Wiring the Winning Organization
A Book Review...Of Sorts ;)
When I initially embarked on writing "Seed The Way," my intention was to create a howto guide for VPEs based on my own lived experiences. I definitely didn’t want to inundate my readers with a ton of theory and scholarly articles. I also didn’t think I would be posting a plethora of book reviews. However, I realized that omitting discussions about the impactful books, articles, podcasts, and more that have shaped and influenced me as a leader would be a disservice to my readers.
I consider myself fortunate to have developed a friendship and professional relationship with Gene Kim, one of the co-authors of "Wiring the Winning Organization." Having had the privilege of obtaining an early copy of the book a few weeks before its official release today (11/21/23), I feel honored to share my thoughts.
For those curious, I still plan to purchase a copy post-release. I typically opt for the audible version as well. I’m super excited the audible release came out today as well. More often than not, I buy multiple copies to distribute among my staff.
My acquaintance with Gene dates back to my time at Blackboard in 2013, a few months after the publication of "The Phoenix Project." During that period, my team and I invited Gene to be the keynote speaker at the Blackboard DevCon. True to expectations, Gene delivered an exceptional presentation, showcasing remarkable content.
The months leading up to the conference provided me with valuable insights into Gene's character. Above all, Gene embodies the spirit of a perpetual student. In the 7 weeks preceding the event, he regularly met with me and two teammates for 45 minutes to an hour 1x a week. During these sessions, he would inquire about the DevCon audience, share research he was actively working on, and brainstorm content ideas with us for his DevCon presentation.
Observing Gene's immersive approach to his work was a fascinating experience—one that I've strived to emulate in the decade since our initial encounters.
While preparing for this post, I revisited my somewhat semi-active blog to peruse past book reviews. To my surprise, I discovered a forgotten book review on "The Phoenix Project" from March 2013. Enjoy!
A Very Different Kind of Organizational Behavior Book
Let me begin by expressing that the book was not only thought-provoking and engaging but also incredibly insightful. Initially, I had planned to savor the content by reading a chapter each night, taking my time to digest it. However, that plan quickly went out the window as I breezed through Part 1 in just a couple of hours. Essentially, I split up the book over two days for my initial pass. I’ve reread it a few times since in order to author this post.
Perhaps you can relate, but it usually takes me two or three readings or listens to fully absorb the content of a book. With each iteration, I discover different or new points. It's not that I'm a distracted reader; rather, I tend to associate the content with work examples from the past—a technique I frequently use to connect with my readings.
"Wiring the Winning Organization" seized my attention with its creative use of abstractions and illustrations to convey complex ideas. Gene and Steve employ a unique approach, using metaphors and allegories to paint vivid pictures that helped me grasp the underlying concepts of Slowification, Simplification, and Amplification. This technique not only improved the book's readability but also sparked my imagination, encouraging critical thinking about each core concept.
I particularly appreciated the inclusion of questions at the end of each chapter. This practice, somewhat of a lost art in modern non-fiction, prompted me to reflect on the material and inspired future engagement with the content. Believe me when I say "future engagement." The bibliography at the end will likely occupy my next three months of free time.
Through the use of thought-provoking questions, I felt like I was sitting in an MBA classroom with Gene and Steve. It compelled me to analyze my own experiences and perspectives.
I'm a big fan of the teaching-by-example approach that Gene and Steve adopt in this book. They introduce concepts like Danger Zones and Winning Zones, as well as organizational layering (Layer 1, 2, and 3), with foundational theory and simple abstractions. The material just makes sense. They enhance it with compelling and interesting case studies. I suppose I need to applaud Gene and Steve because the book essentially slowifies, simplifies, and amplifies each chapter.
The Social Circuitry of Layer 3
High-performing teams occupy my thoughts consistently. It's not that I'm dissatisfied or discontent with our current state; in fact, I take pride in my team and their achievements. However, my mindset is one of continuous improvement. I'm always asking myself and my team, "What's the next step for improvement?" or "How can we enhance our performance?"
As a leader, my DNA seems wired for continuous learning, actively seeking feedback, setting new goals, and fostering a perpetual desire for progress.
When I encounter other leaders who are adept at building and leading high-performance teams, I notice similar traits. There's a shared curiosity about continuous improvement and a preference for team identity over individual identity. These teams are always seeking new knowledge, looking for feedback for improvement opportunities and of course establishing new goals to achieve new milestones.
This book has provided me with a fresh perspective when collaborating with my teams and colleagues in the industry. High performance is more than just culture. There needs to be process and intention layered on top of the culture.
The book emphasizes the importance of being intentional and deliberate in slowing things down. Recognize that "slowification" is a temporary phase. The key is to simplify, simplify, simplify! The aim is to guide the team towards a shared understanding of a problem. It brings to mind the scene in "A River Runs Through It" where making things "half as long" is advocated. Trust me, Tom Skerritt knew a thing or two about simplifying the English language and amplifying a point.
Happy reading…Enjoy!