Elizabeth Whitworth, Author at Shortform Books

Cultural Leadership Lessons From Toussaint Louverture

Are you trying to change the culture of your organization? What can you learn from Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture about this kind of leadership? Toussaint Louverture led the military and diplomatic campaign that liberated enslaved people in Haiti and set the stage for its independence from France. In What You Do Is Who You Are, Ben Horowitz draws cultural leadership insights from Louverture. Read on to learn more about Louverture and his leadership.

Organizational Decision-Making: 3 Ways to Set the Tone

When it comes to decision-making in your organization, how much power do you and your employees have? How fast are decisions made? What happens immediately after a decision is made? In his book What You Do Is Who You Are, Ben Horowitz discusses how decision-making is an aspect of your organization’s culture. As the leader, you set the tone for how decisions are made. Horowitz identifies three choices you make that determine what kind of decision-making culture you build. Keep reading for details on these three choices.

The 3 Cultural Challenges That Leaders Face

As you strive to shape the culture of your organization, what should you expect? How flexible should you be? Does every employee need to be on board? In his book What You Do Is Who You Are, CEO and venture capitalist Ben Horowitz discusses three cultural challenges that leaders face as they seek to shape their organization’s culture. He explains that they must deal with the fact that culture is both aspirational and actionable, culture is always evolving, and culture is universal. Continue reading to learn more about these challenges.

The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav: Book Overview

What’s The Seat of the Soul about? What does it say about the nature of the universe and the material world? What does it teach about the soul’s purpose and evolution? The Seat of the Soul by Gary Zukav is a best-selling exploration of the soul’s evolutionary journey through the material realm. Published in 1989, following Zukav’s acclaimed The Dancing Wu Li Masters (which explored the connection between quantum physics and spirituality), this book earned a spot as an Oprah Winfrey favorite and gained a wide following throughout the 1990s. Keep reading for our overview of The Seat of the

How to Improve Company Culture: 3 Tips From Prison

Does your company culture need improvement? If so, where should you start? What practical steps can you take to make lasting change? In the book What You Do Is Who You Are, Ben Horowitz shares three cultural leadership lessons taken from the story of Shaka Senghor. Senghor demonstrated transformational leadership when he served in prison. Horowitz discusses three lessons from Senghor’s story: take advantage of teachable moments, start necessary changes from the top, and meet daily to model changes. Keep reading to learn how to improve company culture.

Gary Zukav: Authentic Power Is What Your Soul Needs

What’s the difference between external and internal power? What kind of power is authentic? How can you get it? According to Gary Zukav, authentic power is internal power. In The Seat of the Soul, he explains that our spiritual souls are constrained by our material bodies. So, we tend to pursue external rather than internal power. Only the authentic, internal power can help our souls live out their purpose. Let’s take a closer look at Zukav’s view of authentic power.

How to Assess Culture: Lessons From Shaka Senghor

How often do you take the pulse of your company’s culture? Do you have a system to diagnose and solve problems? CEO and venture capitalist Ben Horowitz says you must keep assessing and improving your organization’s culture to ensure that it continues to serve your vision. He draws insights from Shaka Senghor’s story to pinpoint ways to keep a critical eye on your culture, root out the problems, and ultimately improve your organization. Here’s Shaka Senghor’s story and how to assess the culture in your company.

Workplace Rules: 3 Tips to Make Them Stick

Have you set clear rules for your employees? How well do people understand and follow the rules? CEO and venture capitalist Ben Horowitz draws on historical examples to show how you can provide cultural leadership in your organization. For lessons on workplace rules, Horowitz looks to Haitian revolutionary Toussaint Louverture and offers three tips for making rules that stick. Keep reading to learn how to set effective workplace rules.

The Soul’s Journey: How to Help Your Soul Evolve

Where is your soul on its journey toward enlightenment? How can you further your soul’s evolution? In his book The Seat of the Soul, Gary Zukav argues that the purpose of the soul is to evolve. This isn’t always easy, and he offers ideas on how to encourage the soul’s journey toward its goal of enlightenment. He explains how to develop your heart knowledge and seek authentic power. He also discusses how spiritual psychology could help all of us in this evolution. Keep reading for Zukav’s insights on the soul’s journey.

How to Find Your Calling in Life: 3 Steps to Discovery

What kind of work do you feel drawn to? Do you sense an inner force guiding you in your pursuits? Author Robert Greene believes that we all have something inside us that pulls us in certain directions in life. You can get in touch with that force by performing three tasks: reflecting on your childhood, blurring the line between work and life, and embracing a nonlinear path. Keep reading to learn how to find your calling in life.

« Previous