Recommended Readings

I belong to a book club that fortunately meets every other month. This allows my busy colleagues and me the opportunity to actually read the books. I have to say that I’ve been impressed with the caliber of books that we’ve selected and the discussions that we’ve had.

- Cornelia Gamlem

WHO KILLED HEALTHCARE?
By Regina Herzlinger, DBA

In this thought-provoking and timely book, the author makes the case for consumer-driven health care. The author describes the problems with our present health care system and her vision of a new, future health care system against the backdrop of a the story about “Jack Morgan” who died of kidney disease. She raises several issues that give rise to serious discussion, that:

1. Insurers, hospitals and the government are all to blame for the current state of health care in the US.
2. Centralization of the health care system is a viable solution.
3. Consumers with money and information can change demand and create a health care system that meets their needs
4. That “focused factories” that deliver integrated care for specific diseases or conditions would be beneficial and enhance health care delivery.

Herzlinger contends that there are myths cited regarding consumer driven health care that are scare stories spread by opponents including the myth that consumers’ lack the ability to make good decisions and act frivolously.

WHAT IF? Short Stories to Spark Diversity Dialogue
By Steve L. Robbins

What better way to open up a dialogue on diversity than to tell stories, real-life accounts that connects the reader with the author? I was first introduced to the author at a conference where his topic was not diversity but storytelling. The book illustrates diversity and inclusion concepts through personal stories drawn from Robbins’ experiences. Through his stories, he challenges the reader to suspend his or her worldview and beliefs and consider the beliefs and worldviews of others. Each of the twenty-six stories ends with tools -- tips and suggestions for putting the key objective into actions within organizations and activities and assignments that can be incorporated into an organization’s diversity initiative.

THE ESSENTIAL HR HANDBOOK:
A quick and handy resource for any manager or HR professional
By Sharon Armstrong and Barbara Mitchell

This is a "must-read" book and it should be a part of the library of every managers, business owners and individual new to the HR profession.

Armstrong and Mitchell draw upon their own human resource experience and provide practical advice in a format that is easy to read. Their explanations of the HR function are concise and comprehensive. Filled with practical advice, tips, forms and checklists, this is an excellent reference. It is written in an easy to understand format that provides guidance on

• Staffing
• Employee development and performance assessment
• The basics of HR management including benefits, compensation and employee relations
• Managing a diverse workforce and other challenges of 21st Century workforce

LEADERSHIP THE ELEANOR ROOSEVELT WAY
By Robin Gerber

Leadership the Eleanor Roosevelt Way is a blend of her biography and a testimonial to her leadership ability. Against the backdrop of her life and the challenges she faced, Robin Gerber describes valuable leadership lessons from Eleanor’s life. Each lesson concludes with a discussion of “Eleanor’s Way.” My personal favorite was “Face Criticism with Courage” which tells the story of Marian Anderson being barred from singing at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC because of her race and Eleanor’s actions to arrange to have her perform on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. In a true demonstration of leadership, Eleanor did not attend the concert and gave her friend the full spotlight.

The lesson details the following steps: Get First Hand Information, Don’t Let the Critics Get in Your Way and Stay True to Yourself.

THE MAN IN THE GREY FLANNEL SUIT
By Sloan Wilson

The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit is a wonderfully written step back in time to the world of business in the 1950's. I think that most of my colleagues expected to be amused by the differences between work then and now. However, we found many thought provoking issues.

1. The question that Tom Rath, the book's protagonist wrestled with is timeless: how to maintain your personal values and family relationships while pursuing a rewarding career (work-life balance)
2. The book captured the mood of a generation. We discussed the insights this book had about generations in the workplace today?
3. If we have to know where we have been in order to know where we are going, we discussed what the book tells us about where we have been from the prospective of the organization.
4. The impact of war on those who serve and those who wait at home, an issue which unfortunately spans generations.

SABBATH, FINDING REST RENEWAL AND DELIGHT IN OUR BUSY LIVES
By Wayne Muller

Speaking of work-life balance, this is an excellent book to explore ways to take a break and renew yourself and your loved ones from hectic schedules and over-extended responsibilities. We do a poor job in modern society of putting boundaries around and separating our personal lives and our business lives. The author, Wayne Muller, organized the book around the themes of Rest, Rhythm, Time, Happiness, Wisdom and Consecration and provided an exercises, practical guidance and interesting ideas to achieve such separation. Two of my favorites were the Sabbath box, where you place cell phones, PDAs, and other gadgets in order to take a time-out from technological interferences, and preparing a Sabbath dinner, complete with candles, flowers and soothing music.

My colleagues and I took the opportunity to reflect on how we add balance and call “time out”. I continue to question, “How do we bring a Sabbath into our organizations, for the health of the organization and its workers?

A WHOLE NEW MIND: Moving From the Information Age to the Conceptual Age
By Daniel Pink

We are shifting from an Information Age dominated by the linear, left-brain thinkers to a Conceptual Age which will need right-brain abilities. So all you creative thinkers, rejoice. Pink explains, in his easy writing style, the forces he sees as responsible for this movement: Abundance, Asia and Automation, and goes on to describe six right-brain aptitudes or senses that are required to produce high concept, high touch work. They are Design, Story, Symphony, Empathy, Play and Meaning. Best of all he provides a toolkit, exercises and readings designed to develop or enhance the right-brain. The tools and exercises are themselves very “high touch” and “high concept” in that they really do stimulate you into thinking and doing things differently. I always love these take aways. Two of my favorites, and it was hard to decide, were Symphony, with the challenge to expand this capacity by learning to draw, and Play, with the suggestion of adding levity to your life by finding a laughter club.

I had the pleasure of hearing Dan Pink speak in June 2007 and to chat with him afterwards. His speaking style matches his relaxed, easy writing style. All of this made the book that much more real.

THE ART OF POSSIBILITY
By Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander

What happens when you exercise and develop your right brain? You invent possibilities. In the Art of Possibility, the Zanders challenge the linear thinker and reader to move outside the boundaries and invent new possibilities. Once you open the door, you’ll step into a new universe. The authors invite the reader to take a transformational journey, providing 12 practices. These practices initiate the reader to new approaches based on uncommon assumptions. By reframing and challenging the boundaries, new paths begin to open.

I must admit I read the book after hearing Ben Zander deliver a keynote speech in New York in 2005, one of the best keynote speeches I’ve had the pleasure of hearing. He covered many of these practices in his speech with enthusiasm, passion (Giving Way to Passion is one of the practices) and humor. In addition to writing and speaking, Ben has been the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic since 1979. While Dan Pink encourages his readers to Listen to Great Symphonies, notably, Beethoven’s 9th, “Ode to Joy”, Zander had us on our feet singing it, in German.

While I read the book, I was savoring the experience and Zander’s energy. Of the twelve practices, my favorites are Rule Number 6 – “Don’t Take Yourself So Seriously” and “Lead from Any Chair” – it’s not position but credibility that makes a leader. Break past the barriers, develop your right brain and invent possibilities.

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