Where the Real Answers Lie

Love this diagram of where to get real answers. I so agree. That said, as a peddler of 1) how to books, 2) motivation, and 3) advice, I think that these sources can be great catalysts and provocations. What do you think?

On another note, I have written about this book before and offered a podcast. I like this post from Mark at Strategy Central about Glen Hiemstra's Turning the Future into Revenue. In the post, he offers a nifty rendition of one of the more helpful diagrams from the book.

The Purple Wren likes 24 minute chunks of time for focusing. I have not written about chunking in a while, but this post brought back the happy memories - I still get emails from people using chunking or some derivation.

Evolving Ideas offers this nice collection of riffs and raffs about HR. Like  Astha, I get sick of the whole, "we hate HR" or "I want a seat at the table" whines. Here's a nice snippet:

Nope, you didn't walk into the wrong blog-- it's just that I am tired of the whole HR isn't this, HR could be this and HR should be this discussion. While, all the time, the employees (which by the way is not just a term used in business papers- it refers to well, nearly everybody on the planet) walk around convinced that all the people who couldn't get into any place else got into HR.

Yep. Let's quit whining and get down to business.

And last but not least: Me and my lead foot want this. Because it's good for the environment, of course. As leaders, we need to be stewards of the planet. I'll take my Tesla Roadster in orange.

Vroom Vroom.

Comments

[Ian McKenzie]

I think the problem with most people is, they view "1) how to books, 2) motivation, and 3) advice" as the final answer rather than using them as catalysts, tools or systems for reaching solutions.

[laurence haughton]

That's only true of some "how-to" books. It's just like with cookbooks. There are very good ones and not so good.

For example: Julia Child told me "how to" make a great crepe. She's pretty good at everything in her many "how to" books. Not all cookbooks are nearly as reliable and some are awful.

I can name books and workshops just as good (and specific) in management writing. I'm sure you and others can as well. If you want "how to" help you need to get a good recommendation.

[Justin]

I'm thrilled about the Tesla as well. I had posted about it a while back after seeing it in GQ magazine.

[Shawn]

It takes the right mix of theory and action to get things done. The right "how to" or motivation book can serve as an effective catalyst but sometimes the real battle is the challenge of change resistance. People become sometimes skeptical and resistant of "How Tos" and fish stories after seeing them change out with leadership regimes ... Here we go again type of mentalities. I appreciate when leadership distrubutes a book that has caught their fancy and lets the rest of the leadership team read and evaluate. Does this fit our vision and align well with the organization? Great Let's roll with it. If not... Let's look elsewhere.

And very cool eco-ride Lisa!

[Lisa Haneberg]

Yes, I agree with you all - it's about how we select and used the information. And employees can sniff another philosophy of the month coming a mile a way.