Patrick Lencioni is one of the best selling business authors and this is one of his most famous books. I have read him before. I also noticed he was pPatrick Lencioni is one of the best selling business authors and this is one of his most famous books. I have read him before. I also noticed he was probably the most prolific author on the shelf the last time I perused used books at Half Price.
He calls his style “business fables� which is a story that is about 150 pages long and then 70 or so pages of explanation
The positive is that even if Lencioni is no Raymond Chandler, it hooks the reader better than a text book would. The draw back is the plot is fictional so some readers may be apt to think the characters aren’t behaving in a realistic way
I had no major qualms with this book. The fictional story kept my interest. The topic itself is very important (as the many sales attest).
My biggest gripe is probably that the Five dysfunctions are the least memorable thing about the book. There’s good content and generally the point of a book like this is for a book group discussion but as it stands, I’m not sure I could name the five (though I certainly got the concepts of the book).
The problem of business books is that economic realities tend to get in the way of fictional ideas. Though here, the ideas are generally strong enough to apply to most any company of any size.
I think even pre-pandemic, budgets for team activities were the first thing to cut. It is an interesting point to ponder. It seems like the most superfluous of expenses and yet as Lencioni illustrates, without a team dynamic, how far is a company able to go.
For business concepts, it’s hard to beat the hook of this book, too and it’s solid advice. Reading the book itself won’t solve everything but it might help you recognize some things, and suggest a start that will get you on the right path....more
Fierce Conversations has made its way into the conversation of Steven Covey, John C Maxwell and Ken Blanchard style self-improvement and business bookFierce Conversations has made its way into the conversation of Steven Covey, John C Maxwell and Ken Blanchard style self-improvement and business books.
It’s a good premise in that all relationships are series of conversations. Thus, we should have those fierce conversations. We should always be our genuine self and we should never take a conversation for granted.
All noble ideas that you may not need a book for, but Scott outlines ideas she says will work.
It is a popular book that is still “hopping� and in a 3rd edition. The new edition is essentially the same, if that matters. Some content got moved to different chapters and there’s a few cyber-era paragraphs but it’s largely the same book.
It is important stuff, of course, and though the subject is eternal, Scott is deserving of her fame. We should pursue Fierce (think Fierce Conversation as in Sasha Fierce not as in Crossfire) Conversations, and if you need help, Scott gives you the tools you need.
Tendencies to tiptoe around some subjects for a variety of reasons. This book will help you approach those topics. Our message can’t be lost nor can we speak without acknowledging our emotional “wake�.
There are the usual things you get in books like these. Scott spends a quite a bit of time telling you how great she is (something all self-helpers tend to do); her stories show a lap of luxury most would not relate to, and she probably gets people to draw out their stories to her because she’s not attached to the situation (a skill you would see from any bartender).
Still, it does a pretty good job in doing what it purports to do. ...more
Monday Morning choices is part of the excellently branded Monday Morning series which says all of the serious stuff we think about we should do so at Monday Morning choices is part of the excellently branded Monday Morning series which says all of the serious stuff we think about we should do so at the beginning of the week.
This works as a great forum for book club discussion. The chapters are super short so no worries about getting behind. There are discussion questions at the end.
There are good points. Essentially, we should care what people think (Dress for success) and not care what all people think (as Bill Shakespeare said “Haters doth going to hate�). He uses a term “enemy� which seems extreme, but it is a good eye opener that as a leader you most likely will have some people actively working against you.
Otherwise, the stuff here is pretty basic, but if you need that push “Get off your rump and do it�, you can find that push here. Other hot takes include “Read everyday� and “you are the company that you keep�. Some basic principles about not being a victim and to make productive choices. In 21st Century America, there are rarely clear life paths. You will not be given a mentor and you will not be given a road map. You need to venture forward yourself. No one will do it for you.
My concern is that this book is a bit “rah rah� and those who might be further along in their career or looking for something deeper won’t get as much out of this book due to lack of specifics.
Each chapter ends with a page-plus of inspirational quotes. That really isn’t my thing and seems like overkill especially in the internet age.
