Tao of coaching
The Tao of Coaching: Boost Your Effectiveness at Work by Inspiring and Developing Those Around You (buy from Amazon) by Max Landsberg
Type: Self-improvement
Author: Max Landsberg
My rating: 3
Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
How to coach people, motivate others and achieve more?
My review:
A book that I was given during my Mckinsey days. The concept is most important to consulting work.
Leading at the Edge
Leading at the Edge : Leadership Lessons from the Extraordinary Saga of Shackleton's Antarctic Expedition (buy from Amazon) by Catherine McCarthy
Type: Business Self-improvement
Author: Dennis N. T. Perkins
My rating: 4
Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
A book on leadership lessons using the 1914 Antarctica exploration led by Sir Ernest Shackleton on a boat called the "Endurance". A remarkable journey, the boat was soon trapped by the ice and the crew was strangled in the most harsh region on the globe. Under Sir Ernest's amazing leadship, the crew was able to survive for over 2 years and eventually reached safety with no loss of a single life. His unique style of leadership skill was able to hold the team together and keep their spirit alive, how to eliminate doubts and achieve incredible results. The book analyses these outstanding qualities and citing more turn-around examples of modern corporations.
My review:
A remarkable story that has been quoted countless times. This book gives a good summary on the lessons that we can learn and leadership skills that can be applied in modern society, in organisations of any kind.
What Color is your parachute?
What Color Is Your Parachute Workbook: How to Create a Picture of Your Ideal Job or Next Career (buy from Amazon) by Richard Nelson Bolles
Type: Business Self-improvement
Author: Richard N. Bolles
My rating: 3
Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
This book recommends some exercises and approaches to identify your ideal career. It also suggests how you can get there. You may generate some new ideas about your next move and what actions you should take now.
My review:
Though the ideas are not new, the book does give some insights on searching the desired career. Don't waste your time on paths that lead to no where, focus on your networks.
"Are you approaching your job hunt as a
LIFE-CHANGING career move?"
YOU SHOULD! But how? Spend some time to really understand yourself and devise a strategy that suits you! Also learn about the myths of job hunting.
Is there something wrong with your job hunting process? Read this example:
A typical job hunting process
1. Search on mass-internet job site
2. Read classified in newspaper
3. Contact head-hunters
4. Ask network for referral
Employer filling a position
1. Look from within his organisation
2. Ask trusted network for referral
3. Engage head-hunters
4. Advertise in newspaper or mass job site
So you see how a typical job hunting process is out of step to the employers' procedure in finding talents. Many people waste precious time in endless search on mass jobs site and classified AND they convince themselves that they are making good progress by browsing a long list of job openings that match their so called "keywords". Instead they should catch the jobs at a much earlier stage - the "Network referral" stage. Not only you are able to catch the better jobs, you actually have a higher chance of finding the RIGHT job! - Because, your network has done the screening for you and your prospective employers, not to mention the important "trust" element in a referral.
Isn't it time you adopt the correct approach? I wish you every success!
Who Moved My Cheese?
Who Moved My Cheese? (buy from Amazon) by Spencer Johnson
Posted by irene
Type: Self-improvement
Author: Spencer Johnson
My rating: 3
Book introduction:
A story of rat finding cheese to imply our changes in life.
My review:
Encouraging to how we handle changes in life
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (buy from Amazon) by Stephen R. Covey
Type: Self-improvement
Author: Stephen R. Covey
My rating: 5
Book introduction:
What's the secret of succeeful people? Being "Highly effective". Stephen Covey concludes that it can be summarised in 7 habits that these people keep practicing through their business and personal life. And the 7 habits are divided into 3 stages. Before that we must learn that everyone has a different perspective or paradigm of his/her world, we must also learn to respect and appreciate other people's paradigm. Paradigm change is a very powerful event that can allow us to approach things in a fresh and better angles.
Now the 3 stages of dependencies...
Stage 1: Dependant
When we are still a "Dependant", we need support from others. We need to prepare to change ourselves into "Independant" people, so we are able to take care of ourselves.
Habit 1: Proactive
Don't sit around, be proactive in what you pursue and what you need to accomplish.
Habit 2: Start with the end in mind
Think clearly what the end result you are trying achieve before you start doing it.
Habit 3: First thing first
Priorities "to-do" things by "Urgent/Not Urgent", "Important/Not Important". Focus on "Not Urgent and Important" things (thus fewer and fewer items will fall into the "Urgent and Important" category).
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus
Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (buy from Amazon) by John Gray
Type: Relationship
Author: John Gray, PhD
My rating: 4
Book introduction:
Do men and women understand each other? Why do men and women communicate in different modes? Can we learn to adapte each other's approach? How can we improve the quality of our interaction with our significant others?
This book has all the answers that you are looking for. It describes the common communication issues between the two genders and explain why we see things differently, and how we misinterpret each others and how we can approach things in a better way by understanding how the opposite sex thinks.
My review:
The result is remarkable, it's like relearning how to speak, or learning a new language. The quality of communication is much enhanced and thus the relationship is improved. The issues mentioned in the book are so common that you think the book was written based on your own experience. The solutions are remarkably simply, but it requires a lot of practice as old habits of communicating is hard to change. I recommend this book to all lovers and to those who are searching for love. Okay, I do have a negative point on this book, it tends to repeat itself too much, recycling old ideas, apart from that, it's great.
Mars and Venus on a Date
Mars and Venus on a Date: A Guide for Navigating the 5 Stages of Dating to Create a Loving & Lasting Relationship (buy from Amazon) by John Gray
Type: Relationship
Author: John Gray
My rating: 4
Posted by irene
Book introduction:
This book explains the essence of handling different stages of relationship: attraction, uncertainty, exclusivity, intimacy, and, finally, engagement (for marriage).
My review:
I read Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus first, then this book. I found the ideas similar, but Mars and Venus on a Date is more specific in each stage, which could give more ideas about where you are.
Don't sweat the small stuff...and it's all small stuff
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff--and it's all small stuff (Don't Sweat the Small Stuff Series) (buy from Amazon) by Richard Carlson
Type: Self-improvement
Author: Richard Carlson
My rating: 3
Posted by Dominic
Book introduction:
100 tips on how to calm your self and take life easy
My review:
Easy reading that offer some useful tips. You can read a few tips a day.
In Search Of Excellence
In Search of Excellence: Lessons from America's Best-Run Companies (Collins Business Essentials) (buy from Amazon) by Robert H. Waterman
Type: Business
Author: Thomas Peters, Tom Peters, Robert H. Waterman, Robert Waterman
My rating: 4
Book introduction:
This book was based on the result of extensive research on successful corporations in US. This forms the foundation of the McKinsey infamous 7S framework on good corporate management. The 7S are Shared values, Structure, Systems, Style, Staff, Skills and Strategy
My review:
An interesting strategy book. Though the research was based on late 70s, a lot are still applicable today.
The Dilbert Principle
The Dilbert Principle: A Cubicle's-Eye View of Bosses, Meetings, Management Fads & Other Workplace Afflictions (buy from Amazon) by Scott Adams
Type: Leisure
Author: Scott Adams
My rating: 3
Book introduction:
The Dilbert Principle is a part comic, part text book that make fun of office situations. It also has emails from people who talk about the stupid things happening in their companies.
My review:
A fun pass-time reading. I particular enjoy the part regarding consultants (being one myself).