READ AND LEARN
Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action
Why do some organizations succeed in inspiring action, both internally among employees and externally among consumers, while others falter? "Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action" by Simon Sinek
Why do some organizations succeed in inspiring action, both internally among employees and externally among consumers, while others falter? "Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action" by Simon Sinek delves into this pivotal question. Sinek, with his unique perspective drawn from a rich professional background as a motivational speaker and marketing consultant, posits that the key lies not in what organizations do, but why they do it. His exploration into the underlying motives that drive successful leaders and organizations reveals the power of starting with a clear, compelling whyβa purpose, cause, or belief that serves as the foundation for all actions and decisions.
Simon Sinek's insights stem from a simple model known as the Golden Circle. At its core, the Golden Circle places "Why" at the center, surrounded by "How" (the process or unique value proposition) and "What" (the product or service). Sinek argues that most companies do this in reverse, focusing on what they do without clarifying why. This fundamental misstep, he suggests, is what prevents them from achieving the level of influence and loyalty seen in highly successful organizations and leaders.
Key Takeaways
The importance of starting with why to inspire action.
The Golden Circle model: Why, How, What.
The role of biology in decision-making and leadership.
How great leaders communicate from the inside out.
The concept of the "diffusion of innovations" and early adopters.
The necessity of a clear, compelling why for organizational alignment and direction.
The difference between manipulation and inspiration in leading others.
The impact of why-driven leadership on culture and innovation.
The challenge of maintaining your why in the face of success and growth.
The power of why in personal leadership and career fulfillment.
How can you use these insights too boost your work
Identifying and articulating your personal or organizational why to guide decision-making.
Using the Golden Circle framework to realign marketing and communication strategies.
Developing leadership communication skills that inspire rather than manipulate.
Building a company culture that's rooted in a shared why.
Innovating in ways that are consistent with your why.
Attracting and retaining talent and customers who believe in your why.
Navigating challenges and opportunities with your why as a compass.
Scaling your organization without losing sight of your foundational why.
Applying the concept of why to personal career development and satisfaction.
Using why to create more meaningful and effective networking and partnerships.
While "Start with Why" offers a transformative perspective on leadership and organizational success, its reliance on a select group of case studies, primarily Apple, might limit its applicability across different industries or cultural contexts. Additionally, the book could offer more guidance on navigating the complexities and potential conflicts that arise when trying to implement its principles in established organizations.
In conclusion, "Start with Why" provides a compelling argument for the necessity of understanding and articulating a clear why in both personal leadership and organizational management. It's a must-read for anyone looking to inspire and lead more effectively. Whether you're at the helm of a startup, leading a team within a large corporation, or seeking to inject more purpose into your personal career trajectory, Simon Sinek's insights offer valuable guidance.
The Lean Start up
"The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses" written by Eric Ries.
Todayβs reading pick:
"The Lean Startup: How Today's Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses" is written by Eric Ries. He is an entrepreneur, author and speaker. He is the creator of the Lean Startup methodology and has advised startups, venture capitalists and large companies around the world. He is also the author of "The Startup Way" and "The Lean Entrepreneurβ
The book provides a guide for entrepreneurs and business leaders on how to create and run successful startups using the Lean Startup methodology. The book argues that traditional startup methods are no longer effective in today's fast-paced, uncertain business environment and that a new approach is needed. The Lean Startup methodology is characterized by a focus on customer feedback, rapid experimentation, and continuous learning.
The book covers a wide range of topics, including how to create a culture of innovation, how to identify and prioritize customer needs, how to build and test minimum viable products, and how to measure and improve performance. The author also provides practical guidance on how to implement Lean practices in startups, including how to overcome resistance to change and how to scale Lean practices across the startup.
Key takeaways from the book:
The Lean Startup methodology is a powerful way for entrepreneurs to create and run successful startups.
To be successful, startups must create a culture of innovation that values customer feedback, rapid experimentation, and continuous learning.
Identifying and prioritizing customer needs is critical to success.
Building and testing minimum viable products is a key Lean practice that helps startups validate customer needs and preferences.
Measuring and improving performance is essential to ongoing success.
Scaling Lean practices across the startup is crucial for success.
Resistance to change is a common obstacle to the adoption of Lean practices, but it can be overcome with the right approach.
Lean Startup methods are not only for new ventures, but also can be used in established businesses to drive innovation.
Lean practices can be applied to a wide range of functions, including product development, sales, marketing, and customer service.
Continuous learning is the key to ongoing success with the Lean Startup approach.
Enjoy the read and have fun learning!
Taiichi Ohno
Reading Pick of the day!Toyota Production System - beyond large scale production. Written by the famous mechanical engineer - Taiichi Ohno.
Todayβs reading pick:
Taiichi Ohno - Toyota Production System Beyond large scale production
Taiichi Ohno composed this fundamental book in 1978. As one of Toyota Motor Company's first mechanical designers, he was enlivened by the standards created by Toyota's author Toyoda KiichirΕ. Part manual and part philosophical composition on productivity, Ohno's aide respects the Japanese auto trailblazer's developments in assembling. This 1988 release deciphers the first Japanese form into English. Its outline of the Toyota fabricating cycle will engage history specialists and to every one of those inspired by the "without a moment to spare" ethos that presently overwhelms the globalized economy.