The positive of the book is that it uses a lot of anecdotes . There is a honesty that the best way to learn is to fail. That truth is here, of course, though my observation of corporate life is everyone would rather play safe than taking an unsure step.
There is the story of the day FedEx launched. The first day was 12 packages (and they had 14 planes). Fred Smith got a C on his paper where he explained his idea. No one could grasp an idea that you would route a package through Memphis that was going to Los Angeles from San Francisco. Pat Brown quoting War and Peace’s Count Rostov to Ronald Reagan. “Why, they’re shooting at me. Me who everyone loves�.
Overall, there is plenty of stuff here for the right audience and can be boosted by discussing with others. While I think most will find the stories memorable but the message lacking....more
I have to admit judging this book by its cover. This book is pretty thin with short chapters and it’s a rewrite of a previous book.
That said, Maxwell I have to admit judging this book by its cover. This book is pretty thin with short chapters and it’s a rewrite of a previous book.
That said, Maxwell is a prominent name in the leadership/motivation space. If he is not quite a household name like Zig Ziglar or Steven Covey, he certainly is in that second tier.
That said, this book is really good for people looking for motivation, and by that I mean, everyone. I am closer to retirement than to my first job, but we should always grow. Indeed, as I watch friends in their 50s making successful life and career changes. So indeed, this would be a great book for anyone in their 20s, Maxwell makes the argument we should never settle.
Each chapter is short with action items, which means it makes a good ‘book club� book but also good for pushing somebody who might need the extra bit of motivation. Maxwell gives truth that are sometimes simple and sometimes hard, but most importantly are truths. If you follow Maxwell’s word, the future is unlimited. As far as motivational books go, this works well by keeping it simple and straightforward. Maxwell gives personal insight and makes it readable. It does not need more than brevity. Now, some of the decisions to be made might be tough, and it is easiest to go the path of least resistance, but you don’t grow that way.
Maxwell is a fan of volunteering, and this is true. Besides the obvious positive outcomes, one can also learn new skills and network with people you have never met. I have learned that there is a lot of potential in these circumstances as well as humility and passion. It is only something that I have done in recent years, and then only in small doses, but Maxwell is right in recommending it.
In fact, Maxwell is right at everything in the book, which includes such advise as finding mentors and evaluating interests and strengths. Maxwell got his start under Rev Robert Schuller and his background is as a preacher, so there is a strong moral compass in his words, but his argument that it is better to give than receive is a path to Leadership. As a quick aside, and as with Covey, Maxwell does not believe you can be a good leader and have major moral failings. This is an argument that is tough when we hear arguments about Leaders like JFK, MLK and Bill Clinton, who had mortal failings, but in a world, that is post- Enron and Madoff and post-#metoo, then it is maybe time we embrace Maxwell’s words. ...more
The paradox is that I do enjoy reading and discussing Business/Self-Help books, but I feel like by definition, their teachings are obvious.
David CoveyThe paradox is that I do enjoy reading and discussing Business/Self-Help books, but I feel like by definition, their teachings are obvious.
David Covey is on the Mt Rushmore of Business/Self-Help authors. Even if you have not read his 7 Habits of highly Effective People, I can still pretty much guarantee you have been exposed to his teachings.
This book is a bit of a misnomer, in to me, it clearly is a gimmick to sell more books by connecting it to this business masterpiece. Nothing wrong with doing whatever you need to sell books, of course. The 8th Habit then is a leadership skill to those who are seeking the next level.
There's a reason Covey is so popular. He's pretty good. The problem with many of these books is that they fail in giving what feels like real life examples. Covey (likely because of his fame) has plenty of examples of things he's done. If you push back against him, he can argue with what has worked. I liked this alot.
There are real world business arguments against the book, though businesses would be wise to adapt Covey's thoughts. I believe some of the 'lean' principles that are the current buzzwords work against some of his thoughts, and if it isn't the lean program itself that is to blame, it is a post-recession mindframe of being efficient to the point of overwork. This overwork might make people cheat on the principles taught in this book that work. Also, the sheer enormity of major corporations means it can be impractical (Covey still suggests what to do if this is the situation you are in).
