Power Shift: Alvin Toffler

Scanning my bookshelf for a volume I recently read, I spied Powershift: Knowledge, Wealth, and Violence at the Edge of the 21st Century by Alvin Toffler. My eyes rested on the book and I recalled the foundational concepts I learned from reading it.

One key paradigm I adopted after reading this book I have used nearly everyday of my life, both consciously and sub-consciously. Buried deep in the buried deep in the middle of the book (p. 285, I still have a bookmark inserted here) in a chapter titled "Meta-Tactics," is a brief discussion on the use of data and statistics. Here, Toffler states these four points which have been pivotal for me:

1. Smart people demand to know more about the sources and reliability of the data upon which information, knowledge, and conclusions are built.

2. Smarter people take into account the channels through which the data and information flowed and who might have had a chance to "massage" them.

3. The smartest people do both of the above, and also question the assumptions and even the deeper assumptions upon which the superficial assumptions are based.

4. Finally, imaginative people, whom Toffler suggests may be the smallest group of all, question the entire frame of reference.

These four principles have provided me life changing insights into how and why I do things and how and why others act as they do.

Powershift: Knowledge, Wealth, and Violence at the Edge of the 21st Century was first published in 1990. I bought it at a used bookstore about five years later. It's still as applicable today as it was 20 years ago when it was first published.

The premise of the book is that power is shifting. In the early days of man, physical power was most important. You could control people and things using your physical strength.

Later, with advent of wealth, power could be purchased. Now the person with money could purchase and use the physical strength of others to control and rule over people and things.

Eventually, knowledge became power. The person with knowledge could manipulate situations to gain wealth. Think "insider trading."

Toffler desires to help us understand how the world operates today where knowledge is power. He claims knowledge can be used as a substitute for land, labor, and/or capital. In addition, knowledge saves time.

Most important is knowledge about knowledge (see the four points above).

Two-thirds of the book is devoted to understanding how to create, store, retrieve and manage "knowledge about knowledge" for competitive advantage.

Interestingly enough, at the end of the book Toffler provides the reader 25 foundational assumptions upon which the book is built. For example, "20. Knowledge is even more maldistributed than arms and wealth. Hence, a redistribution of knowledge (and especially knowledge about knowledge) is even more important than, and can lead to, a redistribution of the other main power resources."

The Bibliography contains 592 sources. In addition, the end of the book Notes section is over 40 pages long. Highlighting the quality of the research that is evident through out this book!

The Ideal Problem Solver

The Ideal Problem Solver: A Guide to Improving Thinking, Learning, and Creativity by John Bransford and Barry Stein is not a reflection on reaching perfection as a problem solver, but on applying a method of problem solving that corresponds to the acronym IDEAL

I = Identify problems and opportunities
D = Define goals
E = Explore possible strategies
A = Anticipate outcomes and Act
L = Look back and Learn

A fairly standard problem solving methodology with a slight change of names for each step in the methodology.

One strength of this book is the inclusion of problems and exercises. These inclusions make this book suitable for use in a classroom or workshop environment. They also provide the individual reader the opportunity to test his or her own creative problem solving abilities.

The authors state that the most important implication of problem solving is that "people who want to develop effective problem-solving skills must become effective at learning about relevant conceptual tools." (p. 33) Exploring possible strategies (E), requires learning relevant conceptual problem solving tools.

The Ideal Problem Solver: A Guide to Improving Thinking, Learning, and Creativity is divided into two parts.

PART 1: A Framework for Using Knowledge More Effectively
(This part explains and elaborates on the IDEAL methodology)
PART 2: A Model for Acquiring New Knowledge

Part 2 focuses on memorization skills, comprehension and problem-based learning.

I found the discussion of problem-based learning versus traditional applications problems to be especially helpful. The authors suggest that the current traditional applications problems style most often used in education:

1. Limits students to focusing on problem solving, rather than helping them find and define the problems to be solved.
2. Focuses on rote memorization and application of solutions out of habit.
3. Tends to ignore realistic situations and focuses on contrived word problems instead.

Possible formats that could be used to combat these limitations are:

1. Poor Scholar's Soliloquy
2. Case-Based Instruction
3. Project-Based Instruction
4. Debates
5. Simulations

Leading on the Creative Edge

By page 26 of Leading on the Creative Edge: Gaining Competitive Advantage Through the Power of Creative Problem Solving by Roger Firestien, I was confronted with 12 ways to nurture my creativity. I like lists like this. They give me an opportunity to evaluate myself.

"How many of these things am I already doing?"

"Which ones have I thought about trying in the past, but decided to wait on?"

"What new ideas have I never considered before and maybe need to ponder adopting?"

