Genius at Scale by Hill, Tedards, and Wild

GENIUS AT SCALE by Linda A. Hill, Emily Tedards, and Jason Wild is an in-depth, thoughtful look at “How Great Leaders Drive Innovation.” The authors’ credentials are impressive: Hill is the Wallace Brett Donham Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School (HBS); Tedards is a graduate researcher in organizational behavior at HBS; and Wild is he former Global Vice President of CEO Co-Innovation and Customer Engagement at Microsoft. Together, they essentially use case studies and real-world examples to talk about Architects, Bridgers, and Catalysts effecting change in their organizations. Some of the companies and groups mentioned are P&G, Pfizer, Mastercard, Delta Airlines, as well as food organizations in Africa and Italy and the Sampark Foundation which promoted educational advancements in India.  

GENIUS AT SCALE is very accessible, with differently sized helpful headers, a conversational tone, and a focus on individuals and their stories. Much of this necessitates a new way of thinking, like Mastercard’s emphasis on a Framework to Grow, Diversify and Build in the “World Beyond Cash” or P&G’s increasing recognition that “the product economy was shifting to an experience economy.” The authors note that “as much as leaders would like to plan their way to innovation, their job as architects is to help their teams and organizations act their way instead,” referencing a vivid descriptor from previous research: “it's like shifting from leading an orchestra to a jazz ensemble: while their sheet music provides some guardrails, the musicians have to improvise, listen, and adapt to each other as they perform.” Another chapter looks at the establishment of the Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi, stressing the importance of continuous learning and adapting to local practices, needing “to create an environment where all caregivers could be ‘contemplative and creative rather than reactive problem solvers’.” While reading, I found many insightful comments like when the Sampark leadership opined “If you launch a decision as an initiative, people wait for it to fail. If you launch it as an experiment -- indicating that you will reverse it if it doesn't go right -- people participate in shaping it. They own it.” The authors and those they studied repeatedly point out how critical it is to have a “foundation of shared purposes and values -- a sense of community." GENIUS AT SCALE is clearly extensively researched with notes comprising at least ten percent of the book; there's also a helpful index and the online bibliography contains a list of over 700 books and articles.  Highly recommended.

Gentle by Courtney Carver

GENTLE by Courtney Carver is subtitled “Rest More, Stress Less, and Live the Life You Actually Want.” Carver (Soulful Simplicity) stresses self-compassion and self-care as she tries to convey a plan to do just that. She writes about “gentle” as “easing through instead of pushing through,” “creating strength in stillness,” and “putting yourself first.” Her text is divided amongst the three seasons of gentle: Rest (e.g., relaxing, sleep practices, and connecting); Less (e.g., unplug, decluttering, and less regret); and Rise (e.g., cultivating quiet, releasing every worry, and bringing it all together).  Within multiple chapters for each season, Carver offers ideas for tiny steps and one gentle step. That seems doable and Carter’s tone is supportive and non-judgmental. I especially liked her reference to Laura Vanderkam’s comment that “going to bed early is the way grown-ups sleep in.” Carver frequently refers to her own habits and life experience which is also less intimidating. However, I would like to see a print version since some readers could still feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of “to dos.” They will need to remember Carter’s summary: “Be Gentle. Move softly. Go slowly. Celebrate every tiny step. You don't have to push through. Ease through. Be light. Be you.”  

Raising Resilience by Tovah P. Klein

RAISING RESILIENCE by Tovah P. Klein, a psychology professor at Columbia University, is subtitled “How to Help Our Children Thrive in Times of Uncertainty.” With over thirty years of relevant experience, Klein’s has worked often with younger children (she is currently Director of the Center for Toddler Development and the author of How Toddlers Thrive) and it does seem at times that this advice would work better with those ages. Still, there is MUCH helpful insight here and it is presented in an approachable and empathetic manner. Klein divides the text into two main parts, looking at “The Roots of Resilience” and “The Five Pillars of Your Child’s Resilience.” Klein stresses the importance of the parent-child relationship as a kind of resilience incubator and with proactive protection. She includes many practical strategies and a series of “Reflective Questions.” Notes comprise about five percent of the book, but my favorite section is a summary of sorts, titled, “Parenting Reminders for Raising Resilience in Daily Life.” Those basic ideas (e.g., err on the side of kindness, boredom is a gift, routines and mealtimes matter) cover sixteen points which should be a required handout at pediatrician’s offices. RAISING RESILIENCE is praised by other experts in the field, including Lisa Damour (author of Untangled, Under Pressure, and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers), Sian L. Beilock (author of Choke), and Eve Rodsky (author of Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space). 

A related text, HELPING YOUR UNMOTIVATED TEEN by Melanie McNally, is subtitled “A Parent’s Guide to Unlock Your Child’s Potential.” McNally, a licensed clinical psychologist and brain coach, focuses on drive, grit, and goal-creating. She is not a parent herself and that seems reflected in her rather naïve belief that parents can readily negotiate (and enforce) screen time limits and then move on to implementing the ideas she presents. She offers some quality suggestions and obviously cares about teen mental health, but I felt that many of the comments here might be more acceptable to an “unmotivated” teen if an objective, impartial party was attempting to prompt dialogue and influence action rather than having a parent do so. As she says, “it's important to first do a ‘vibe check’ on your teen’s mood and attitude. They're going to be much more receptive to your input if they're in a decent mood and generally feeling good about life.” True for all of us! McNally devotes about five percent of the book to a list of helpful references.

100 Ways to Change Your Life by Liz Moody

The new book 100 WAYS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE by Liz Moody really surprised me – in a good way. I liked its emphasis on really creative, doable tasks. There are many specifics; for example, Moody suggests creating a rule of three or mapping your day to your energy in order to be more productive. In another sections, she comments on how to be happier (e.g., do something for someone else) or how to feel calmer (e.g., use action as an antidote to anxiety). Her focus on science and research is very helpful, too. In the section on reduce your pain, Moody frequently quotes Dr. Rachel Zoffness (a psychologist and author of The Pain Management Workbook) and the importance of looking at biological, psychological, and social factors. Moody points out that “playing with the idea of a pain recipe and a pain dial starts to illuminate the many factors at play in the experience of pain, and while not all pain is within our control, it's illuminating and wildly empowering to begin to discover just how much is.” With so many great ideas and references to additional resources (roughly ten percent of the book is notes), 100 WAYS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE would be a great book to browse or to consider as a gift. Liz Moody is the host of the top-rated The Liz Moody Podcast where, like this book, she shares interviews with experts and explores “The Science of Leveling Up Health, Happiness, Relationships & Success.”

Calm Christmas and A Happy New Year

CALM CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR is written by Beth Kempton, a best-selling author (Freedom Seeker; We Are All in This Together) who advocates for doing what you love and living well, often times tied to the concept of Hygge. Here, she has divided “A Little Book of Festive Joy” into three sections: anticipation; activity during the holidays themselves and reflection afterwards.  There are numerous references to childhood and a unique introduction to the five stories (faith, magic, connection, abundance, and heritage) of Christmas which she readily acknowledges will resonate differently for each reader. Throughout, Kempton includes a series of questions, providing an almost meditative feel and help in de-stressing from late November through early January.  Eventually, she mentions “another chance for a fresh beginning” and refers to a more seasonal approach, “moving gently into January with grace and hope.”  As we move forward into 2021, it’s worth considering her advice to block out chunks of time on a new calendar for “unknown goodness coming my way …. Schedule[ing] time to open up space for new possibilities [cooking together?] and to work on our dreams.” I look forward to revisiting CALM CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR throughout the year.