Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts
Showing posts with label leadership. Show all posts

The Handbook of High Performance Virtual Teams: A Toolkit for Collaborating Across Boundaries Review

The Handbook of High Performance Virtual Teams: A Toolkit for Collaborating Across Boundaries
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The Handbook of High Performance Virtual Teams: A Toolkit for Collaborating Across Boundaries ReviewKnowledge-laden and heavy
This is not a handbook, this is a 764-page handbrick. It is a true monster of a book and I mean that in a positive way. I cannot imagine anything that is left uncovered on the topic of virtual teams. Which perhaps makes it rather difficult to keep the necessary distance and oversight, the index alone is some 47 pages long.
The esssence
What is comes down to is that virtual teams have six challenges: Distance, Time, Technology, Culture, Trust and Leadership. These six challenges are presented in 28 contributions from different authors, where each contribution takes on one or more of these challenges. Luckily the book comes with a matrix, so if you want to read about Time, you can read contribution 1, 14, 19, 25 and 28. And so on for the other challenges. That is very helpful.
So what is it about?
Distance means working without face-to-face contact, resulting in lack of personal bonding. Time means the challenges from working in different time zones, often globally, and the advantages of 24/7 production versus the disadvantage of no real-time collaboration. Technology deals with the challenges of compatible and incompatible ICT and how to make the team members make the best out of their tools. Culture has to do with the challenges arising from teaming different cultures, especially if your team is global. Trust is usually slow to develop without personal contact, another challenge when you only meet in virtuality. Leadership tells how virtual team leaders must fill many roles and develop different skills than traditional team leaders.
Could it not be shorter?
Is it a bit overdone? Why not simply six chapters for the six challenges? Well, the individual contributions are valuable, and I can tell that, having read some of them. The authors all bring their personal insights into their subjects, and I guess, if you want to focus on the challenges of technology in your virtual team, it is helpful to have a couple of opinions, not just one.The verdict
Still, reading this book from cover to cover is a daunting task, and not something I am likely to undertake. Nonetheless, I think it is one of the best books on virtual teams currently on the market.The Handbook of High Performance Virtual Teams: A Toolkit for Collaborating Across Boundaries Overview

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Internet Searches for Vetting, Investigations, and Open-Source Intelligence Review

Internet Searches for Vetting, Investigations, and Open-Source Intelligence
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Internet Searches for Vetting, Investigations, and Open-Source Intelligence ReviewI have been a private investigator for more than 25 years. When I started in this business computers were scarce and the Internet had not yet been commercialized. Everything was done with a pencil and telephone. I have a lot of experience so it is hard for me to find books that are useful. I buy books hoping to learn one or two new things. Edward J. Appel, a retired FBI agent is the author. His company has done work for me so I knew the quality of his work and assumed his book would be at the same level as his investigative efforts. I wasn't disappointed.
The book is 320 pages and broken into 4 sections. Appel begins with a chapter about behavior and technology which orients the investigator/analyst on the growth and use of the Internet. He discusses the usefulness of the Internet as an investigative tool and the transformations the Internet is making through social and technological advances. Along with the benefits for investigators comes the darker side of the web, and Appel examines its criminal exploitation.
The first section provides a great introduction and is geared toward corporate investigators and security personnel tasked with monitoring IT systems, vetting employees and guarding company intellectual property. In Section 2 Appel outlines legal and policy issues related to using information from the Internet in investigations. He identifies liability and privacy issues and laws addressing these concerns such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act. He also dedicates a chapter to litigation, defamation, and invasion of privacy torts.
Appel develops a framework for preparation and planning of successful Internet research. He covers basic information about search engines, metasearch engines, social networking sites and search terms.
I found the chapters Automation of Searching and Internet Intelligence Reporting to be the most enlightening. Reducing time spent searching and analyzing information, seems like a no-brainer. But I would bet the number of investigators who have looked for automated solutions to their collection efforts is small. The Internet Intelligence Reporting section recommends the format and organization of a report as well as what to include and how to cite sources.
Internet Searches for Vetting, Investigations, and Open-Source Intelligence, like many trade publications, is on the pricey side. However it delivers with content and is an easy read. It met my criteria for a successful investigations book because I learned much more than two new things.
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Loops: The Seven Keys to Small Business Success Review