Some may find Covey preachy. It is not explicitly stated, but clearly he believes in a Christ-led life. His examples usually follow in some way -the servant leader mentality. There's Mother Theresa, Gandhi, Mandela, Eisenhower and that Steve Earle/Killer Angels favorite General Joshua Chamberlain.
I don't see it as a bad thing. Regardless of your beliefs, a strongly principled system as taken from the Gospels is a pretty good road to follow. There might not be an Enron or Anthony Wiener or other similar scandals had those principles been adhered to.
All of that said, there was a lot to take away from this book. It's certainly recommended for those who like books like this. It may even be life-changing for you. There are plenty of things here that may help you regardless of age and regardless of situation you are in. The examples are strong and stick in your mind awhile. The book blends textbook background and anecdotes in a way that it has a balance between being readable and grounded in teaching the principles. There is a DVD (online videos) when you buy or borrow the book from the library. I appreciate the idea of taking the book to the next level and going beyond standard textbook learning. I have heard the videos are very good. However, due to constraints, I did not view them...more
What motivates us? It’s a pretty good hook for a book. Ariely uses some experimental research to find these answers. It’s not money. In fact, monetaryWhat motivates us? It’s a pretty good hook for a book. Ariely uses some experimental research to find these answers. It’s not money. In fact, monetary incentives can de-motivate us. For example, if you pay more for hard work on a Friday, people are only can work hard on Fridays ( Kind of like the Bed Bath and Beyond 20% coupon we’ve come to expect). It is that personalization and recognition that is what make those connections. A handwritten note goes further than a $20 bill. Ultimately, Ariely argues that humans are driven by the need to leave a legacy- that what we do is important.
There are some interesting experiments he shares such as one where he wants to see if people continue to do a project, based on whether that project gets reviewed or shredded. It certainly is easier to do a job that no one ever looks at your output, but ultimately we find it is less satisfying.
This is a TED book, so it’s brief in the way a TED talk would be. There’s barely 100 pages and the author makes the least of those pages as possible. If this was a book I bought (as opposed to borrowed from the library), I would deduct a star for paying $16 for this.
Ariely is probably an interesting guy, but this book does little to display that. I have read other reviews, and suspect that is the nature of the TED books. Like hearing only a greatest hit compilation from a great album rock artist. I just don’t think it did him justice, as if you should come to this book already knowing his work and expertise.
Like nearly all business books, it can fall short in real world answers, but the goal is to facilitate discussions, and this gives enough in that category. I would not discount money as a motivation altogether, as certainly it does motivate certain individuals. Ariely brings up workers who have worked on a project for months to only find it closed for whatever reason, and there’s no closure for them. If the CEO could even have them present what they learned, would be some recognition. Still, the modern business world generally does not work that way. He does hit some important parts- how modern business has de-personalizes us. The impersonal cubicle which is increasingly smaller. Companies that put emphasis on titles and enforce that some people are ‘more important� than others because of their level.
I also think the only real solution for managers is that we “frame� our jobs to show how important they are. Ariely uses the example of someone who hated his job of cleaning hospital waste, but found satisfaction when reminded that sterility in an environment where surgeries are performed is one of the most important things ever.
I think Ariely really missed the idea of “layoff� errr.. “restructure� culture. Certainly the last decade has reinforced the idea that companies have no loyalty to employees- an idea that grew in the 90s and 00s as companies took away retiree benefits and pensions, but has built more upon those post-recession experiences that have touched nearly everyone in some way.
I will take his conclusion that we want to be remembered when we are ultimately gone, and I think that is true regardless of religion (or lack of) and even if there are children to carry on. We are our passions and we want to be thought of as doing something important. Even if it is just writing a book review that three people will read, right? It certainly makes sense to me. Now, I have had some recent conversations about pursuing passions as a career, and starting to hear some strong arguments against that, but that’s fuel for a different book. ...more
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