The World's Best Book Summaries
What are one-minute goals? How do you set them? Why do one-minute goals work? If you want to learn how to be a one-minute manager, then you need to learn about one-minute goals. Each goal you set should be readable in one minute or less, hence the name. When you have these written performance standards and deadlines, employees feel more driven and have direction. Here’s why you should set one-minute goals for your employees and why they work.
What is the major benefit of reading? What questions should you ask yourself while you read? How do know which books you should read? Mortimer Adler says that the reason you should read is simple: reading is learning. And to be well-read is not to have read a large number of books, but to have a high-quality understanding of good books. Here’s Mortimer Adler’s advice on how to read better and how to choose which book to read next.
How does a church-based religious experience differ from a religious tv show? In what way do religious tv shows negate the traditional religious experience? According to Neil Postman, the author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, religious tv shows turn religion into something easy, self-serving, and trivial. Rather than focusing on the messages of the religious texts, tv programs attract audiences with lavish sets, images, and even secular actors who endorse them. Learn how religious tv shows focus more on entertainment value than the religion itself.
Do you suffer from anxiety triggered by criticism? How can you reframe this criticism so that you no longer feel anxious about it? One aspect of life that triggers anxiety in almost everyone is criticism. Though unjust criticism might sting, it can be considered a compliment—it means you’re doing something that merits jealousy and attention. Here is how a small change in perspective can help ease anxiety triggered by criticism.
What is a one-minute redirect? How can performing one-minute redirects improve your staff’s performance? In The New One-Minute Manager, a one-minute redirect is a way to give immediate, effective, and constructive feedback to your employees when they’re not performing up to standard. This method works better than the typical performance review because it allows employees to correct their mistakes immediately. Learn why you should use one-minute redirects rather than performance reviews.
Are we living in a post-truth world? How did modern society come to value entertainment over truthfulness? And how has looking good on camera become all that matters? Neil Postman, the author of Amusing Ourselves to Death, believed that we were entering a post-truth world—and since this book was published in 1985, many believed we have entered this era already. Postman feared that the public cared more about the entertainment value of the news rather than the truth and relevance of the information. Here is how the invention of television pushed us into the post-truth era.
What was Sam Walton’s leadership style? How did Walton keep the small-store feel even when Wal-Mart had thousands of stores? Sam Walton had a “whistle while you work” attitude. He trusted his employees, encouraged open communication, held managers to the same expectations as their underlings, and more. This created a close-knit company culture in Wal-Mart’s early days. Keep reading for more details about Sam Walton’s leadership style.
How do you get people from vastly different walks of life to cooperate with one another? What do you think is the main barrier to interpersonal cooperation? How can it be overcome? According to the Arbinger Institute, the key to effective cooperation is for all the involved parties to adopt the cooperative mindset. The Institute asserts that once you’re able to embody the cooperative mindset by removing your biases, focusing on seeing others as people, and acting according to your conscience, cooperation will come naturally. In this article, we’ll discuss how to encourage others to leave their biases behind and
How do television commercials influence purchasing decision-making? What’s the problem with making a purchase based on a tv commercial recommendation? Television commercials rely on images, emotions, and stories. Because of this, commercials are able to influence what you buy or who you support without providing you with market research or relevant facts to back it up. Here’s how the influence of commercials have spread from business to politics to our relationship with history.
What do we know of the psychology of conflict? What do you think causes interpersonal conflict at a high level? According to the Arbinger Institute—a leading consultant in conflict resolution, mindset change, and leadership training since 1979—conflict arises when the parties’ biases prevent them from seeing a situation clearly. Specifically, being biased blinds one to the fact that they are part of the problem. In this article, we’ll first take a look at four biases that Arbinger says prevent us from seeing the true causes of conflicts, and then discuss two conflict resolution mindsets.