Loops: The Seven Keys to Small Business Success
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Loops: The Seven Keys to Small Business Success ReviewOver the years I have read many business development and management books. I have implemented many of the systems and concepts presented in these publication. Loops is the first that presents a total management solution. I highly recommend the book to any one looking for a comprehensive approach to managining a small business, a department of any business and even personal affairs.Loops: The Seven Keys to Small Business Success Overview

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The Right Leader: Selecting Executives Who Fit Review

The Right Leader: Selecting Executives Who Fit
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The Right Leader: Selecting Executives Who Fit ReviewThis is single handedly the most informative text I have read on senior level hires. It understands and precisely explains the effects of culture, personal abilities, values and executional needs of the organisation. A key take away is the quantification of the organisations values, culture and decision making process etc that have the greatest impact on whether CEO's succeed or fail i.e. will the CEO's style fit within the broader organisation values or will management reject their new bosses management style?
As an executive recruiter of division heads and senior level hires, this book was invaluable and clarified an often opaque subject of "fit" within an organisation. A must read for anyone looking to hire staff.
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The IAF Handbook of Group Facilitation: Best Practices from the Leading Organization in Facilitation (J-B International Association of Facilitators) Review

The IAF Handbook of Group Facilitation: Best Practices from the Leading Organization in Facilitation (J-B International Association of Facilitators)
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The IAF Handbook of Group Facilitation: Best Practices from the Leading Organization in Facilitation (J-B International Association of Facilitators) ReviewAn extraordinarily rich and in-depth introduction to the subject. Each chapter is written by one or more experts. The book covers such topics as:

- creating an ongoing client relationship;
- the skilled facilitator approach;
- process issues such as difficult personalities;
- facilitation planning and preparation;
- building trust;
- the art of drawing out the best in people;
- building a collaborative environment;
- facilitating the whole system in the room;
- improvisation in facilitation;
- virtual meetings;
- facilitating communication in group decision making discussions;
- how to build you facilitation expertise.
These topics are but a sampling, to give some idea of the scope and depth of this most valuable volume, which takes the reader far deeper than methods and techniques. The book is well organized and very accessible. Based on our organization diagnosis, design and change consulting experience (www.FutureOrganization.com), we find this book to be a terrific resource for practitioners.The IAF Handbook of Group Facilitation: Best Practices from the Leading Organization in Facilitation (J-B International Association of Facilitators) Overview

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The Stress Effect: Why Smart Leaders Make Dumb Decisions--And What to Do About It Review

The Stress Effect: Why Smart Leaders Make Dumb Decisions--And What to Do About It
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The Stress Effect: Why Smart Leaders Make Dumb Decisions--And What to Do About It ReviewThe Stress Effect is a timely book! I particularly like its practical applications. It begins by explaining how we think and make decisions and how stress affects our ability to do both. Many of the later chapters, however, have specific tools, such as instructions on how to make a stress dashboard or a stress bubble graph. I checked out The Stress Effect webpage, where I found quite a few additional resources, including a well-developed book guide with activities and a developmental plan that goes chapter by chapter. It also has an assessment called ARSENAL that helps you gauge how stress might be affecting your health. I don't think I'll work through all of the resource materials, but I'm sure I'll use a number of them.The Stress Effect: Why Smart Leaders Make Dumb Decisions--And What to Do About It Overview

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Hyperformance: Using Competitive Intelligence for Better Strategy and Execution Review

Hyperformance: Using Competitive Intelligence for Better Strategy and Execution
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Hyperformance: Using Competitive Intelligence for Better Strategy and Execution ReviewGreat book. Very interesting discussion on how to apply the techniques in real life. Really liked the appendix, which reviews various personality assessment tools and describes how they can be used.
Very appropriate book for all corporate competitive intelligence staff, but also for those in Sales, for CEOs and product developers.Hyperformance: Using Competitive Intelligence for Better Strategy and Execution Overview

