Archive for the 'Book Reviews' Category

Great Leaders Ask Great Questions

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Anthony Portuesi
on November 13, 2009
in Book Reviews and Leadership
. 0 Comments

just ask leadership Great Leaders Ask Great QuestionsBook Review: Just Ask Leadership

“The leader of the past was a person who knew how to tell. The leader of the future will be a person who knows how to ask.”
– Peter Drucker

This month I had a chance to catch up on some reading, specifically a new book by Gary Cohen, entitled Just Ask Leadership: Why Great Managers Always Ask the Right Questions. It has been said that the concept of “asking the right questions” is one of the most important and least appreciated skills a leader needs to achieve desired results. To reinforce this point, Cohen interviews nearly 100 leaders, including Fortune 500 CEOs, small business owners, military commanders, etc. – explaining how leaders at every level can learn to ask the right questions in the right contexts, thus enabling both individuals and organizations to thrive.

“Leadership is about allowing others the chance to flourish, and you do that by asking questions. This empowers coworkers to find solutions, embrace responsibility, and become accountable. Moreover, it opens the door to greater productivity and creativity. Indeed, more than ever before, leaders can’t know everything. By seeking others’ input, they can inspire powerful and positive change.”  - Gary B. Cohen, Author - Just Ask Leadership

In the book, Cohen details many specific questions that leaders might pose in particular situations, however in my opinion; the more valuable takeaway is his explanation of how to create a culture of question-based leadership. In doing so, Cohen addresses five key areas:

1. Improving Vision - Getting Insights form All Levels of the Organization
Vision starts with an awareness of values.  Questions can illuminate the values of both the leader and the organization. This, in turn, will enable good choices with regard to interacting with customers, hiring new employees, setting goals, and succession planning.

2. Ensuring Accountability - Increasing Team and Organization-Wide Performance
Having coworkers solve their own problems is critical to building their accountability, states Cohen.  Leaders must encourage people to act and, provided good-faith action is taken, failure must be used as an opportunity for learning, not an excuse for punishment.

3. Building Unity and Cooperation - Creating a Culture of Trust
To unify an organization made up of vastly different individuals, leaders must invite coworkers to share their opinions and listen well to their input. This requires asking good questions– those that house the potential for growth and collaboration– not “gotcha” questions.

4. Creating Better Decisions - Getting the Right Answers by Asking the Right Questions
Most leaders make too many decisions, “If you don’t routinely ask, ‘whose decision is it?’ you’ll fall into the trap of doing others’ work,” he writes.  The best decisions are often made by those down the chain of command, not up.

5. Motivating to Action - Asking for Success
“Because I said so,” is not a phrase that will inspire coworkers.  In this section, Cohen offers insights into how to motivate people by building rapport, customizing incentives, and instilling respect.

Though the general concept of “asking questions” may sound simple, it’s often much harder to execute - especially for young or inexperienced leaders. Just Ask Leadership, is a quick read that provides many opportunities for self reflection and real world execution. Worth the read if you’re looking to define or fine-tune your approach to leadership.

(Disclosure: My copy of this was furnished by the author’s PR company.)

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Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on April 8, 2009
in Book Reviews, Job Hunting and Personal Branding
. 4 Comments

me2 0jpg Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success

The way we manage our careers is changing and the Internet has become the new ticket to post-graduate success.

A recent Careerbuilder.com survey showed that one in every five hiring managers used social networks to conduct background checks on candidates. In his new book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, Dan Schawbel explains how anyone can become successful by using social media tools, such as blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, in order to stand out and make a name for themselves. Me 2.0 is the first book about personal branding written for the millennial generation by a millennial, that bridges the gap between the current business environment and the progressive best practices of the future.

“In a tough employment environment, it is absolutely essential to move past old rules and embrace job hunting 2.0 — Dan Schawbel’s new book will show you how,” explains Sydney Finkelstein, Steven Roth Professor of Management, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

Me 2.0 teaches you how to use social media tools for personal empowerment, confidence building, and professional networking that can actually result in attracting jobs directly to you.

Highlights from Me 2.0 include:

  • A 4-step proven personal branding process for career success.
  • Over 40 expert quotes from leaders, including Don Tapscott, Guy Kawasaki, Penelope Trunk, Chris Brogan, Laura Ries, David Kirkpatrick, and Steve Rubel.
  • More than 70 research reports, three personal case studies and examples to offer a broader perspective on the topic.
  • Tested advice on how to create an online and offline presence for career protection and self-promotion.

