Eric Jacobson On Management And Leadership

If you want to learn how to more effectively embrace change, read   Build For Tomorrow , by   Jason Feifer , Editor in chief of  Entrepreneur  magazine and host of the podcasts   Build For Tomorrow   and   Problem Solvers .  “My book is for anyone facing down an uncertain future, as well as a practical guide for every entrepreneur and aspiring entrepreneur,” says Feifer.  Organized around the four phases of change, Feifer shares personal insights and learnings from his interviews with success entrepreneurs and changemakers who have experienced tectonic shifts in work, culture, and life.  The  four phases of change  are: Panic Adapt New Normal Wouldn’t Go Back  – When we gain something so new and great that we wouldn’t want to go back to a time before we had it.  “Change is coming. It’s here. It cannot be stopped! And when it comes for us, we really only two choices – to embrace it, or to fight a losing fight,” explain...

  “The chaos of everyday business forces people into an exhausting, ineffective, seemingly never-ending cycle of workarounds, firefighting, and Whac-a-Mole,” share the authors of the new book, There’s Got To Be A Better Way .  And in their book, the authors, Nelson P. Repenning and Donald C. Kieffer , explain there is indeed a better way.  They share the game-changing discipline of dynamic work design that improves productivity, reduces costs, and increases efficiency, ensuring that all parts of a company can work in concert. The discipline has been used in organizations around the world to close the gap between the results promised and results delivered.   The five principles of dynamic work design are:  Solve the right problem – Structured problem-solving to break the biases that come with past success and help you find new levels of performance. Effective problem-solving is the engine of adaptation and agility. Structure for discovery – A series of simple...

Five years ago, I posted about the book, Humanocracy . In it, the authors, Gary Hamel and Michele Zanini , present a fascinating look at how to breakdown the bureaucracy within an organization and unleash the power and true abilities of the human beings in that organization, making the organization more bold, entrepreneurial, and as nimble as change itself.  Humanocracy expertly lays out a detailed blueprint for creating organizations that are inspiring and ingenious, and it provides you with research-based examples, practical guidance and, most important, action steps to take immediately.  Since the book’s release, companies such as Bayer, Ferrari, Ingersoll Rand, GE Appliances, Roche Pharmaceuticals, and the US Army have embraced the book’s principles.  Today brings the extensively updated and expanded edition of Humanocracy . It features new case studies and timely insights drawn from the last five years.  “Since the first edition, the stakes have only g...

Through the years, I’ve featured four books by  Robert L. Dilenschneider  on my blog. His books are that good.   Today, I highlight his The Ultimate Guide to Power & Influence , which is a  Wall Street Journal  Bestseller and has also been on the  USA Today  bestseller list.   In our rapidly changing world, adaptability and influence are key to success. “The book is a comprehensive guide designed to help young professionals and career changers navigate these changes,” says Dilenschneider.   The book is structured into 15 insightful chapters, each focusing on a unique aspect of power and influence. “Every chapter has something relevant for you, no matter your age or place in your career. Pick and choose what you need when you need it,” explains Dilenschneider.   You’ll learn about: understanding the power of personal connections how to pivot in your career the right way to make mistakes how to use influence for the greater good how to...

In his book,   Habits of a Peacemaker ,   Steven T. Collis , a leading expert on civil discourse, reveals ten practical habits that can help you navigate the potential minefields of hard topics and leave you and those you converse with feeling thoughtful and productive.  The  ten habits  are:  Intellectual Humility and Reframing Seek Real Learning Assume the Best About People Don’t Feed People’s Worst Fears Hunt for the Best Argument Against You Be Open to Change Spend Time with People A Sliver of Humor Seek Inner Peace Embrace the Discomfort of Non-Closure  “I have organized the book in a way that makes sense to me, but you should not feel the need to read it strictly from front to back,” shares Collis. “Each chapter provides useful guidance on how to achieve moments of peaceful, productive dialogue with the people in your life.”  He adds, “If how you treat others matters to you, this book offers powerful new habits that can give you the confiden...

From the book,  Anticipate, the Art of Leading by Looking Ahead , by  Rob-Jan De Jong , here are  13 energizing verbs the author recommends we use more often : Discover   (instead of See) Explore   (instead of Discuss) Radiate   (instead of Display) Uncover   (instead of Show) Transform   (instead of Change) Engage  (instead of Involve) Mobilize   (instead of Gather) Stretch   (instead of Develop) Boost   (instead of Increase) Propel  (instead of Move) Deliver   (instead of Give) Grasp   (instead of Understand) Connect   (instead of Join) Great advice, indeed!