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Common Knowledge: How Companies Thrive by Sharing What They Know Review

Common Knowledge: How Companies Thrive by Sharing What They Know
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Common Knowledge: How Companies Thrive by Sharing What They Know ReviewThis is the best book available on knowledge transfer. Based upon the author's deep understanding of organizational learning theory and her careful examination of the practices of major corporations, it offers clear definitions of five types of knowledge transfer, along with criteria, design guidelines, business drivers and potential barriers for each. Examples of each transfer type (from teams reviewing their actions in order to perform better together in a new setting to strategic learning and sharing of expert knowledge) are employed less to bolster a thesis than to illustrate how classifications were evolved and tested. Intelligently crafted categories based upon similarities of tasks and contexts, the nature of tasks, and knowledge type provide a framework for organizations to build a system for employing "common knowledge" for business objectives. Written with clarity and grace, this volume explores the power of metaphor and of the values of sharing, listening and trust, while developing our most practical guide for integrating effective knowledge transfer into organizations' strategic architecture. Highly recommended.Common Knowledge: How Companies Thrive by Sharing What They Know Overview

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Rising Through the Ranks: Leadership Tools and Techniques for Law Enforcement Review

Rising Through the Ranks: Leadership Tools and Techniques for Law Enforcement
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Rising Through the Ranks: Leadership Tools and Techniques for Law Enforcement ReviewRising Through the Ranks is an easy, enjoyable read. Mike Wynn's outlook on leadership tools and techniques for law enforcement gives those with a background in law enforcement practical application examples throughout. The various techniques Wynn discusses provide comprehensive examples for each concept. Although the book revolves around law enforcement careers the insightful read can apply to any profession and even day-to-day personal interactions.
As a college student studying Administration of Justice I truly appreciate this writing style approach of teaching through the eyes of a learned experience. Wynn not only provides a framework for Leadership, he describes the importance of followership and touches on several other aspects of leadership including personal development, vision, risk, conflict, change and creative thinking. Wynn describes the key quality to being a leader as one who does the right thing because it's the right thing to do and provides common qualities that a true leader must possess to be an effective leader and respected as such. Qualities of a leader as presented range from being competent, confident, ethical, communicative, and even caring, emphasizing the importance of managing from the heart and showing compassion for your troops.
The most beneficial technique learned through this reading is described as the "good bag/bad bag" technique. Wynn shares a learned technique of taking both good and bad qualities learned through personal experiences, literature, seminars, etc. and dumping them into a "good bag" or a "bad bag." This idea essentially provides a tool for leaders to use to avoid being overwhelmed with thousands of leadership techniques being described as the "ticket" to good leadership. You'll have to read the book for yourself to find out exactly how to utilize the skill.
Above and beyond what I've mentioned, Wynn's book is an excellent tool for current and future leaders in law enforcement as well as students. This would be an excellent gift for a college student studying Administration of Justice or Criminal Justice.
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C-Scape: Conquer the Forces Changing Business Today Review

C-Scape: Conquer the Forces Changing Business Today
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C-Scape: Conquer the Forces Changing Business Today ReviewI was able to get my hands on advance copy of Larry Kramer's new book this past summer. I read it twice and it inspired me to leave my job at a large traditional media company and go out on my own and start a boutique marketing company with a focus on reaching consumers wherever they are.
The author very clearly explains that all the change in technology in the past decade has been upending many business models. It is best seen as a revolution in communications on a scale not seen since the invention of the printing press. The biggest change is that consumers now have the power to avoid what they don't want to look and choose the messages they do want to hear. So all businesses must learn to think like media companies and become trusted curators and providers of content across all new media platforms. This revolution has put traditional media companies at a disadvantage because often they can't move fast enough to keep up with the changes in consumer behavior caused by all this technological change. AND they are often hampered by business models that try to preserve executive salaries and profits when they should be thinking like a dynamic start up. The "C" stands for Consumers, Content, Curation, and Convergence, all import factors in this new tech crazy world. Great book!C-Scape: Conquer the Forces Changing Business Today Overview

