Giveaway: When you leave a comment here, (or tweet, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) you'll be entered to win one of three autographed copies of Managing with a Conscience (2nd ed.) by @fsonnenberg. The giveaway will close on Thursday, February 23 at midnight (ET); I'll announce the winner on February 24.
A few weeks ago, Lolly Daskal, Founder of Lead from Within, asked if I would read Managing with a Conscience (2nd ed) by Frank Sonnenberg, saying, "His is one of my top books of the year, and I have read many books." In Managing.., Sonnenberg, formerly the national director of marketing for Ernst & Young Management Consulting, examines nine critical success factors for competing in the 21st century. As he notes, "You won't find these attributes in the annual report because they are intangible and difficult to quantify. But that doesn't make them any less important..."
There was so much to like about Frank's book. In addition to my thinking he'd make a great guest on Real Recognition Radio, and that several of the checklist were the kernels of a great HBR post, here are just few ideas that stood out.
1) Watch for language that stifles creativity. In the chapter, "It's a good idea, but...", Sonnenberg talks about how we quash innovation via verbal roadblocks. Here are just a few: "What you came up with is ok, but let's do it differently." "I know there's no reason to have it tomorrow, but I want it then." Or, "Sorry I didn't review your idea yet. I've seen 50 others like yours this week." If you're like me, I say these at work... I say them even more at home.
Source: Shelli Dorfe, Etsy
2) The importance of stories: "Stories are nonthreatening; they expand perception, highlight possibilities, challenge the imagination, and make difficult concepts engaging. Stories help us deal with complex feelings, open us to new relationships, and call us to action. To be effective, stories must include goals reached, aspirations achieved, and dreams fulfilled."
When I first left Wall Street, I wrote a story, titled "Daughter of the Wind." Even if I never publish this book, the story will have helped me deal with complex feelings, to make meaning of my life, and to mark a dream fulfilled.
3) Listening: According to Sonnenberg, "Though we spend 45% of our time listening, if report cards were given out, few us would receive a passing grade. Barriers to listening include: assuming a subject is uninteresting and tuning out, focusing on how something is said rather than on what is being said, reacting too quickly before the message is completed, picking up on emotional words and not hearing the rest of the message, listening only for facts, rather than trying to absorb the ideas, allowing yourself to be distracted, and avoiding listening to subjects you don't understand."
Prior to reading this, perhaps you, like me, thought yourself a good listener. I'm especially guilty of avoiding listening to subjects I don't understand. Well, actually, I could do all of these better, including listening for facts, not just ideas.
I could go on, but rather than listening to me, I'd rather you listen to Frank. To be eligible for one of three autographed copies of Managing with a Conscience, leave a comment here, or you can post something to social media w/ a link back. Here are some suggestions:
"A minute can be a lifetime" http://bit.ly/AppHX1 -- @fsonnenberg v @johnsonwhitney
"Learn to treat time as personal capital. Invest it wisely." - @fsonnenberg v @johnsonwhitney
"If grades were given out for listening, would yours be passing?" http://bit.ly/AppHX1 - @fsonnenberg v @johnsonwhitney
"Trying to do everything yourself is not good management, it is an addiction." http://bit.ly/AppHX1 - @fsonnenberg v @johnsonwhitney
"Character in the long run is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and of nations alike." http://bit.ly/AppHX1 - Theodore Roosevelt via @fsonnenberg
Okay, I wasn't truly interested in the give away until I read your comments on what you appreciated about the book. I guess managing indeed applies to managing families, and those thoughts above were a gentle reminder!
Posted by: Amy Jo | February 20, 2012 at 09:17 PM
So true about listening. Presenters believe that if they are asked to give a talk and the time allotted is 30 minutes that means they should talk for 30 minutes. BUT when a presenter only talks for 20 minutes instead of 30, the audience is happy. They have time to make comments, ask questions and digest what has been said. I wonder when the day will come that a presentation will be redefined as a dialogue, not a monologue with the audience. And time will be given for the dialogue and the listening to each other.
Posted by: claudyne | February 21, 2012 at 10:03 AM
What a great idea for a book! When I teach classes, I leave time at the end for an open forum, and that is where I truly learn and grow the most!
Posted by: AnnaCash | February 21, 2012 at 02:07 PM
Will add these tools to my group facilitation skills - the stories seems like a great addition.
Posted by: dikla | February 21, 2012 at 04:03 PM
Fascinating! I want to read it.
Posted by: Maria | February 22, 2012 at 12:34 PM
I appreciate how you highlight and champion others. Thank you for your perception of this author. I desire to read it.
Posted by: Ellen G Lunt | February 22, 2012 at 02:40 PM
Whitney, thanks for posting about Sonnenberg's book. Sounds like a great read. As you know, I'm big fan of points #1-3 that you share, although I know I have much room to improve myself in all those areas. I hope I'm lucky enough to snag a copy!
Erik
Posted by: Erik | February 23, 2012 at 07:37 PM
Congratulations Monika Hardy, Vicki van Alstine, and Claudyne Wilder on winning autographed copies of Frank's book!
Erik, Dikla, Maria, Anna, Amy -- thank you, as always, for leaving comments!
Posted by: Whitney | February 24, 2012 at 11:45 AM