

Groundswell - Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff

Subtitled: "winning in a world transformed by social technologies" it was published in April of 2008 by Harvard Business Press. It is a transformative book that truly enlightens those of us struggling to apply the "buzz" of blogging and social networking to existing business practices.

Early in the book the authors make a very essential point about the nature of these hot new technologies: the technology is secondary. It's the relationships between people and how they come together, shift, and create a "groundswell" that gives this movement it's power. Hence the title of the book. Li and Bernoff make an excellent case for why it's important to tap into this phenomenon. But rather than trying to control, direct or guide what is happening on blogs, forums and websites, it's a matter of figuring out what role to play that benefits both the consumers and the company. It's about engaging the people who do business with you and allowing them to help you grow your business.

Their case studies are fascinating and informative. Using the data gathered through their years of research at Forrester Research, they have compiled both convincing empirical data and engaging anecdotal examples to make their points. They also created a chart that helps to clarify the different types of online consumers and how they behave in specific circumstances. They've divided adults online into the following profiles according to their behavior: Creators, Critics, Collectors, Joiners, Spectators and Inactives. There are different levels of engagement among these groups that affect how they interact with any website online.

The book is amazing in it's ability to break down this complex and somewhat mysterious new world into concepts that are easily grasped. But understanding consumer behavior and being able to apply that knowledge in designing a consumer experience clients will be drawn to are two different things. I believe nearly everyone can grasp the concepts, but I believe it will be an enormous hurdle for many businesses to let go of top-down, push-out, advertising-based initiatives in favor of something that is developed, owned and managed essentially by consumers.

It's a "must read" in my opinion. I think the world is already at a point where consumers wield a great deal of influence because of blogs, forums and the ability to self publish. Companies in the 21st century ignore that kind of power and influence at their own peril.

The House of Mondavi - Julia Flynn Siler

Subtitled: "The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty." I just loved this book! I had read several reviews about it that all raved about what a great book it is and I bought it for "airplane reading" on a cross country flight to Seattle. I was hooked from the beginning. It is absolutely the page turner the critics claim that it is.

I don't know where to begin. It is engaging, well researched, authentic, objective and multi-faceted in representing the varying viewpoints of all the players in this big drama. It is a case study of family, business, passion, loyalty, conflict and creating something of enduring value. The Mondavi family did in fact affect the growth and appreciation of wine in America. The history of their family history in the Napa Valley is fascinating and very personal.

I enjoyed every minute of this book and the impressions of it linger with me still. I think I've mentioned it to everyone I've spoken to in the last week. It is both a triumph and a tragedy, and it has particular significance to anyone who has ever worked for a family owned business. The complex relationships of not just the family members, but those who love and are loyal to those family members, is something unique. It had particular meaning to me.

I highly recommend this book.

The Speed of Trust - Stephen M. R. Covey

Subtitled: The One Thing That Changes Everything. It's an incredible book. Well written, well researched, practical in its guidance and full of personal stories and anecdotes, it's an engaging read. And the ideas and concepts he outlines here I find myself recalling on almost a daily basis now.

This is another book recommended to me by my redoubtable business coach. I am fortunate to have a mentor who is a reader in the same intense way that I am, and we both enjoy a network of friends who are great readers as well. So book recommendations come to each of us and we digest them and recommend them outward again into the mainstream of our friends and business associates.

This was timely as I was struggling with how to deal with clients who are simply not paying the invoices I have sent them. I just couldn't conceive of how an agreement is made between two people (professionals), services rendered as promised, and then the person who is now enjoying the fruits of my labors simply decides they won't pay the bill. Or they will pay it when it's convenient for them. As a marketing consultant, I run my own small business that depends on services being rendered and bills being paid on time so that my bills are paid on time. And I am continually amazed at how others can simply breach such a basic trust and think it will have no impact.

Covey (who is the son of Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People) shows clearly how trust does impact everything - in relationships, in the family, on the job and in the community. When there is a lack of trust it's like imposing a tax that takes away from the bottom line of a business. And when trust exists, it's like a dividend. He argues that trust affects speed and cost in any business and that translates directly to dollars and cents. Many examples are provided to illustrate his points throughout the book.

There were several concepts that made a particular impression on me. The first was a term coined by Jim Collins in his book Good to Great called "The Stockdale Paradox" which refers to famed prisoner of war Jim Stockdale. He quotes Stockdale as saying, "You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end - which you can never afford to lose - with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they may be." I'm working within the real estate industry where that paradox is well applied to the many companies and agents that are faced with a challenging and changing market.

Another concept that resonated with me was "Windows & Mirrors." Again he pulls from Jim Collins in his chapter on Accountability. When things go wrong we have a tendency to look out the window - out there somewhere - to find the source of the problem. We need to always start by looking in the mirror, at ourselves, to discover the source and cause and to take what is our own responsibility for the situation. While I found that easy to do when I managed a staff, I find it a challenge to consistently apply it in all facets of my life - most certainly in my personal relationships.

The book takes on so many complex subjects and breaks them down into simpler elements and concepts that he supports with labels, diagrams, visual images and action steps. It's a primer for learning to incorporate trust into every aspect of our daily lives - in things both great and small.

I am a person who extends trust quite naturally and easily to others. This is an asset. And yet I find myself astonished time and again when the trust I extend is violated. The final section of the book is about extending "Smart Trust." Which is something I am coming to terms with and working on both professionally and personally. This book as been an important part of realizing this is something I need to be working on, and it has offered valuable and practical advice that has made a difference already. I highly recommend it.

Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting - Lynn Grabhorn

Subtitled: The Astonishing Power of Feelings. I got a lot out of this book. It was recommended to me by my business coach - someone I seem to fight less and resist less these days. Now I ask him what book I should be reading and he tells me which one. I approach what he has to say with an open mind. Ah, yes, the mind! It would be easy to connect this book to the well know proverb: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.” (Proverbs, Ch. 23, v.7)

What an idea that our thoughts and our hearts are somehow connected and rule everything that happens in our lives! I have an active life-of-the-mind, but Lynn Grabhorn argues it's really about what we feel. That positive energy, positive thoughts, deciding what we want in life rather than living based on "Don't Wants" is the key to success and happiness. And I do believe her. She uses the word "feeeeelings" throughout the book to emphasize her point that it's not all about analysis and strategy. She contends that what we feel every day feeds "The Law of Attraction." If you send out negative energy, that is what you attract back to yourself. Many times it's the very thing we don't want. But it's subconscious - we don't recognize our own negative thoughts, feelings and ultimately our behaviors. We have to work at feeling positive, because sending that energy into the world is what attracts back to us the very things we want the most.

It's a simple but powerful concept. Don't think it's easy. When you start to consciously "grade" your thoughts and feelings based on whether they are positive or negative, you realize we all subconsciously feed our negative monster without realizing that's what we are doing. Try going through the day aware of all your negative feelings - dirty dishes in the sink, terrible traffic, the slow checker at the grocery store, the cost to fill up our gas tank. We have lots of negative feelings over small stuff. Think about the big stuff: difficult boss, office politics, paying the bills, launching a business, poor relationships, planning the rest of our lives. How much is subconsciously infused with the negative? The "I don't want . . ."

I found the book very motivating and enlightening. I ordered 3 copies, one for each of my children. They may or may not read it, but understanding that what you put out there is what comes back is one of the essential lessons of life. And I am living more consciously aware of my positive and negative feelings and behaviors.

I highly recommend the book whether you are person who can deal with the metaphysical or not. Whatever you call it, the universal law that underlies this book is both valid and real.