Photo by Steve Garfield
Famed leadership guru and successful author David Maister spoke at PodCamp Boston2 in October 2007, and immediately won over a lot of really appreciative new friends. The room where he spoke was packed and people were standing out in the hallways with their ears pressed to the door. Those who knew his previous books were there to hear where he was going. Those who’d yet to meet him, wanted to hear about strategy.
David’s latest book is out. Strategy and the Fat Smoker is about helping us understand why we don’t do the things we know we should, and ways to get ourselves (and our organizations) on track. (More about the book here, including how to get an eBook.)
One thing I love about the book is the simple definition David uses to warm us up to the idea of what strategy is. He says that strategy isn’t the goal of losing weight; it’s the diet and course of exercise we choose to get there. But there’s more.
Maister takes us through understanding client relationships, our own leadership styles, and other people’s, and then ties it all together into a call to focus on people, passion, and principles. Along the way, we learn more and more about what we should look for in our actions, in the systems that guide our organizations, and how we should consider our leaders. We can’t change every step in the system if we’re not on top, but there are even some tips and ideas on how to guide people towards a better solution.
The section on leadership is a must read for folks looking to better understand their boss, or for being a boss.
I’m excited that my friend, Julien, helped me learn more about David and his work. Turns out he lives only about 45 minutes from me, and so who knows? Maybe I’ll bother him over beverages and ask him more about the book.
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