Bookshelf 13 -
New Thinking for Leaders and Managers
Changing Minds: The Art and
Science of Changing Our Own and Other Peoples Minds
By Howard Gardner
Pub Harvard Business School Press 2004 ISBN1578517095
Written by top cognitive psychologist, and author of Frames of Mind, this is a book for leaders and managers and people who influence others. The focus is on applying our own knowledge of how the mind works to bring about positive change, both for ourselves and for those who impact on our daily lives. The author uses examples from science, religious leaders and artists, people who have broken the mould and helped to reshape our thinking. Of art in the form of literature, music and sculpture, to name but a few, he challenges his readers to acknowledge the subconscious power of the arts; the power to bring about a change of mind and new ideas.
Fish: A remarkable way to boost morale and improve results
By Stephen C Lundin, Harry Paul, John Christensen
Pub Hodder & Stoughton 2001 £5.99 + P&P
ISBN 0340819804
This little parable is an easy read (under an hour) and has some simple but profound messages on how to create a playfully productive atmosphere at work. It all starts with choosing the attitude you bring to work – and remembering that there is always a choice about the way you do your work, even if you cannot choose the work you do. You’ll have to read it yourself to find out what the other 3 steps are – or I’ll spoil the story for you!
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Out of Our Minds - Learning to
Be Creative
By Ken Robinson
Pub: Capstone 2001 ISBN 1841121258
Why is it essential to develop creativity, promote creativity,
and what is involved in developing it? This book tackles
these questions and argues for radical changes in how
we think about intelligence and human resources and
in how we educate people to meet the extraordinary challenges
of the 21st century. Review
The Elephant And The Flea:
Looking backwards to the future
By Charles Handy
Pub: Hutchinson £17.99 ISBN 0099415658
A great book from the most arts-management-friendly
guru on the planet. Handy adopts a simple, friendly,
autobiographical and anecdotal style in this, his latest,
management book in which he explores the future of everything
– education, work, capitalism, management and
society. If you haven’t read any Handy yet (and
if not, why not?) then this is a great one to start
on – as he provides a summary of his earlier important
big ideas as well as his latest thinking. This rates
next to Age of Unreason as one of the most important
management books around. Review
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Navigating Complexity - The Essential Guide to Complexity Theory in Business and Management
by Arthur Battram
Pub: The Industrial Society 1998 £12.99 ISBN 1 858358701
A delightful, visually appealing and thought provoking guide to 20 key concepts that are transforming how business people, scientists and consultants think about the world. It is beautifully crafted with diagrams, quotations, illustrations, examples and plenty of cross referencing. So if you need a helping hand on coming to terms with chaos, complex behaviour, the web of life, possibility space and fitness landscapes (and how any of these can help in management) - treat yourself to this little book. Review
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Management Challenges for the 21st Century
by Peter Drucker
Pub: Butterworth Heinemann, 1999 ISBN 075065712 X £14.99
[18.36 inc p&p]
The latest from probably the most influential management thinker for the non-profit sector. At 90, Peter Drucker has still got his finger on the pulse of the management world and is able to provide an amazing array of profound new ideas for management tomorrow. He stresses that this is a management book not a business management book, and deals with challenges that face all organisations. It is a fascinating read - and a call to action. Review
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The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People- Powerful Lessons in Personal Change
by Stephen Covey
Pub: Simon & Schuster 1992 £10.99 Plus p&p
ISBN 0 684 85839 8
"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." This is Aristotle, quoted by Stephen Covey. Paradigms and principles - vision, leadership and communications, management, co-operation - it is all in here. A very powerful book that represents a holistic, integrated, principle-centred approach to solving personal and professional problems. A world-leading best-seller.
