Books that will be reviewed in March 2008: 

Made to Stick, Chip & Dan Heath

Occasionally, very occasionally, I get really evangelical about a book and I find myself quoting it and telling everyone to buy and read it. I have been telling a lot of people about “Made to Stick” because it deals with a problem so common that I can’t think of anyone, in or out of the business world, who doesn’t need its solution.

Rapid Transformation, Behnam Tabrizi

Businesses need to transform themselves for many good reasons: they are not meeting the expectations of their shareholders, their current culture is not conducive to effective execution, the market has changed, they are incapable of handling industry demands, they need/want to be the industry leader, they are simply dissatisfied with the status quo, they need to take preventative measures to address anticipated issues, and yep, the BEE imperative.

Occasionally, very occasionally, I get really evangelical about a book and I find myself quoting it and telling everyone to buy and read it. I have been telling a lot of people about “Made to Stick” because it deals with a problem so common that I can’t think of anyone, in or out of the business world, who doesn’t need its solution.

Here is the problem: How do you get people to understand what you want to tell them, remember what you have told them, and act on it? Now this has got to be one of the most pressing needs of almost everyone. Any parent trying to instill values in their kids, a marketer trying to get a new product out, a strategist needing to get buy-in, you trying to get your manager to “get-it” and give you the go-ahead.

Not convinced? Okay, why is the idea of “sour grapes...” still around, after all, Aesop has been dead for two centuries? Why don’t your staff remember what you told them at the last meeting? The latest scare message whizzes about your neighbourhood in hours, after only one person told one person, and your great idea, with your monster marketing budget just won’t get going!

The Heath brothers (one a Prof at Stanford,) have a model that is simple, powerful and compelling and one that you will be able to use when you leave. Come and find out more...

Rapid Transformation, Behnam Tabrizi

Businesses need to transform themselves for many good reasons: they are not meeting the expectations of their shareholders, their current culture is not conducive to effective execution, the market has changed, they are incapable of handling industry demands, they need/want to be the industry leader, they are simply dissatisfied with the status quo, they need to take preventative measures to address anticipated issues, and yep, the BEE imperative.

Based on a 10 year study of 500 leading companies, Prof. Tabrizi of Stanford has devised a program for doing transformation in a hurry. Should transformation be done in a hurry? The common regret of leaders of successful transformation is that they did not do it fast enough. If speed was the only differentiator between Tabrizi and other change experts, this book would be a whole lot less interesting than I think it is. What makes it worth working through is its clear structure, supported by compelling examples and clever techniques. Not only is it a good read, but it also functions as a guide book to executing a transformation effort.

When I started reading the book and saw the giant companies that he uses as examples, I was immediately suspicious as to whether his ideas would be relevant to smaller businesses or even business units. I read the book with that question in mind, and am now convinced it can help you transform your listed company, your medium sized businesses, your small family business, and even your department or unit.

Being able to lead a transformation is a necessary leadership skill and if you don’t think you need to change, Jack Welsh (violins playing in the background) said, “Change before you have to.”