I’ve had a chance to preview Dan’s book and agree that if you implement the suggestions he’s outlined, you will be well on your way to setting yourself up for success. If you already feel confident brand and want to put to the test, enter the Personal Branding Awards before August 1, 2009 to be considered for the award. This year Dan has added me to the list of judges, who be announcing a winner on November 1st 2009. Contest or not, as technology evolves your personal brand will be increasingly visible. Thus making it ever more important to be represented the way you want to.  Don’t wait, if you haven’t started yet, think about it today, this book is an excellent place to start.

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Common Sense Leadership for New Managers

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on February 5, 2009
in Book Reviews, Gen-Y and Managing
. 3 Comments

lead well and prosper Common Sense Leadership for New ManagersAs most of you know, one of the most prominent themes on Driven Leaders focuses around developing and enhancing the skills the necessary to become a successful leader. Making the transition from individual contributor to team leader is a challenging one and in many cases can be a career defining moment. Shortly after writing a post entitled “So You’ve Just Become a Manager”, author Nick McCormick contacted me to send over a copy of his book, Lead Well and Prosper: 15 Strategies for Becoming a Good Manager.

Upon finishing it, Nick’s book quickly made it to my recommended reading list for aspiring managers. In just under 100 pages, McCormick explains each of his 15 strategies in an easy to follow and concise manner. Every chapter begins with real-world antidotes, and concludes with a list of “Do’s and Don’ts,” as well as action steps providing direction to getting off on the right foot.

lead well and prosper list Common Sense Leadership for New ManagersUpon reading it may seem that many of his suggestions are somewhat common sense, yet as many managers can attest to, common sense approaches often get lost in the shuffle amidst a transition. While many of his ideas may seem rudimentary to those in long standing leadership positions, I found this to be an excellent guide for Gen-Yer’s taking this next step forward in their career. Being that it’s a quick read, the book has already made it off of my bookshelf a few times, serving as an excellent refresher in the short term and one that can be used for years to come. You can pick up a copy at Amazon.com.

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The Wisdom of the Flying Pig - Free eBook!

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on November 11, 2008
in Book Reviews and Managing
. 2 Comments

flyingpig The Wisdom of the Flying Pig Free eBook!Earlier today, I was reccomended this quick yet powerful read by consultant/trainer Jack Hayhow. In The Wisdom of the Flying Pig, Hayhow translates his years of experience into simple, yet practical ways to increase the effectiveness of your management and leadership skills.  Without a doubt, some great advice and well worth the price. As stated on his site,

“…we intend for this little book to be the most productive business reading you’ve ever done. Stashed between these whimsical covers, you’ll discover principles and practices that can propel your company and your career. We offer no panacea – but we do promise realistic approaches and plausible solutions. And a good deal of fun and inspiration along the way.”

To download your free copy:
1. Visit the eBook website.
2. Click “Add to Cart” button at the top of the page
3. Enter Discount Code: L8N1B
4. Fill out a short form and the link to download will be emailed to you.

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You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on October 4, 2008
in Book Reviews, Personal Branding and Personal Development
. 2 Comments

youinc You, Inc.: The Art of Selling YourselfFitting in with the personal branding theme, I recently finished reading You, Inc.: The Art of Selling Yourself, by Harry Beckwith and Christine Clifford Beckwith. In a nutshell, You Inc. is an easy and enjoyable read that covers off on all the basics from cultivating your personal image, to providing tips on delivering a ten minute speech. Each “lesson” makes up about two pages and is presented with stories and anecdotes that make them easy to follow and understand. The authors not only reinforce the importance of selling yourself before anything else, but also provide tips and real world examples on how to do so. Though you won’t find any one earth shattering lesson among the pages, the combination of many small concepts create a very powerful presentation. In a way, Harry and Christine have created a quick reference guide for both the eager reader and the seasoned veteran when it comes to building brand you. To give you an example, a few of the quick lessons in include:

  • People value - and pay more for - the way your make them feel.
  • The first thing to plan for is your first impression.
  • Tricks and shortcuts: There are none.
  • Simplicity gives people certainty, and certainty they can deal with.
  • In your sales story, put the audience, not you, in the hero’s shoes.
  • After you write something, be sure to hear it. (Read it out loud.)
  • Listening makes you captivating.
  • Don’t impress them. Move them.
  • Visual aids regularly diminish everyone’s understanding of the material.
  • Be yourself. It is easier to remember, for one thing, and works dramatically better.
  • Never try to fool anyone.

