Jossey-Bass on Leadership

JB in the News: Are Brands Becoming an Overheated Property?

The latest issue of Women's Wear Daily features an article on John Gerzema's book, The Brand Bubble.

"At What Price Creativity?

As John Gerzema, chief insights officer at Young & Rubicam, sees it, the rise of the information-based economy has put a premium on the value of ideas. In the case of brands, the value of their entities has rocketed. According to Gerzema's calculations. they've advanced 80 percent in the last 30 years and now account for one-third of the average company's capitalization, or $4 trillion of the $12 trillion in value in the S&P 500, in the first quarter of 2008."

To read more, download the article here.

What Are the Odds of Governor Palin Taking the Presidency?

Bob Rice is the author of Three Moves Ahead and he is currently a managing partner of Tangent Capital, which structures financial products for hedge funds.

Must voters really worry about Governor Palin succeeding to the Presidency during a first term if elected. Well, a list of everyday events with similar probabilities includes: rolling doubles to escape jail in Monopoly; a rainy day in San Diego, CA; and the "Red M&M Test."  For more on this, and for other similar probabilities, listen to the podcast interview with Bob Rice here.

Leadership Decency – One Step in Leadership Development by Kevin Eikenberry

Kevin Eikenberry is the author of Remarkable Leadership and is the chief potential officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company that provides a wide range of services including organizational consulting, training delivery and design, speaking, facilitation, and performance coaching services.

Read the newspaper, watch the television or walk down the hallways of your offices and you may notice a surprising (and alarming) lack of decency.  Before I continue, let me say that I neither a prude nor a cynic, but the increasing lack of courtesy and decency are a problem for us as individuals and as leaders.

Maybe I am over-reacting a bit to the deeply biting and highly judgmental comments being made by people on both sides of the U.S. Presidential election, but I don’t think so.  The increasingly judgmental and nasty rhetoric by those in the news and on the sidelines raises a significant issue for us in our organizations – How can we cultivate relationships, build teams and create cooperation when these factors are at play?

It’s Not About Conflict.

Jossey-Bass in the News: Patrick Lencioni

Patrick’s Lencioni’s new book Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family was reviewed today on CNET’s Bullish on Books column. Reviewer Gloria McDonough-Taub can relate to Lencioni’s method for applying some business leadership principals to your homelife. She says:

"Lencioni says there is a clear link between running a successful organization and running a family. While subordinates at work are not the same as children ((REALLY, they’re not?)), parents are the managers - they still need to build trust, entertain healthy conflict, inspire commitment, hold people accountable and focus on results. Families need a clear plan with focus and constant communication.
 
Today we’re more frantic and overwhelmed because well, c’mon life right now is more frantic and overwhelming. Lencioni says there are more opportunities and distractions than ever; more social expectations and families can’t seem to say “no” to anything. And our lives are even more stressful now that we’re all obsessed with a global financial crisis where millions face losing their jobs or homes - fear prevails from sea to shining sea.

So with so much out of control – Lencioni offers an opportunity to bring control back where it’s needed most - at home! Lencioni lays out a recession-proof business plan that can bring order and meaning to the most important organization in our lives - our families."

Read the full article after the jump. And view a video of Patrick Lencioni talking about his new book here.

Innovating Through Recession

Andrew Razeghi is a lecturer at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and author of The Riddle: Where Ideas Come From and How to Have Better Ones, voted a 2008 Fast Company “Smart Book”  and Hope:  How Triumphant Leaders Create the Future.

Moments of economic turbulence provide the unique opportunity to start new businesses, launch disruptive new products, and strengthen customer loyalty – often at a discount. Andrew Razeghi’s fascinating piece, Innovating Through Recession, offers pointers on what to do, why to do it, and what to avoid. His advice is not only inspirational, but immediately practical. The evidence he provides may surprise you. As it turns out, there is no better time to commit to innovation than now. When the going gets tough, the tough innovate. Here’s how:

1.  Listen to the market.  It’s quieter when it’s less crowded.  Unmet needs abound.

2.  Invest in your customers.  Now they need you most.  Loyalty hangs in the balance.

3.  Rather than reduce price, offer more value to your customers and demand greater value from vendors.

For more about innovation from Andrew visit his blog.