Month: March 2014

Co-Active Coaching Changing Business, Transforming Lives

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‘Co-Active Coaching Changing Business, Transforming Lives’ by Henry Kimsey-House, Karen Kimsey-House, Phillip Sandahi, Laura Whitworth

Heather’s Recommended Audience:
Everyone who consults, advises manages and/or mentors others to accomplish goals.

Heather’s Review

This was a fabulous book for anyone that works with consultants externally or internally. The ideas presented are the Co-Active Coaching model which is an experience of personal and professional development unlike other kinds of coaching. It begins by holding the coachee as naturally creative, resourceful and whole, and completely capable of finding their own answers to whatever challenges they face. The job of a Co-Active Coach® is to ask powerful questions, listen and empower to elicit the skills and creativity a client already possesses, rather than instruct or advise.

The book provides great examples. It focuses more on life coaching but the concepts are easily applicable to Business Analytics Consulting internally and externally.

Leaders Eat Last – By Simon Sinek

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‘Leaders Eat Last’ By Simon Sinek
Publisher :Portfolio Hardcover (January 7, 2014)

Heather’s Recommended Audience:
MUST READ for everyone that leads, manages, mentors, consults and wants to inspire others.

Heather’s Review

Simon Sinek is one of my favorite authors and with this new book he does not disappoint. He weaves a tale for insightful stories with science to make us realize how we are wired as humans.
Sinek begins with biology, outlining the roles of chemicals – specifically endorphins, dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. He describes how evolution has dictated why we generate them and how we respond to them.
1. Endorphins mask pain and help give you a `runner’s high’ or the intense satisfaction after a tough work out.
2. Dopamine generates good feelings’ upon accomplishing a goal whether that is bringing home dinner while evading sabre-toothed tigers or doing a bang-up job on a major presentation. Think of endorphins and dopamine as the `individual achievement’ chemicals. We need them to excel at what we do.
3. Serotonin is what gives you a feeling of gratitude and affection for the persons who supported you in your endeavors and the good feeling as they applaud you.
4. Oxytocin is the`love’ chemical. It gives you the warm fuzzies you get when you hug someone or have a deep meaningful conversation. Think of serotonin and oxytocin as the `social’ chemicals.

Humans need both the individual achievement and social chemicals to progress. Society now focuses on achievement chemicals more than social chemicals losing the sense of community within the organization.
If we create a trusting environment, we can focus on doing the best we can and this greatly benefits both the company and individuals. This feeling of `belonging’ is what has disappeared from the corporate workplace to a large extent. It has been replaced by an ethos of `everyone for himself and the Devil take the hindmost’
“Leaders Eat Last” conveys that to be effective as a leader, you must earn the trust of your followers. You can be given responsibilities or duties, but you must earn authority. In this book, Mr. Sinek provides specific action items you should take to create a Circle of Safety within your organization.
As I reflect on his messaging, it becomes clear that his principles must be applied to all major project teams deploying solutions.

How to Deliver a TED Talk – Secrets of the World’s Most Inspiring Presentations

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‘How to Deliver a TED Talk – Secrets of the World’s Most Inspiring Presentations’
By Jeremey Donovan
Publisher: McGraw-Hill, 1 edition (September 30, 2013)
Paperback

Heather’s Recommended Audience:
Everyone who has to present an idea to a group. Sales, Consultants, Executives…

Heather’s Review

I loved this book! Most books on giving presentations are BORING! Mr. Donovan artfully weaves in real TED Talk examples that you can view online. He breaks the sections down into just the right chunks and lays the book out in interesting, useful sequential tips. Clearly, Mr. Donovan has a passion for presentations and an analytical mind because his style of writing speaks to the analytical types, but he comes across very altruistic. He teaches readers techniques on how to tell the story to which will create just enough suspense and emotions to mesmerize the audience. The Delivery section further advises how to capture the audience and have them feel as if they have lived your adventure.
This is a must read book!
The one thing I would have liked to see is a tear-out summary of all the tips at the end so I could use it as a reference, or at least a chapter summary. Looks like I’ll have to type up my notes to reference in the future.
Although I am a huge Kindle and audible book fan, I recommend you purchase this as a real book. I made notes and comments all over this book and will reference this book as a refresher before any major presentation.

The Thank You Economy – By Gary Vaynerchuk

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‘The Thank You Economy’
By Gary Vaynerchuk
Publisher: HarperCollins, e-Books (March 8, 2011)
Audiobook

Heather’s Recommended Audience:
Small Business Owners, Marketing Teams, and Anyone that Service the Business.

Heather’s Review

Are you looking to really understand how social media is changing the world? Gary Vaynerchuk’s interesting stories, analogies, and insight in “The Thank You Economy” will get you thinking. I listened to the audio version of this book and found him very engaging and feisty, unlike many authors who narrate their own books. I especially liked where he went “off script” in a commentary and updates.

Gary articulates the effects of social media and how we MUST focus on the customer because every customer is important. He parallels to the days when every mom and pop shop needed to serve their community. If a customer was unhappy, the PTA would be discussing it. Then, society changed and we removed the personal side and moved toward big business. Our voices were no longer heard.

Social Media is changing everything. A quick little tweet can be heard by thousands and businesses are moving back to caring again. The author guides his readers through this evolution and thought process with intriguing stories of business successes and miss hits in social media.

He emphasizes that all social media must sit on a foundation of authenticity and be a benefit to the audience.

If you don’t know how or why social media is important, you must read this book.

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