Overall, You Inc. is excellent read for those looking to reinforce many of the basic concepts in selling yourself and therefore is among the top on my list when is come to personal and professional development.

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90 Days to Prove Yourself…

Published
by
Anthony Portuesi
on August 3, 2008
in Book Reviews, Leadership and Managing
. 0 Comments

Or else… At first glance I thought this book had been given to me being that the author, Michael Watkins, had based it on his work with J&J. I soon came to find out that there was a much bigger reason. Anyone who has recently been promoted or is expecting to be in the near future, should add this to the must read list. The First 90 Days is geared towards new leaders (or soon to be leaders) at all levels and is easily identifiable to anyone making a transition up the ladder.first90days 90 Days to Prove Yourself...

In the author’s words, “The actions you take during you first three months in a new job will largely determine if you succeed or fail.” Anyone experiencing this will attest to this period being a time of great opportunity, yet also extreme vulnerability. Watkins’ concept revolves around the “breakeven point,” essentially the point at which you begin contributing as much value to your organization as you have consumed from it. The faster you reach that point, the faster you will build your business. 

To do this, he outlines ten strategies that are critical when making the transition into your new role… 

1. PROMOTE YOURSELF - Make a mental break from your old job and prepare to take charge in the new one. Never assume that what has made you successful in thus far in your career will continue to do so. The dangers of sticking with what you know, working hard at doing it, and failing miserably are very real.

2. ACCELERATE YOUR LEARNING - Climb the learning curve as fast as you can in your new organization. Understand the markets, products, technologies, systems, and structures, as well as its culture and politics. It feels like drinking from a fire hose. So you have to be systematic and focused about deciding what you need to learn.

3. MATCH STRATEGY TO SITUATION - There are no universal rules for success in transitions. You need to diagnose the business situation accurately and clarify its challenges and opportunities. Watkins identifies four very different situations that you could walk into: launching a start-up, leading a turnaround, devising a realignment, or sustaining a high-performing unit. It is critical to know what your situation looks like before you develop your action plan.

4. SECURE EARLY WINS – Each win builds your credibility and create momentum. They create virtuous cycles that leverage organizational energy. In the first few weeks, you need to identify opportunities to build personal credibility. In the first 90 days, you need to identify ways to create value and improve business results.

5. NEGOTIATE SUCCESS - You need to figure out how to build a productive working relationship with your new boss and manage his or her expectations. No other relationship is more important. This means carefully planning a series of critical talks about the situation, expectations, style, resources, and your personal development. Crucially, it means developing and gaining consensus on your 90-day plan.

6. ACHIEVE ALIGNMENT - The higher you rise in an organization, the more you have to play the role of organizational architect. This means figuring out whether the organization’s strategy is sound, bringing its structure into alignment with its strategy, and developing the systems and skills bases necessary to realize you strategy.

7. BUILD YOUR TEAM - If you are inheriting a team, you will need to evaluate its members. Perhaps you need to restructure it to better meet demands of the situation. Your willingness to make tough early personnel calls and your capacity to select the right people for the right positions are among the most important drivers of success during your transition.

8. CREATE COALITIONS - Your success will depend on your ability to influence people outside your direct line of control. Supportive alliances, both internal and external, will be necessary to achieve your goals. Start immediately.

9. KEEP YOUR BALANCE - The risks of losing perspective, getting isolated, and making bad calls are ever present during transitions. The right advice-and-counsel network is an indispensable resource.

10. EXPEDITE EVERYONE - Finally, you need to help everyone in your organization - direct reports, bosses, and peers - accelerate their own transitions. The quicker you can get your new direct reports up to speed, the more you will help your own performance.

Overall, I would highly encourage any aspiring new leader to pick up a copy of this book. It’s a short read that can have lasting impact on your future success. Besides, who wants to really be part of that “or else” anyway? That was motivation enough for me…

 

 

 

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