Jules Goddard

Tony Eccles

This is a book for managers who know that their organisations are stuck in a mindset that thrives on fashionable business theories that are no more than folk wisdom, and whose so-called strategies that are little more than banal wish lists. It puts forward the notion that the application of uncommon sense - thinking or acting differently from other organisations in a way that makes unusual sense - is the secret to competitive success. For those who want to succeed and stand out from the herd this book is a beacon of uncommon sense and a timely antidote to managerial humbug.

Why some organisations consistently outperform others

Uncommon Sense, Common Nonsense

David Lewis

Dominic Houlder

Alison Reynolds

Traditional management practices, rooted in economics and psychology, have led to a focus on numbers and productivity rather than the people who make those numbers happen. This has resulted in trust in leaders and organizations being at an all-time low. What Philosophy Can Teach You About Being a Better Leader expertly counters this thinking and argues that those leaders who will win in the uncertain and complex world of work, are the ones focusing on their workforce and valuing its members as people, rather than just tools within the process. What Philosophy Can Teach You About Being a Better Leader considers the main questions plaguing today's leaders through the eyes of four of the greatest philosophers. With the help of Aristotle, Socrates, Kant and Nietzsche, as well as a whole host of other brilliant minds, they smash widely held workplace falsehoods and unveil a new model for empowerment, fulfilment and harmony at work. What Philosophy Can Teach You About Being a Better Leader is a fascinating account of how we can reconnect company, people and shareholder interests. It answers perennial leadership concerns like questions of people engagement, key performance indicators or even generational differences at work through the lens of philosophy, with its focus squarely on how to live and help others live fulfilling lives at work.

What Philosophy Can Teach You About Being a Better Leader

The aim of the book is to encourage managers to reject the fashion for business panaceas and theories that are no more than folk wisdom, and to turn away from slavishly focussing on 'best' practice and so-called strategies that are little more than banal wish lists.It puts forward the notion that the application of uncommon sense - thinking, doing or behaving differently from other organisations in a way that makes unusual sense - is the secretto competitive success, rather like the way in which asymmetric information (knowing something that someone else does not) can provide an economic advantage. In parallel it argues that to follow what you know makes uncommonly good sense means rejecting the common nonsense - the empty philosophy and meaningless jargon - that so many organisations live their lives by.The book consists of some 75 short essays and is divided into four parts: winners and losers, strategy and tactics, organisation and management, biases and remedies.Some of the arguments of the book are grounded in recent economic and psychological research, but most of them are the fruit of working with executives who have attended the management development programmes that the authors have designed and run at London Business School over the past 30 years.This is a book for managers who know that their organisations are stuck in a rut, and who are frustrated and find their work insufficiently engaging. Above all it is a book for those who want to succeed and who dare to be different.

Why Some Organisations Consistently Outperform Others

David Giles Lewis

Reclaim your power to make positive changes in your organization and beyond by channelling your inner maverick.

How Bold Leadership Changes the World

Mavericks

Rob James

Business experimentation can not only create measurable value for organizations, it can provide the inspiration to break with the habits of the past by dealing with challenges and exploiting opportunities. This book is a step-by-step, practical guide to the six-stage business experiment process, from understanding the problem or opportunity to creating a hypothesis, planning the experiment and analysing the findings. It explores the top design criteria for successful and impactful business experiments and includes valuable case studies covering problem solving, performance improvement and strategic innovation. To support the process, Business Experimentation also includes downloadable, editable templates, worksheets and activities for use in ideation and planning sessions. This business experiment methodology can be used to support a one-off initiative or to underpin desired behaviours as part of a wider organizational change programme, as experimentation encourages people to be bold, take risks and seek new ways of doing things. Based on programmes the authors have run with a variety of leading organizations and with astonishing results, this practical guide provides businesses with the confidence to get started with experimentation and the tools to succeed.

Jules Goddard

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