Removing the roadblocks to

delivering real improvement

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The Decision Book - 50 models for strategic thinking by Mikael Krogerus & Roman Tschappeler

This is a very readable book which lays out 50 analysis models, mostly using a 2 page description.  Some of the obvious are included - SWOT, Pareto, BCG, but some that are new to me - The Black Swan model and The Sinus Milieu and Bourdieu Model.  Given the brief descriptions in the book, I would need more explanation on some of the models before using them but this could easily be found in more detail on the internet.

Leading Change by John P Kotter

Kotter's book has quite understandably become the main book that people read when considering Leading Change. His 8 steps provide real insights in to what a leader needs to know when undertaking a significant change programme and his approach is in marked contrast to books that are built on a particular new idea or detailed handbooks for change managers that become so mechanical that they feel devoid of an interest in people.  Having said this I think there is still a gap for a book that gives even more practical advice for leaders. Hopefully space for Changing Spots when Ian White and I get round to producing it.

Water off a duck's back: How to deal with frustrating situations, awkward, exasperating and manipulative people and...keep smiling! by Jon Lavelle.

This is a practical and down-to-earth book about how to deal with difficult situations. It helps with both shaping one's own thinking as well as how to respond to other people. The book is well structured with good examples, exercises and summaries.

It is possible to tell the author delivers much of this material in seminars as there are times when the anecdotes and asides become over-bearing in the written text eg there is at least 1 crude joke alluded to and I found the metaphor on the personal LSD factory inappropriate. Inevitably the book appears to feel manipulative after a time and I believe the author when he asserts that he is interested in helping develop good relationships, however the 4 pages of techniques for taking it out of telesales callers did seem very unnecessary.

I am sure I have only absorbed a small fraction of the good material in this book on the basis of reading it cover-to-cover so I expect it to become a handbook that I return to on a regular basis.

Managing Change Step by Step - all you need to build a plan and make it happen by Richard Newton

This book is a detailed description for change managers of how to manage change. It is a good handbook for those who want to manage change in a systemmatic and thorough way.

Think again - why good leaders make bad decisions and how to keep it from happening to you by Sidney Finkelstein, Jo Whitehead and Andrew Campbell

This book explains how leaders make bad decisions based on 4 sources of error (red flag conditions) - misleading prejudgements, misleading experiences, inappropriate self-interest; inappropriate attachments. Each chapter is excellently illustrated by examples of decisions wrongly made. The final chapters explain the types of safeguards that can be used to overcome the red flag conditions - experience and data; group debate and challenge; governance; and monitoring.

The Relational Manager by Michael Schluter and David John Lee

This book provides guidance on how managers can improve relationships in their organisation and thereby enhance the achievement of the company's goals.

The Project Manager - Mastering the art of delivery by Richard Newton

A description of the core skills needed by the successful project manager and a welcome move away from the plethora of books in this field which focus on process and techniques.

Managing Change and Making it Stick by Roger Plant

A classic on managing change in organisations.  Practice has progressed since this book was written but this is a very readable book with a great blend of theory and practice.

Interim Management by Dennis Russell

The best and most comprehensive book on the subject of Interim Management is the book called Interim Management (The new career choice for senior managers) by Dennis Russell.  Worth every penny and every moment spent reading it.

The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries & Jack Trout

A very readable book which is full of ideas on how to improve the marketing of your company, whether it is large or small.

The Trusted Advisor by David Maister, Charles Green and Robert Galford

A book for those of us who work as interims, consultants and advisors, it provides very helpful guidance on buidling trust in to our relationships with our clients.

The Seven Cs of Consulting - the definitive guide to the consulting process by Mick Cope

This book is based around a 7Cs framework - Client; Clarify; Create; Change; Confirm; Continue; Close.  The description is very methodical and deals with the hard as well as soft issues of the consultancy process.  Full of analytical techniques appropriate to each stage.

The Project Workout: A Toolkit for Reaping the Rewards from all your Business Projects by Robert Buttrick

This is a very useful handbook which describes a project management framework for implementation in organisations of all sizes.  It also covers the organisation management responsibilities which makes it especially valuable.  This is all described in a very practical manner.  I see many organisations trying to follow a Prince 2 approach even when this is not mandated and it would be better for many of them, especially the smaller ones to follow the practical approach described in this book.