Take-Aways
Toyota changed Ford's mass production system to incorporate "just-in-time" manufacturing
Toyoda KiichirΕ made "Toyotaism" during the 1930s, setting the norm for Japanese auto fabricating
American grocery stores propelled Toyota's creative, in the nick of time creation framework
The kanban - or billboard - is a bunch of directions that decide the progression just-in-time manufacturing
"Smoothing productionβ flattens the "ups and downs" that lead to failure
Right away, laborers opposed evolving from "one operator one machine" to "one operator, many machines in various cyclesβ
The in the nick of time framework plans to wipe out squander at each phase of creation
Utilizing a norm "work sheet" assists supervisors with running the Toyota Production System
The just-in-time point of view empowers supervisors, mid mgmt. and operators to embrace flexibility
Enjoy the read and have fun learning!
Out of the Crisis
Reading Pick of the day! Out of the Crisis. A classic but now more valid than ever! Written by the godfather of good mgmt. W. Edwards Deming.
Todayβs reading pick:
Out of the crisis - by W. Edwards Deming
Deming could be called the Majestro of quality control, the Grand Monsieur of business consulting, the Godfather of management science. Deming is the source of modern business thought. He helped engineer the rise of Japanese competitiveness in the consumer goods sector, thereby giving a major prod to globalization. Perhaps his only failure was not envisioning the extremes to which others would later push his ideas of βconstancy of purposeβ (e.g. continuous quality improvement). Then again, their own ideas often come back to haunt prophets and, on most points, Deming passes the test of time with flying colors. In this reprint of his 1986 classic, his arguments for single supplier sourcing and for leadership rather than supervision, and against production quotas and the absurd practice of management by walking around, ring as true today as ever.
Take-Aways
The US economy needs revolution, transformation and change, not a hot fix.
The theory that manufacturers have to choose between high volume and high quality is a lie.
Production increases as quality improves, because products require less βreworkβ and employees are more satisfied, which leads to greater productivity.
Japan has no natural resources; it succeeds due to its commitment to quality.
Like auto accident statistics, measures of productivity tell you what went wrong but not how to fix it.
Companies must guide workersβ efforts with a theory of management. Just having everyone try to do their best is insufficient and will lead to chaos.
You have to build quality instead of checking for it.
Quotas and management by numbers work against quality. Get rid of them.
Relying on a single source supplier will enhance quality in the long run.
If you hire consultants, give them the authority to visit any aspect of the company.
Enjoy the read and have fun learning!
A Manager's guide to coaching
Reading Pick of the day! A managerβs guide to coaching. Simple and effective ways to get the BEST out of your employees - by Brian Emerson and Anne Loehr.
Todayβs reading pick:
A managerβs guide to coaching - by brian emerson and anne loehr
In this absolut useful book, two executive coaches, Anne Loehr and Brian Emerson, explain what coaching is, how it functions and how managers can learn to put it to work to improve employeesβ productivity and morale. Often people are unaware of attitudes or behaviors that are holding them back or jeopardizing their careers. Thatβs where a good coach plays a crucial role. The authors delve into coachingβs methods, explain its benefits, and offer thoughtful instructions and examples. They devote the last third of the book to specific questions to ask while coaching. How youβll react to the writing style, which is generally clear and serviceable, depends on if you think that βcoacheeβ is a real word and that βeveryone does their workβ is good enough on the grammar front. Either way, this is a straightforward, practical book for managers who want to be productive coaches.
KEY Take aways
An employeeβs success depends on βaptitude, attitude and resources.β Attitude matters most. In fact, a better outlook can make up for shortfalls in skills or materials.
Coaching helps staffers address behaviors and outlooks that hurt their productivity.
The βW.I.N. B.I.G.β process outlines steps to use with your staff members. In the W.I.N. stage, ask questions to help employees develop self-awareness about issues that are holding them back.
In the B.I.G. stage, help them plan and institute problem-solving action.
Effective coaches believe in employeesβ potential, remain detached, heed their own instincts, set an easy atmosphere, donβt bog down and show alternative perspectives.
Coaches must βlisten,β pay attention, offer βfeedbackβ and βcelebrateβ victories.
Coaching offers employees an exciting journey of personal and career growth.
Enjoy the read and have fun learning!
Office Lean
Reading Pick of the day! Office Lean - Understanding and implementing flow in a professional and administrative environment - by Ken Eakin.
Todayβs reading pick:
Office Lean - Understanding and Implementing Flow in a Professional and Administrative Environment
As an operations guy Ken Eakin shows how to use lean management techniques to support your employees to meet their targets and fulfill the customer expectations. Lean management therefore relies on two principles:
Balance: when everything is balanced the work flows without interruption
Continuity: allows employees to finish their tasks with only minor interruptions
Ken recommends a Lean Manager to implement continuity and balance in order to maintain and deliver high value to the customers faster.
This book isnβt a fast read, with its solid information it provides a guide for managers which want to have a solution oriented organization.