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The Age of Unreason: New thinking for a new world
by Charles Handy
Pub: Arrow Business Books 1989 ISBN 0099548313
A book of dangerous ideas written for people in organisations "because it is their hands that rest on the levers of change, although they may not always realise it." Classic Handy - a compelling read that introduces ideas that have caused major ripples in management thinking. This is where you find upside -down thinking, the triple I organisation, the Shamrock Organisation, the Inverted Doughnut and lots on learning, reframing and portfolios. Handy encourages us into "thinking the unlikely and doing the unreasonable". Sixteen years on and it's still all relevant. Highly recommended. Review
Creative Management
edited by Jane Henry
Pub: Sage Publications 2001 2nd edition ISBN 07619 66110
A powerful collection of essays written by some of the most influential management thinkers of our time on the need for creative thought in management. It looks at creativity from a range of viewpoints including the scientific, cognitive and psychodynamic as well as management perspectives. It looks at problem solving, mapping, networking, intuition, imaging and judgement. It also considers the relationship between personal management style and creative behaviour.
The New Alchemists: How Visionary
People Make Something Out Of Nothing
by Charles Handy with photographs by Elizabeth Handy
Pub: Hutchinson, London 1999, ISBN 0091802156
Handy (in coffee table form here, not management guide
or philosopher) explores the dimensions of "new
alchemy"; that is creating something significant
- an activity, an idea, perhaps an organisation, from
nothing. These are people "who make a distinctive
difference to the world around" them. Handy interviewed
29 people, including Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod
founders of Cheek by Jowl theatre company, and Rose
Fenton and Lucy Neal of the London International Festival
of Theatre. It’s a lively and interesting read.
Review
Dialogue at Work: Making talk developmental for people and organisations
by Nancy M. Dixon Pub Lemos & Crane £12.99
This book makes the case for dialogue or “developmental talk” between work colleagues. Far from stating the obvious, this book examines some well-grounded theories about the nature of developmental talk and then makes practical suggestions for how to make sure it happens more often at work. Thought provoking, possibly even inspiring. Well worth a look.
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Six Thinking Hats
By Edward de Bono
Pub Penguin 1985 / revised 1999 £7.99 ISBN 0140296662
A powerful little book that is a best-seller and a classic
worldwide. Six different coloured hats are used to symbolise
six different modes of thinking. A simple and practical
method of using these modes introduces “parallel
thinking” instead of argument and allows groups
to develop better ideas and reach better decision in
a fraction of the usual time. Based on an understanding
of how the brain works, the six hats method allows the
fullest use to be made of everyone’s intelligence,
experience and information. Well worth reading –
and implementing.
A Peacock in the Land of Penguins : Fable about Creativity and Courage
By B J Gallagher Hateley & Warren H Schmidt
McGraw Hill 2002 ISBN 1576751732
A delightful illustrated fable that looks at valuing difference and creativity, now with added tips and tools for teaching penguins to fly! Treat yourself to this one and enjoy. “There once was a time in the not so distant past…
Creativity and Perception in Management
By Jane Henry
Pub SAGE 2001 ISBN 0761968253
This is a key text on the Open University’s MA
in ‘Creativity, Innovation and Change’ and
outlines the importance of creativity and innovation
to today’s organisation. Sections cover creativity,
perception, style, values and sustainability. It draws
on material about how the brain works and the importance
of tacit knowledge and intuitive thinking in uncertain
environments. It introduces a variety of perspectives
and metaphors, including complexity; and suggests ways
the reader can reframe their own mind-sets. It goes
onto cover fundamental personality characteristics,
the impact of personal style on creativity, problem
solving etc; and the implications of cultural values
on today’s business practice. It concludes with
ways in which organisations can adopt more socially
responsible and sustainable practices. It is a very
valuable resource, covering a wide range of management
ideas, drawing from other people’s work and introducing
the material in an accessible way including lists, charts,
diagrams, illustrations and with suggested activities,
questions to consider and further reading lists.
Create! A toolkit for creative
problem solving in the not-for-profit sector
By Mark Butcher
Pub DSC 2005 ISBN 1903991579 £14.95
The author describes creativity as the critical (and
often ignored) element in the successful application
of the management skills. “Creativity enables
you to see beyond the accepted, usual, normal ways of
acting and behaving – in order to find a better,
more effective or quicker way of achieving the results
you need.”
It is a wonderful resource with an enormous range of
powerful ideas presented in an accessible and friendly
manner. There are practical exercises to try out with
well-reasoned explanations of why it is worth giving
them a try and each chapter includes examples of creative
ideas put into practice within the voluntary sector.
A very valuable toolkit. Review
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Bookshelf 13 |
