Hannah Aster, Author at Shortform Books

How to Spread Ideas of Change in an Organization

Does your organization require major changes to stay afloat but others are resisting change? Do you want to know how to convince others about what needs to be done? In their fable about leadership and change, John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber discuss the difficulties of enacting change within an organization. They provide advice on how to slowly spread ideas until most of the members are on board. Here’s how to spread ideas of change within an organization.

How to Build a Network: Be a Giver

Do you want to level up your networking game? What is the key to building strong, personal ties? According to Adam Grant, the author of Give and Take, the key to building a social network is to be a giver. Grant explains that takers and matchers usually have small networks because recipients either feel like they’re being manipulated, or the give-take relationship is a quid pro quo. Givers, on the other hand, grow large networks because they give to many people, not knowing who might be helpful down the road. Keep reading for tips on how to build a network,

How to Recover From Failure: Build Failure Resilience

How did the penguins in Our Iceberg Is Melting recover from failure? What advice do John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber suggest for overcoming setbacks during change? In their fable about leadership and change, John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber discuss how to handle setbacks during the change process in an organization. They talk about the importance of having failure resilience and of empowering employees to boost their morale. Continue reading for advice on how to overcome setbacks during change.

The Road to Character: The Characters Overview

Who are the characters in The Road to Character? In what ways do these historical figures show the importance of selflessness? In his book about morality, David Brooks outlines the achievements of historical figures that were only possible because of selflessness. Had these historical characters been as narcissistic as people in society are today, many great achievements wouldn’t have happened. Continue reading to learn about the historical characters in The Raod to Character.

Be a Giver, Not a Taker: Giving as a Path to Success

Do you take more than you give? Or do you try to do it in equal measure? Why is being a giver pay off better? In his book Give and Take, Adam Grant explains why people who give more than they take often receive benefits that exceed their personal costs. Whether it be at work, in a marriage, or even a friendship, it always pays off to be selfless. Here is why being a giver will pay off in the long term.

How to Keep Your Business Afloat: Be Non-Complacent

In an ever-changing and fast moving world, how can you keep your organization alive? Is it bad for your company to always be changing? In their fable about leading change, John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber talk about the importance of being non-complacent. The authors stress that leading one successful change doesn’t mean that your organization is safe—you need to be sure that your changes stick and that you’re ready to change again if need be. Continue reading to learn what John Kotter and Holger Rathgeber had to say about being non-complacent in their fable Our Iceberg Is Melting.

Adam 1 and Adam 2: Re-Balance Your Two Worldviews

What’s the problem with living a me-focused life? Why is it important to balance the two Adams that live inside of you? In his book The Road to Character, David Brooks discusses the shift in the societal focus from “we” to “me.” To demonstrate that shift, Brooks talks about the idea that there are two Adams that live inside you, Adam 1 and Adam 2. Brooks says that you don’t need to choose sides, rather, you need to find a healthy balance between the two Adams. Keep reading to learn about the problems with a me-focused attitude and how to

Give and Take by Adam Grant: Book Overview

What is Adam Grant’s book Give and Take about? What are the main takeaways? In his book Give and Take, Adam Grant discusses three reciprocity styles: giving, matching, and taking. He highlights the pros and cons of each style and explains why, contrary to the popular belief, givers tend to become the most successful. Here is a brief overview of Give and Take by Adam Grant

Why Successful Teams Require Givers

What does it take to create a successful team? In what ways do givers make a team more successful? How can takers sabotage team’s performance? Givers—as opposed to takers and matchers—increase the success of the whole team because they focus on the goals of the group rather than on themselves. Their giving tendencies also tend to rub off onto other members of the team, so the more givers there are, the better the team will perform as a whole. Keep reading to learn why successful teams require givers.

The Truth About Losing Weight Through Diet Alone

Do you need to exercise to lose weight? Is losing weight through diet alone possible? According to John Walker, the author of The Hacker’s Diet, you can exercise for an hour and only burn 300 calories, but it only takes one Snicker’s bar to offset your workout. That’s why Walker suggests primarily relying on a calorie deficit to lose weight rather than on exercise. Here’s why, when it comes to losing weight, diet outweighs exercise.