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Brand New : How Entrepreneurs Earned Consumers' Trust from Wedgwood to Dell Review

Brand New : How Entrepreneurs Earned Consumers' Trust from Wedgwood to Dell
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Brand New : How Entrepreneurs Earned Consumers' Trust from Wedgwood to Dell ReviewIt's probably a result of less-than-fully applying myself during my college years, but I tend to pre-judge any book by an academic as boring. I'm glad that didn't stop me from reading Nancy Koehn's book, "Brand New: How Entrepreneurs Earned Consumers Trust From Wedgwood to Dell."
Koehn is a professor at no less than the Harvard Business School. She is also an excellent writer, and she understands that the essence of getting good information across is stories. Brand New is a book of stories about branding. It is anything but boring.
Koehn divides the book into two giant sections, The Past and The Present.
In The Past, she includes the stories of Josiah Wedgwood, H. J. Heinz and Marshall Field. All the stories are told in detail enriched by facts, insights, and quotes. All of them contain lessons for today's businessperson. Most of the lessons are about branding, but there's a lot more.
Read this book and you will find out all about how Josiah Wedgwood changed the common practice by impressing his own name in the unfired clay of his works. That's impressive. But you will also learn how his partnership with Thomas Bentley took Wedgwood's strengths and his insight about branding and turned them into a highly profitable business.
You'll learn about why H. J. Heinz packed his product in glass jars and how he kept control of his distribution. You'll hear about the 1902 giant opening at Marshall Field's and you'll learn about Field's varying relationships with his partners.
In the section on The Present, you will get the story of Estee Lauder and how she changed not only her name and image but also the face of cosmetic marketing through magnetism and incredible persistence. You'll hear how Howard Schultz wound up at Starbucks Coffee and why it bears his imprint, and you'll hear about Michael Dell without overmuch mention of the legendary dorm room.
The stories themselves make delightful reading, but the learning is probably even more important than the enjoyment. These stories illustrate how specific, successful entrepreneurs took a look around at things that were happening in society and developed products and brands and marketing and distribution systems to take advantage of them. These insightful and inspiring stories will help you understand your own business and find ways to make it more profitable.
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The Performance of Politics: Obama's Victory and the Democratic Struggle for Power Review

The Performance of Politics: Obama's Victory and the Democratic Struggle for Power
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The Performance of Politics: Obama's Victory and the Democratic Struggle for Power ReviewAlexander's book is a very special one. There is plenty of books on presidential campaigns, and even more on electoral campaigns in general. The analogy between campaigns and shows is also well-known: the social world is a theater, and politicians are often thought to be actors (not to mention those who have been previously movie stars ;-)). Alexander's approach, however, is radically new. In other books, these kind of performances are usually thought of as mere decoys, while the 'real' 'actual' politics is taken to be primarily a matter of power, of money, of deceit.
Alexander is not naive, and he takes into consideration quite well the reality of power. But he is also able to understand that democratic politics is not only about power, but also about meaning. Political campaigns do indeed select the elites. But they also re-enact and re-fresh a strong cultural understanding of the polity. Voters do not follow only their interests, but also their values, their vision of what they are and what they would like to be. Alexander's book provides a quite innovative analysis of the cultural dimension of politics, and his arguments are likely to be important both for scholars and for activists.The Performance of Politics: Obama's Victory and the Democratic Struggle for Power Overview

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Trust Matters: Leadership for Successful Schools Review

Trust Matters: Leadership for Successful Schools
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Trust Matters: Leadership for Successful Schools ReviewThe practical advice in this book is invaluable for educational leaders who are under fire in today's climate. At points, it reads like a novel -- with up-close stories of 3 real-life principals. At other points, it reads like a self-help book -- with a comprehensive five-point model for understanding and building trust in schools. Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. The applications were obvious and compelling. No school administrator should go without reading this book.Trust Matters: Leadership for Successful Schools Overview

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The Thing in the Bushes : Turning Organizational Blind Spots into Competitive Advantage Review

