A book currently influencing my thoughts and actions

I once worked for a brilliant man in the mid-late 90's.  He was an executive vice president of a manufacturing company. His strengths were in engineering and science.  He read a bunch of management books and produced an internal memo (like email, but on paper, kids) that synthesized what he'd learned into a title-based portmanteau of epic proportions. "The goal to reengineer ourselves into a customer-driven company, where employees are empowered."

I think the paper actually tried to jump out of the printer before it could be rendered into a buzzword infused pile of detrius bound for the recycle bin.  The result of that mashup, was a confusion of directives with no clear deliverables.  I vowed to have a skeptical attitude towards "management philosophy" ever since.

Every once in a while I do find something worthwhile.  It's usually practical, quick, and easy to implement provided you have the commitment to try.

The book is called "The Open Organization" by Jim Whitehurst.  Jim is the current CEO of RedHat, and formerly the COO of Delta Airlines.  In this book, Jim explains his personal transformation from a top-down leader to a bottom-up catalyst for growth and engagemnent.

I'm not going to spoil it (too much) for you, but it does align nicely with some of our shared values and our strategies to promote leadership at all levels, and to model behaviors that help others thrive.

I hope you read it and enjoy it.  If you'd like, I'd love to talk with you about the ideas in the book.