Manage to Lead: Seven Truths to Help You Change the World
Peter F. DiGiammarino
intelliVen (2013)
What we have in this volume is an abundance of information, insights, and wisdom that Peter DiGiammarino has acquired thus far with specific relevance to how to develop and drive “teams of high-potential, growth-driven professionals to build highly successful and fast-growing ventures based on offerings that solve specific, important, pervasive and persistent problems for tight markets.” There you have, in essence, what this book is all about and an indication of how it can be of substantial value those who are determined and able to apply effectively – from among the abundance of information, insights, and counsel — whatever is relevant to the given enterprise.
These are among the dozens of business subjects and issues of special interest and value to me, also listed to indicate the scope of DiGiammarino’s coverage.
o Note to OD Students and Practitioners (Pages 15-18)
o The Seven Truths (18-19)
o Who: Market (24-25)
o Why: Problem (25-28)
o What: Solution (28
o How: Do-Sell-Grow (28-30)
o Work Problem: Get Clear (42-47)
o Core Leadership Group (54-56)
o Work Problems 2-3: Get Aligned (60-62)
o The Change Framework (67-68)
o Meetings: Ground Rules (85-87)
o FOCUS: Penetrate Peaks (99-101)
o GROW: Organization Evolution (104-110)
o Effectiveness vs. Systems and Process Maturity (124-126)
Readers will appreciate DiGiammarino’s skillful use of 127 Figures that are inserted strategically throughout the narrative to illustrate or highlight key points and relevant information. Some of the Figures are in clusters to suggest sequence or procerss. I also commend him on the generous provision of additional material and resources in an Appendix (Pages 130-160) that discuss key business subjects that range from “Executive Sessions” to “How to increase the odds of being happy and of leading a fulfilled life.”
I agree with DiGiammarino that organizational design or re-design worthy of the name requires both a macro perspective (the so-called “Big Picture”) and a macro focus on significant details within which (according to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe) a divinity can perhaps be induced to reside.