book reviews OFF THE SHELF
NO EXCUSES: HOW YOU
CAN TURN ANY WORKPLACE
INTO A GREAT
ONE
Jennifer Robin, Michael Burchell
Jossey-Bass, 2013
Written as a follow-up to their
first publication, The Great
Workplace, this book uncovers
common objections and excuses
to building a great workplace
and provides a roadmap for
creating a workplace in which
employees at all levels want to
work. Business case studies offer
concrete examples of how workplaces
have harnessed the benefits
of trust, pride and camaraderie
to build a workforce where
employees trust co-workers,
have pride in what they do and
enjoy the people they work with.
Talking Point
Great workplace leaders see
challenges as stretch goals and
tend not to feel their weight.
How can this perception be
spread to other employees?
FEARLESS PERFORMANCE
REVIEWS:
COACHING CONVERSATIONS
THAT TURN
EVERY EMPLOYEE INTO
A START PLAYER
Jeffrey and Linda Russell
McGraw Hill, 2014
Employee-led performance reviews
with the manager acting
as coach can lead to more insight
and learning by both parties.
Complemented by a great
performance management cycle,
this can move every employee to
star-performer status. The model
presented can be used with any
performance management system
and fosters a collaborative
process between employee and
manager.
Talking Point
Employing a collaborative mindset
when conducting performance
reviews is not a new concept, yet
performance reviews continue to
elicit fear and loathing for both
parties. What reframing strategies
have you used to reduce or
transform these feelings?
THE MOMENT OF CLARITY:
USING THE HUMAN
SCIENCES TO SOLVE
YOUR TOUGHEST BUSINESS
PROBLEMS
Christian Madsbjerg, Mikkel Rasmussen
Harvard Business Review Press, 2014
Solving business problems typically
relies on rational solutions
such as big data, open-innovation
or social media. For long-term
solutions to business problems,
the authors suggest the practice
of sensemaking, pulling together
of disparate information based
on phenomenology or the study
of how people experience life.
Using case studies from LEGO,
Intel and Adidas, the book demonstrates
how deepening our
inquiry into problems via abductive
reasoning – starting with
observation and then moving to
possible hypotheses – can lead to
the moment of clarity.
Talking Point
Brainstorming is a common tool
used to generate numerous solutions
to clearly defined problems
but is not useful for helping
executives understand why a
product launch failed or why a
company is losing money. Why
is that, do you think?
HR ANALYTICS:
THE WHAT, WHY
AND HOW
Tracey Smith
Createspace, 2013
Human resources is one of the
last departments to fully leverage
its data, according to Smith.
Data analysis has evolved and
allows HR to not only track
but also forecast workforce
needs and trends. Smith offers
insight regarding the limits of
data collection and analysis,
providing guidance on where
to start and what is needed to
offer strategic information to
the C-suite.
Talking Point
Smith strongly advises you start
with a list of questions you are
trying to answer and be careful
not to broaden your definition
of the problem(s) you are trying
to solve. n
By Alyson Nyiri, CHRP
HRPATODAY.CA ❚ FEBRUARY 2014 ❚ 77