The Thing in the Bushes : Turning Organizational Blind Spots into Competitive Advantage
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The Thing in the Bushes : Turning Organizational Blind Spots into Competitive Advantage ReviewI wish I had read this book years ago. For those who want to be able to effectively deal with the challenges of working in an organization, this book can be a great overview. While it is almost an advertisement for the firm which the authors own which helps troubled firms, it can also serve -- if read and studied very carefully -- as a great way to develop one's own approach to office politics, and the myriad complexities of trying to fit in and advance within a big, competitive business work group. Book repeats things but also mentions that thoughts need to be repeated and repeated to be correctly and fully learned.The Thing in the Bushes : Turning Organizational Blind Spots into Competitive Advantage Overview

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Managing the Unexpected: Assuring High Performance in an Age of Complexity Review

Managing the Unexpected: Assuring High Performance in an Age of Complexity
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Managing the Unexpected: Assuring High Performance in an Age of Complexity ReviewI have read and enjoyed several of Weick's books and articles on organizational performance. For the most part, they were difficult, but insightful works on how people in organizations behave. But it was not easy to translate the insights I gleaned from Weick's work into tools and strategies to improve the performance of the organization which employs me (a small hospital).
In Managing the Unexpected, Weick and coauthor Sutcliffe have written a short book that summarizes the insights gained from studying high reliability organizations (HROs) and details "doable" strategies to enable other organizations to improve their own reliability. The book's use of several case studies, detailing of key strategies and techniques, and chapter summaries make it a quick and interesting read. What is most valuable, though, is that a person working in an HRO, or an organization that should aspire to such a status, can immediately take the techniques and strategies detailed in the book and start to use them to improve the organization's performance and reliability.
Despite the fact that this book offers concrete strategies to improve organizational performance, it admits right from the start that successful HROs are extremely complex organizations. The authors allow the reader to appreciate that the success of these organizations in delivering quality products and services under often adverse circumstances is due to cadres of employees with diverse perspectives, skills, and expertise, that respect the complexity of the organization, and are willing to allow important decisions to be made by the individuals with the greatest understanding of the current situation.
Thus, although Managing the Unexpected provides concrete tools and strategies for improving organizational performance, it also emphasizes the importance of mindfulness for employees working in HROs, or organizations endeavoring to such status. Mindfulness includes working constantly to be aware of the complexity of the organization, its environment, and that our expectations and plans for the future may be erroneous. This emphasis on mindfulness and disciplined awareness makes the reader aware that although the tools and strategies presented by the authors may seem simple, to be effective they must be used by individuals who have worked diligently to understand their organization, its employees, and the organization's environment.
Managing the Unexpected is a welcome book for those of us who have always marveled at the success of our organizations in delivering quality goods and services in chaotic environments. It is not a quick fix that will send you to organizational nirvana with mindless platitudes. No, it is more like an organizational Leatherman that you keep on your belt at all times with the understanding that successful complex organizations are always needing to be fine tuned with a wide variety of skills, tools, and awareness.Managing the Unexpected: Assuring High Performance in an Age of Complexity Overview

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Developing an Effective Safety Culture: A Leadership Approach Review

Developing an Effective Safety Culture: A Leadership Approach
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Developing an Effective Safety Culture: A Leadership Approach ReviewOverall the text is quite good in explaining safety management concepts which are highly effective.
I believe it would make a good text for a safety management course.
The book gets into some topics that aren't needed to explain the concepts presented making the text larger than necessary. There is some redundancy of information in the way the text is structured / written.
I purchased additional copies for clients.
Definitely a worthwhile read for safety managers without a business systems background or managers needing to understand how to insert safety management aspects into an existing performance management process. A good review of some basic concepts that many fail to properly implement.
Steve High, MS,CSP,ARM
www.highsafety.com
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The Behavior-Based Safety Process: Managing Involvement for an Injury-Free Culture, 2nd Edition Review