To learn how to stay motivated, read  High-Profit Prospecting , by  Mark Hunter . It's a powerful read that includes counter intuitive advice and cutting-edge best practices for sales prospecting in today's business world. Today, I share one of my favorite sections of the book where Hunter describes his  seven things motivated people do to stay motivated : Motivated people  ignore voices in their lives . These might be people in the office and friends who have bad attitudes. They're out there, and if you're not careful, they'll control you, too. Motivated people  associate with highly motivated people . Just as there are negative people in the world, there are also positive people. Your job is to make sure you spend as much time with the positive people as possible.  Motivated people simply  look for the positive in things . Positive people count it an honor to live each day, learn from others, and impact positively those they meet. Positive people tak...

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated more than 55 years ago, yet his words continue to inspire millions of people, young and old—from all races and backgrounds. During his remarkable life, he embodied bold and compassionate leadership.  The new book, Lead Boldly , by Robert F. Smith , Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, is a personal reflection of how Dr. King inspired Smith. He shares his insights and experiences on how King’s themes like “The Beloved Community,” “Economic Justice,” and “Two Americas” played a central role in his own leadership development and why the visionary ideas of Dr. King espoused are so important for leaders to understand and apply today.  As you read the book, you can reflect on some of Dr. King’s most impactful speeches and integrate his lessons into your leadership journey.  Smith encourages readers to consider how they can:  Contribute to fostering unity, support, and positive change. Embrace the power to cre...

Gregg Thompson’s book,  The Master Coach , reveals these 10 mistakes that you should avoid when you coach someone:  Trying to be a great coach . Instead, put your energy into helping the person become great. Working too hard . It’s your job to challenge the person to do the hard work. Not saying what needs to be said. Neglecting to ask the person how you can be most helpful. Assuming the person is a challenge to overcome or a problem to be fixed . Coaching is not a project, but rather a special relationship and conversation. Talking too much . Silence and attentive listening are some of the most powerful coaching tools. Owning the outcome . The person being coached owns both the success and the failures; you don’t. Giving excessive well-meaning advice . Steering the conversation toward the path you know is best . Instead, allow the person to find their own best path forward. Finishing without a commitment . Insist the person promises to advance their cause in some way.

Alex Goryachev ’s book, Fearless Innovation , teaches you how to go beyond the buzzword of innovation to continuously drive growth, improve your bottom line and enact change.  It’s a down-to-earth guide that provides advice and actionable steps on how to: Get teams to embrace innovation beyond empty slogans. Focus on execution of innovation to showcase ROI . Break down organization silos by empowering effective, diverse, and inclusive teams . Communicate the value of innovation. “Innovation isn’t a  thing , it’s a mindset and attitude made up of clear principles that help individuals, organizations, and societies adapt to change, survive and grow, and prosper,” explains Goryachev. “Innovation is more art than science, but its principles can easily be put into practice.” Alex Goryachev Goryachev recommends you continually: Pay attention to current social, economic, and technological transformations that may be affecting your organization and understand their implications. An...

In  Choosing Courage , by  Jim Detert , he shares how to increase the chance of accomplishing something positive when acting with courage at work, while decreasing negative personal consequences.   You’ll learn the tangible and concrete steps to take, using a  courage ladder  (a personal roadmap of sorts), for how to have difficult conversations, engage in challenging situations, and embrace opportunities for courageous action in your workplace and in your own life.   Detert explains that his book is a must-read for you if you want to:   Do more to protect others at work —whether colleagues, subordinates, or customers. Do more to solve important problems at work , whether they be inefficiencies that waste time or money, internal processes that sap morale, or product or service choices that lead to dissatisfaction among current customers. Pursue opportunities more frequently , whether that means taking “stretch assignments” or pursuing work in a differe...

The book,   The Venture Mindset , is all about how to make smarter bets and achieve extraordinary growth. The authors,  Ilya Strebulaev   and   Alex Dang , explain that if any company wants to win big in competitive times, they need to think differently. They need to think like a venture capitalist (VC).   “This book teaches you to spot new opportunities, nurture the right talent, foster a culture of innovation, and take calculated risks,” say Strebulaev and Dang.   In their book, the authors share  nine distinct principles inspired by the unique way VC’s think :  Home Runs Matter, Strikeouts Don’t Get Outside the Four Walls Prepare Your Mind Say No 100 Times Bet on the Jockey Agree to Disagree Double Down or Quit Make the Pie Bigger Great Things Take Time  These nine principles drive VC’s unique behaviors that have flourished in an ecosystem of thousands of startups, some of which went on to disrupt or create entirely new industries, accordi...

To help you bring out the best in your team, you need to get close and understand their skills, abilities, and motivations. So, the authors of the book,  Your First Leadership Job , recommend you hold  getting-to-know-you conversations  with each of your direct reports. Ask these  open-ended questions . Let each team member know the purpose of the meeting in advance. And, don't cheat by adding in work-specific questions. What do you enjoy doing most as part of your work? Why? What do you  miss most about the jobs you've had in the past? Why? What things about your current job do you enjoy the least? Why? How do you cope with or relieve stress? To help you do your job, what could I change about: Your work environment? The content of your work? How you get your work done? What form of recognition do you prefer or not prefer? Thank you to the book's publisher for sending me a copy of the book.