Book Recommendations
Meet your next favourite book...
Powerful
by Patty McCord
We maintain a healthy scepticism about "how I transformed my organisation" books. This is tempered with a healthy does of confirmation bias: Patty McCord recommends a set of behaviours that we also recommend.
We're going to be handing this book out to lots of people though. It's clear, it's succinct, it's not self aggrandising but it is full of common sense suggestions from someone who has actually delivered.
Hit refresh
by Satya Nadella
Yet another Chief Executive explaining how they turned the company around. And it's quite soon to claim to have transformed Microsoft's fortunes
Even so, this is both interesting and highly readable. And Satya's focus on mindset and culture is right on the money for us.
Buy Hit Refresh: The quest to discover Microsoft's soul and imagine a better future for everyone. Now
The Square and the Tower
by Niall Ferguson
We have argued that we live in the connected age. So a book analysing how connectedness (networks) have influenced human history seems extremely relevant.
This book is a history of the west through the framing of networks (the town square) and hierarchies (the tower).
At times it seems to stretch to include significant events within this approach but it is largely successful. It also contains an excellent introduction to network analysis in general.
by Ellen Pao
A really important book. On the face of it Ellen Pao's experiences in a Silicon Valley Venture Capital firm may not seem to have wider relevance. Sadly they do. If you care about organisational culture you must read this book.
by Rutger Bregman
It is an extremely easy read. It makes a fluent case for universal basic income, substantial changes to the financial system and labour market reform including global free movement. Worth a read if you're interested in these sorts of things (and who isn't)?
by Dave Gray
This book is brilliant - a compelling read. Liminal thinking is about making change happen by changing underlying beliefs and mindsets. The book starts by explaining how beliefs shape everything, then explains what you can do with that knowledge to create positive change. Dave gives clarity to a complex subject through compelling storytelling and doodles.
Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
by Ed Catmull
The best business book I have ever read. It's reaffirms everything we do though looks at things from a different angle. It's the story of Pixar and how they grew it and all the things they discovered along the way.
The Service Startup. Design Gets Lean
by Tenny Pinheiro
In an age of lean startup culture Tenny makes a case for a shift from your typical MVP to the MVS (Minimal Viable Service). Hold off on that business model canvas, you need to spend longer in discovery phase, use empathy and look at needs before jumping right into the solutions, platforms and services with your MVP. Links to lots of free tools too!
Teaming: How Organizations Learn, Innovate, and Compete in the Knowledge Economy
by Amy Edmondson
I really like this book. It's clear, it's well evidenced and it's packed with practical insights. If you are a manager in an organisation seeking to understand how you can help improve collaboration and effectiveness, this is a great work. It's very detailed, which might not work for everyone and, though it is clearly written it's not the most accessible book around. A serious book for serious folk.
Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World
by General Stanley McChrystal
Stan McChrystal has quite a story to tell and he tells it well. He took the Special Operations Command and turned it into a networked, lean organisation. As always with "how I did it" books we have to take his word for many of his successes. Yet, if you're looking for a practical and accessible case study of how you might really do this "connect-age" stuff in your own organisation, this will give you that.
The Connected Company
by Dave Gray and Thomas Vander Wal
This excellent book explains why organisations need to be adaptable in today's connected society (adapt or die!) and explains how you get there from here, including the first steps you can make to change on Monday morning. It applies to all types of organisation - not just the corporate world. Miss it at your peril!
Turn this Ship Around
by L David Marquet
The story of a US naval officer charged with leading a nuclear submarine without detailed knowledge of the technical workings of the ship. It was the worst performing submarine in the US army. The book is jammed full of really practical things you can do as a leader to give autonomy to your team - leading by asking the right questions.
Steal Like an Artist
by
This quick (read it in one sitting) amusing read guides you on how to become more creative in your thinking. Nothing new, yet good if you're stuck with something.
The Brand Gap
by Marty Nuemeier
Brand 101, this is a no nonsense investigation of how brand works on many levels. How do you get the brand right? with values in one hand and commercial reality to grow, reach new markets, diversify in the other hand. He builds the case for connecting your brand to emotion in order to create memories. Experience design with product and services can create a memory that means trust. Trust is everything.
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