The Behavior-Based Safety Process: Managing Involvement for an Injury-Free Culture, 2nd Edition
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The Behavior-Based Safety Process: Managing Involvement for an Injury-Free Culture, 2nd Edition ReviewI use the book for my course in Behavioral safety at Western Michigan University, and I recommend it.Strengths: broad coverage of issues invoved in BBS; examples of it practice; some coverage of scientific principles behind the techniques.Weaknesses: It could be organized to make it more user-friendly; written at a rather advanced level; not a very good "how-to" book (T. McSween's "The Values-Based Safety Process" book is better at "how to" - I also use that one.)The Behavior-Based Safety Process: Managing Involvement for an Injury-Free Culture, 2nd Edition Overview

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Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step: Maximizing Performance and Maintaining Results Review

Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step: Maximizing Performance and Maintaining Results
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Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step: Maximizing Performance and Maintaining Results ReviewThis book gives you the power to say "Thank you, but no thank you" to the legions of high-priced consultants (like myself) who offer to help design, establish and implement your company's balanced scorecard.
While Robert Kaplan did write the introduction, he and Norton must be very dissappointed that they didn't write this book -- I'm certainly sorry that I didn't write it. Author Paul R. Niven provides all the tools, methodologies and steps necessary to create and execute your own balanced scorecard. He's held nothing back. It's all here. Whether you lead a local non-profit or are the CEO of a Fortune Global 500 corporation (like my clients), Niven has provided detailed step-by-step instructions for both of the key phases of the balanced scorecard project:
I. Planning Stage:
Step One: Develop objectives
Step Two: Determine appropriate organizational unit(s).
Step Three: Gain executive sponsorship.
Step Four: Build your balanced scorecard team.
Step Five: Formulate your project plan.
Step Six: Develop a communication plan.
II. Development Stage:
Step One: Gather and distribute background material.
Step Two: Develop mission, values, vision, and strategy.
Step Three: Conduct extensive interviews.
Step Four: Develop objectives and measures.
Step Five: Develop cause-and-effet linkages.
Step Six: Establish targest for your measures.
Step Seven: Develop the implementation plan.
This book is fantastic. In fact, I'm thinking about placing a bulk order for the book to give to all my clients. On second thought, why give away all the "secrets?" Seriously, this is one of the best business and management books I've read this year. Overall grade: AAA+++/Highly Recommended.Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step: Maximizing Performance and Maintaining Results Overview

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The Celebrity Experience: Insider Secrets to Delivering Red Carpet Customer Service Review

The Celebrity Experience: Insider Secrets to Delivering Red Carpet Customer Service
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The Celebrity Experience: Insider Secrets to Delivering Red Carpet Customer Service ReviewI really love the stories in this book! They really show how you can give red carpet service, no matter whether you're a BIG company or a small one! I couldn't wait to see what other celebrity stories were going to be there from one page to the next - I especially loved the green M&M's, and the pizza they baked on a plane to deliver it from one country to another... wow - it really helps you start thinking about what you can do that's extra for your customers (even if you can't fly a freshly-baked pizza to another country)! Great job getting our imaginations going to create better service for our customers.The Celebrity Experience: Insider Secrets to Delivering Red Carpet Customer Service Overview

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When God Builds a Church: 10 Principles for Growing a Dynamic Church Review

When God Builds a Church: 10 Principles for Growing a Dynamic Church
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When God Builds a Church: 10 Principles for Growing a Dynamic Church ReviewIf you're looking for a church growth book containing new innovations, slick marketing techniques or cutting edge theory, "When God Builds A Church" is not the book I'd recommend. Instead, Bob Russell relates ten basic principles for healthy church growth that have been tried and proven extremely effective in the laboratory of the local church. Southeast Christian Church is a church Christ is using to make a big difference in their community and one other churches should learn from. Though Bob argues for his personal preference in worship style and church government, the emphasis of the book is a presentation of universal principles for effective church ministry. Within the ranks of Bible-believing Christians, "When God Builds A Church" is very inclusive and non-sectarian. The book is vision inspiring, faith challenging and "real life" practical. The best thing about the book is that it leaves you believing if God can do something great through Bob, He can do something great through me. I highly recommend the book to all pastors and church members wanting to grow a healthy and effective church.When God Builds a Church: 10 Principles for Growing a Dynamic Church Overview

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