"How close does my list match the list of this 'expert'?"

So try it out for yourself. Here is Firestien's list:

1. Develop creative habits.
2. Ask questions.
3. Use passive ways to generate ideas.
4. Vary your routine.
5. Read and listen to a variety of material.
6. Network.
7. Develop personal support systems.
8. Stop the action.
9. Create an environment that encourages creativity.
10. Create a healthy lifestyle.
11. Reawaken your sense of humor.
12. Be passionate about your positive compelling future vision.

Chapters 3 through 7 review commonly presented creative problem solving principles, such as:

Phrase problems in a way they can be solved.
Don't solve the wrong problem.
Defer judgment while generating many ideas.
Evaluate ideas in a positive manner.

While the principles may be familiar, any new twist provided by a fresh way of looking at something is worth investigating. I find it improves my own application of the principle to solving problems or taking advantage of opportunities.

Chapter eight of Leading on the Creative Edge: Gaining Competitive Advantage Through the Power of Creative Problem Solving explains the PPC technique. The Pluses, Potential, and Concerns (PPC) technique helps groups make affirmative judgments of possible solutions, rather than negative judgments.

This technique could be worth many times the price of the book if it leads you to a better organizational culture in positive problem solving experiences.

Firestien concludes with an invitation to become creative. He has a free newsletter you can subscribe to with the latest ideas and research in the field of creativity and innovation.

My favorite quote:
"The way to succeed is to double your failure rate."
Thomas Watson, Jr., former President of IBM

Leadership and Futuring

As a follow up to our previous post on Visionary Leadership, here is a short little book by John R. Hoyle: Leadership and Futuring: Making Visions Happen

Hoyle helps us understand ways we can bring our vision into being. One of the principles of futuring is the notion that vision is one possible scenario for the future and there is no reason your vision should not be the eventual reality. Hoyle wants to help you make your vision the next reality.

He sets about his task in four ways. He discusses leaders who have influenced him. He discusses leaders he wishes he would have known. He discusses strategic planning for your vision. And he provides some practical exercises you can do to improve your vision and it's implementation.

The three leaders he knew were his 7th grade teacher, his major professor in the Ph.D. program and Dr. Paul B. Salmon, Executive Director of the American Association of School Administrators.

The three leaders he would like to have met were Jesus Christ, Joan of Arc and Winston Churchill.

Leadership and Futuring: Making Visions Happen was written by John R. Hoyle. Hoyle is a member of the World Future Society. He promotes this organization in his book. The Society teaches and promotes futuring. Futuring is "the act of seeing and feeling alternative futures that are either in the near (5-10 year), middle (11-20 year), or far (21-50) year future." (p. 20) The terms futuring and visioning can be used interchangeably.

As a futurist, he suggests some assumptions which can be used to guide our thinking as we develop a vision for the future of the organization:

Assumption #1 is we must begin now. Now is the time when we can work to change the course of action.

Assumption #2 is we must remain flexible. Unforeseen events transpire, false assumptions are made, alternative futures are available.

Assumption #3 is before agreeing on a preferred future course of action, talk to the people who must make it happen. Convince your stakeholders the future you suggest is the correct one to pursue.

Visionary Leadership

Visionary Leadership by Burt Nanus intends to help us in "creating a compelling sense of direction for your organization," according to the sub-title. The nine chapters of this book are divided into three parts:
Part One: What Vision is and Why it Matters
Part Two: Developing the Vision
Part Three: Implementing the Vision

Many leadership gurus believe that casting a vision for an organization is the most important thing a leader can do. Nanus apparently agrees by titling his first chapter, "Vision: The Key to Leadership."

Chapter three, "Taking Stock: The Vision Audit," is particularly helpful. Nanus suggests four questions that need to be answered to determine where the organization currently stands regarding vision. Those questions are:

1. Does the organization have a clearly stated vision? If so, what is it?

2. If the organization continues on its current path, where will it be heading over the next decade? How good would such a direction be?

3. Do the key people in the organization know where the organization is headed and agree on the direction?

4. Do the structures, processes, personnel, incentives, and information systems support the current direction of the organization?

Nanus provides examples and additional questions to consider when auditing the organizational vision.

The remainder of Visionary Leadership focuses on developing and improving the organization's vision and implementing any changes needed.

I particularly like the emphasis of chapter eight, "Running the Race with No End: The Re-Visioning Process." The world changes, the organization changes, the players change. And in the midst of it all, the organization vision must be re-examined and revised as needed to express the intentions of the organization.

My favorite quote is at the beginning of chapter seven:

"When it comes to the future,
there are three kinds of people:
those who let it happen,
those who make it happen,
and those who wonder what happened."
--John M. Richardson, Jr.

