Leading at the Edge : Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of the most exciting books I have read in recent years. In collaboration with others, Perkins briefly reviews the key details of the "Shackleton Saga" before shifting his attention (in Part One) to ten leadership strategies which, he correctly suggests, have direct, indeed compelling relevance to the contemporary business world. They are:
1. Never lose sight of the ultimate goal, and focus energy on short-term objectives.
2. Set a personal example with visible, memorable symbols and behavior.
3. Instill optimism and self-confidence, but stay grounded in reality.
4. Take care of yourself: Maintain your stamina and let go of guilt.
5. Reinforce the team message constantly: "We are one -- we live or die together."
6. Minimize staff differences and insist on courtesy and mutual respect.
7. Master conflict -- deal with anger in small doses, engage dissidents, and avoid needless power struggles.
8. Find something to celebrate and something to laugh about.
9. Be willing to take the Big Risk.
10. Never give up -- there's always another move.
Examine any of today's great organizations and you will encounter an abundance of evidence of these ten lessons' effectiveness.
In Part Two, Perkins provides four case studies based on Business Communication Systems (AT&T/Lucent Technologies), Rice Health Systems, Weyerhaeuser Company, and Malden Mills. The material in Part Three suggests how to "lead at the edge" and then, in an Epilogue, Perkins provides his "perspective" on success and failure. Part Four consists of various resources: Critical Leadership Skills Survey, Your Leadership Expedition: A Personal Development Plan, Your Leadership Expedition Map, Further Readings from The Edge, and a wealth of notes on the text.
From the time that Ernest Shackleton set sail (December 5, 1914) on the Endurance with his crew of 26 seamen and scientists until he and his crew finally reached South Georgia (May 10.1916), he steadfastly followed each of these ten strategies. The challenges encountered along the way ("at the edge") are almost beyond comprehension. All of these challenges are discussed in chilling detail in Caroline Alexander's brilliant study, The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Anarctic Expedition (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1999). If you have a taste for great adventure and/or an interest in great leadership, I urge you to read Perkins'book, preferably in combination with Alexander's.

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Polarity Management: Identifying and Managing Unsolvable Problems Review

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(More customer reviews)Johnson presents a clear path to understanding and managing the dilemmas of our modern and post-modern society. He provides a method of mapping a polarity (or paradox or dilemma) that bridges into systems thinking. Once you get what he is saying, you will never see the world the same. Do not be fooled by the simplicity of this - Johnson shares great truths needed today. I cannot imagine how this book has remained the best-kept secret in management and systems thinking.

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Some complex problems simply do not have "solutions".The key to being an effective leader is being able to recognize and manage such problems.Polarity Management presents a unique model and set of principles that will challenge you to look at situations in new ways.Also, included are exercises to strenghten your skills, and case studies to help you begin applying the model to your own unsolvable problems.Polarity Management will increase your ability to distinguish between problems that can be solved and polarities that cannot be solved, and show you how to effectively manage unsolvable problems.

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Smart Is Not Enough: The South Pole Strategy and Other Powerful Talent Management Secrets Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is especially helpful to executives or those helping executives and those in a supervisory capacity. The six basic concepts in the book are explained using real life situations with real solutions. Any manager can use this book the first day after they read it. Very well done.

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The Information Age is OVER -- In business today, it is all about TALENT!
"Smart Is Not Enough" explains the core issue of 21st century business. Forget technology - Forget outsourcing TALENT is the #1 challenge in your organization. Whether you're a CEO or an entry level college grad; whether you manage a staff or not, this book is for you. It can help in career planning, in developing your management strategy, or just help you understand the playing field in business today. Author Alan Guarino explains the full gamut of cutting-edge talent management, from how to find it, develop it, deploy it and lead it, to his South Pole Theory of "hidden talent" talent as a solution for the shortage of critical talent in the business world of the 21st Century.
The South Pole Theory explains that traditionally, corporations biased their talent searches towards those who performed at the top of their academic classes. Yet, some of the most successful executives and business leaders weren't good students themselves. Grades aren't the only predictor of success in the real business world. This book shares techniques for finding those determined, dedicated go-getters who fall through the cracks when we judge them solely on academics. To compete in business today, top companies need to cultivate every available source of talent. This book shows business leaders how to find and capitalize on this special pool of talent-- the future versions of people like Paul Orfalea, founder of Kinkos, Wayne Huizenga of Blockbuster Video, and many others.
Alan Guarino (Marlboro, NY) is CEO and co-founder of the executive search firm Cornell International. His firm is now owned by Adecco, the largest recruiting company in the world.

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