We recommend this book to managers that are seeking for a guide to reshape their processes to a value adding work flow.
Key take aways of this book
Conventional management models donβt work well in an economy dominated by services and information as a product
You can change the behavior of people with a systematic approach and not by only providing information
Management has to see their organization as a system that creates results
Workflow doesnβt mean dividing the organization in work streams, see the workflow as a system that is interlinked
The value stream is the starting point of all actions, separating Man/Machine/Material/etc. is an outdated point of view
Efficiency in offices starts with scheduling tasks
Kanban is a great tool that can be used to steer tasks in offices
Expose information from experts to the complete organization
Balance your workflow in the office to avoid bottle necks
Fulfill your customers expectations and you will get your return on investment
Lean leaders coach and support their employees - they are the role models who walk the talk
Enjoy reading and improving!
The Lean Product Playbook
Reading Pick of the day! The Lean Product Playbook - How to Innovate with Minimum Viable Products and Rapid Customer Feedback - by Dan Olsen.
Todayβs reading pick:
The Lean Product Playbook:
How to Innovate with Minimum Viable Products and Rapid Customer Feedback" is a book written by Dan Olsen. Dan Olsen is a product management expert and consultant who has worked with several startups and large companies to help them develop and launch successful products.
The book provides a comprehensive guide to using Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and rapid customer feedback to innovate and create successful products. The author argues that by using this approach, organizations can validate their product ideas, gain valuable customer insights, and improve their chances of success. The book is divided into four parts: the first part provides an overview of the MVP approach, the second part examines how to create and launch MVPs, the third part looks at how to use customer feedback to improve products, and the fourth part provides guidance on how to scale and grow successful products.
Key takeaways from the book:
The Lean Product Playbook is a comprehensive guide to using Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and rapid customer feedback to innovate and create successful products.
MVPs are a powerful tool for validating product ideas and gaining valuable customer insights.
The book covers the complete process of creating and launching MVPs, from idea generation to customer feedback.
The book provides practical tips and strategies for creating MVPs that are effective in validating product ideas and gaining customer insights.
The book emphasizes the importance of rapid customer feedback and how to use it to improve products.
The book highlights the importance of involving customers in the product development process.
The book provides guidance on how to scale and grow successful products.
The book covers the common challenges that organizations face when creating MVPs and how to overcome them.
The book is designed for both startup and established companies, making it a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their product development process.
The book emphasizes that the ultimate goal of MVPs is to validate the product-market fit and that the MVP should be seen as a learning tool, not a product launch.
In conclusion, The Lean Product Playbook is a valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their product development process. The book provides a comprehensive guide to using Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) and rapid
Enjoy reading and improving!
Understanding A3
Reading Pick of the day! Understanding A3 thinking a Critical Component of Toyotaβs PDCA Management System - by Durward K. Sobek and Art Smalley.
Todayβs reading pick:
Understanding A3 thinking
A3 is a given systematic in the lean management world. This book can be seen as a manual for developing an A3 beyond just the format and functionality. The authors take you on a little journey of the development, the usage of the A3 at Toyota and the systematic approach behind it incl. the well known PDCA methodology.
The authors make it very clear that the philosophy of problem solving and the underling process of continuous improvement matter far more than only the layout of the A3 report. At Toyota the permanent use of PDCA and the A3 methodology has developed generations of critically questioning problem solvers with the positive effect of daily continuous improvements putting Toyota first in the field.
KEY take aways of this book
Toyota remains among the worldβs most successful car manufactures.
The PDCA and A3 methodology strives for the ultimate philosophy of continuous improvement.
The A3 thinking process orientates itself among seven crucial elements that support visualization and a common understanding.
The A3 format can be individual adjusted based on the needs.
Toyota is mainly using the PDCA based A3 process for problem solving, status reports and proposals.
Donβt use the A3 report always in the same way. As mentioned before, style and form depend on the matter and should support the understanding.
Enjoy reading and improving!
The machine that changed the world
Reading Pick of the day! The machine that changed the world - by James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones and Daniel Roos.
Todayβs reading pick:
The machine that changed the world
The machine that changed the world by James P. Womack, Daniel T. Jones and Daniel Roos is a management classic. Not only taught in worldwide leading business schools, this book remains relevant since first published in 1990. Itβs about the never ending cycle of disruption, innovation and change in markets and technologies. This book offers you great lessons of the lean revolution itself as well as the transformation trough digitization and advanced computing technology.
Key Take Aways of this Book
Coming from Toyotas lean manufacturing process - two main roots > mass and best of class production.
The price to quality ratio got Toyota on the top of the industry.
Lean production beats mass production across all process steps in car manufacturing.
In the west distribution of cars is still set up as it was during Henry Fordβs time (outdated).
The market you want to compete in is the market you have to produce.
Lean production faces the same obstacles in acceptance like mass production once did.
Lean production will develop to the mainstream format of industrial manufacturing of goods in the 21st century.
The big question after reading this book is if the western countries will be able to find their own way in lean manufacturing or if the Japanese will drive the market?
Enjoy reading and improving!
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