The 7 Laws of the Learner

Tom Friedman, author of the best selling book The World Is Flat 3.0: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century says the most important skill you can have as you tackle the challenges of the 21st century is the ability to "learn how to learn." Sometimes referred to as "being a lifelong learner."

Dr. Bruce Wilkinson gives principles we can apply to help us be lifelong learners in his book, The Seven Laws of the Learner: How to Teach Almost Anything to Practically Anyone. While this book is intended to help educators become better teachers, the principles , or laws, he presents can be slightly modified and applied to our own learning.

For instance, Law One: The Law of the Learner's first maxim is "Teachers are responsible to cause students to learn." If I apply that to myself it means I am responsible for my own learning. I can't expect someone else to learn for me and then just give me the cliff notes. I have to want to learn about something.

Or Law Four: The Law of Retention's second maxim is "Retention of facts is effective only after they are understood." If I apply this to myself it means I am responsible to understand the relevance of what I am learning to my life. This one seems to be much easier now that I no longer sit in a classroom "learning" what someone else thinks is important. Now I am learning what I think is important. I should believe the subject is relevant before I begin to study it.

The Seven Laws of the Learner: How to Teach Almost Anything to Practically Anyone contains seven laws of the learner. Mindsets, models, maxims, methods and maximizers are suggested for each law. Each law includes 7 maxims to help understand the mindsets and models and 7 maximizers to help understand the methods.

Wilkinson is the creator of the popular "Walk Thru the Bible" series. Using the principles in this book, he has created a program where you can learn the major events of the Old Testament in a one day session. Or if you like, you can learn the major events of the New Testament in a one day session. I attend both sessions over 25 years ago and was able to see these principles in action.

I've even had the opportunity to apply some of these principles when leading workshops or teaching classes. I've had success using them to teach others and I've had success applying them to my own learning process.

Wilkenson's 7 laws are:

Law One: The Law of the Learner
Law Two: The Law of Expectation
Law Three: The Law of Application
Law Four: The Law of Retention
Law Five: The Law of Need
Law Six: The Law of Equipping
Law Seven: The Law of Revival

Should you find yourself in the position where you need to teach others, or

Should you find yourself in the position where you need to keep learning (which is all of us)

I highly recommend you read this book!

Leadership: Research Findings, Practice, and Skills

Leadership: Research Findings, Practice, and Skills by Andrew J. DuBrin is another academic text you might find helpful in your pursuit of leadership. His textbook has 15 chapters which corresponds nicely to a college semester course.

The first nine chapters provide a description of leadership, discuss insight development and give prescriptions for leadership success. The last five chapters deal with specific leadership skills. DuBrin suggests the following skills as necessary for leadership:

1. motivating and coaching,
2. creative problem solving,
3. communication (including non-verbal and cross-cultural),
4. conflict resolution,
5. attitudes required for international and culturally diverse settings,
6. enhancing quality, and
7. capitalizing on technology.

As a textbook, Leadership: Research Findings, Practice, and Skills
also includes a chapter summary, key terms, a section called "Guidelines for Action and Skill Development," discussion questions and activities, a case study problem and a leadership exercise.

One highlight for me was the inclusion of Self-Assessment exercises in each chapter. These exercises help you assess yourself as a leader. They include:

1. Readiness for the Leadership Role
2. The Assertiveness Scale
3. What Type of Leader Are You?
4. The Least Preferred Coworker (LPC) Scale for Measuring Leadership Style
5. Rating a Manager's Power
6. Survey of Influence Tactics
7. Characteristics of an Effective Coach
8. The Creative Personality Test Intellectual Abilities
9. A Test of Communication Effectiveness
10. The Leadership Criterion of The Baldrige Award
11. Attitudes Toward Technology

Not content with just helping you figure out how effective you are as a leader right now, this book also provides a number of skill building exercises to help you improve for the future. These include:

1. Becoming a Charismatic and Transformational Leader
2. Management by Anecdote
3. Feedback Skills
4. Becoming an Empowering Manager
5. Identifying Influence Tactics
6. Shelters for the Homeless
7. The Teamwork Checklist
8. Estimating Valances for Applying Expectancy Theory
9. Thinking Outside the Box
10. Brainstorming
11. Word Hints to Creativity
12. Identifying Emotion Provoking Words and Phrases
13. Charting Your Cultural Value Profile
14. How Much Do I Value Diversity?
15. Do You Have the Right Corporate Culture for TQM?
16. The Interpersonal Skills Checklist

Lots of good stuff in this book. It will keep you thinking for hours. Very revealing about the kind of leader you are! With lots of help for becoming the leader you want to be.