The Age of Unreason
by Charles Handy

Named one of the ten best business books of 1990 by Business Week, The Age of Unreason is now available in paperback. Charles Handy maintains that in an era of random change, it is necessary to break out of old ways of thinking in order to use change to one's advantage.

From the coauthor of the business bestseller Service America! comes an essential, comprehensive, practical manual for implementing service management strategies that work. Albrecht focuses on issues and problems such as building a service culture, how to get managers to think in new ways, common mistakes and more.

Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies
by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras

"Built to Last...is one of the most eye-opening business studies since In Search of Excellence." - Kevin Maney, USA Today

Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance
by Michael E. Porter

Going far beyond previous empirical work, John Kotter and James Heskett provide the first comprehensive critical analysis of how the "culture" of a corporation powerfully influences its economic performance, for better or for worse. Through painstaking research at such firms as Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, ICI, Nissan, and First Chicago, as well as a quantitative study of the relationship between culture and performance in more than 200 companies, the authors describe how shared values and unwritten rules can profoundly enhance economic success or, conversely, lead to failure to adapt to changing markets and environments.

In the early 1980s, Terry Deal and Allan Kennedy launched a new field of inquiry and practice with the publication of their landmark book, Corporate Cultures, in which they argued that distinct types of cultures evolve within companies, with a direct and measurable impact on strategy and performance. Despite the dramatic evolution of the business landscape over the last twenty years, the basic principles of the book remain as fresh and relevant as they did when it was first published: that organizations, by their very nature, are social enterprises, with tribal habits, well-defined cultural roles for individuals, and various strategies for determining inclusion, reinforcing identity, and adapting to change. In the new introduction, the authors reflect on the enduring lessons of their investigation into the life of organizations.

A practical guide to developing higher levels of performance in large organizations through changes in strategy, organization design, and culture. This guide presents detailed descriptions of ways in which individuals intervened in their organizations, how they arrived at their plans, and how it resulted in improved effectiveness and better business results for the organization.

Flawless Consulting, the best-selling consulting book of all time, has been the consultant's bible for over 15 years. While other books on consulting outline theories for understanding organizations or for implementing interventions, Flawless Consulting actually describes and demonstrates ways of behaving with clients. This new edition includes illustrative examples, case studies, exercises, and commentary on pitfalls. This book lays the groundwork for dealing effectively with clients, peers, and others. Anyone who must communicate in a professional context will find scores of lessons to apply to their jobs.

From the author of the best-selling consulting book of all time comes this guide that puts "Flawless Consulting" into action. This book takes up where Flawless Consulting, 2nd Edition left off. The Fieldbook is packed with sample scenarios, case studies, and client-consultant dialogues to show readers what "Flawless Consulting" is really all about. And the Fieldbook takes the practical approach of Flawless one step closer, including more hands-on tools, action plans, and implementation checklists. Block's down-to-earth lessons apply equally well to external consultants, internal staff, managers, executives, and communicators of all kinds.

The Heart of Change
by John P. Kotter and John S. Cohen

The Heart of Change is the follow-up to John Kotter's enormously popular book Leading Change, in which he outlines a framework for implementing change that sidesteps many of the pitfalls common to organizations looking to turn themselves around. The essence of Kotter's message is this: the reason so many change initiatives fail is that they rely too much on "data gathering, analysis, report writing, and presentations" instead of a more creative approach aimed at grabbing the "feelings that motivate useful action."

Organization Development and Transformation: Managing Effective Change
by Wendell L. French, Cecil Bell and Robert A Zawacki

Organization Development and Transformation is a paperback collection of 46 readings that focuses on how people and organizations and people in organizations function, and how to make them function better. This new edition includes coverage of classic OD articles, new cutting edge coverage of topics such as self-directed teams, centers of excellence and learning organizations.

On Death and Dying
by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

One of the most famous psychological studies of the late twentieth century, On Death and Dying grew out of an interdisciplinary seminar on death, originated and conducted by Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. In On Death and Dying, Dr. Kübler-Ross first introduced and explored the now-famous idea of the five stages of dealing with death: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. With sample interviews and conversations, she gives the reader a better understanding of how imminent death affects the patient, the professionals who serve the patient, and the patient's family, bringing hope, solace, and peace of mind to all involved.

Organizational Culture and Leadership
by Edgar Schein

Focusing on the complex business realities of the 1990s, organizational development pioneer Edgar Schein transforms the abstract concept of culture into a practical tool that managers and students can use to understand the dynamics of organization and change.

In this revolutionary book, Peter Block shows how a far-reaching redistribution of power, privilege, and wealth will radically change all areas of organizational governance, and shows why this is our best hope to enable democracy to thrive, our spiritual and ethical values to be lived out, and economic success to be sustained. Organizations that practice stewardship, Block explains, will succeed in their marketplace by choosing service over self-interest at every point and by a far-reaching redistribution of power, privilege, and wealth. Stewardship explains how to integrate the management of work and the doing of work, to redistribute purpose and power within an organization. It speaks about how this can affect work flow, quality control, performance appraisal, pay systems, supervisory methods, job design, and human resources.

From one of the world's most recognized experts on management comes a charming parable filled with insights designed to help readers manage change quickly and prevail in changing times.

Geared toward managers and business students, this leadership guide identifies an eight-step process that companies must go through to achieve their goals. It also details change issues, the force behind successful change and future trends for organizations. To help illustrate principles, the author provides interesting stories and examples.

Managing at the Speed of Change
by Daryl Conner

In this clinical study cum management guide, psychologist and business lecturer Conner discusses change as an inevitable, often disorienting element of the modern worker's business life. Citing the dysfunction likely to occur among employees facing corporate-merger upheavals or new high-tech equipment, he defines ``resilience'' as essential to viewing change as an ``understandable and manageable process.''

Beyond Counterfeit Leadership
by Ken Shelton

In the history of the modern company, would-be leaders have often been seduced by the quick-fix, counterfeit side of management in an effort to save face or make short-term gains. Even more often, world-weary "plantation" managers are often seen sipping lemonade on the verandah of their palatial offices while the workers in the field live on slave wages. In this insightful social and business commentary, Shelton applies the artful background of classic literature to contrast ideal leadership with contemporary hucksters who are seduced by their own public relations campaigns and who wade through fraud and deception to manipulate their followers. He invites readers to see beyond the shams and become authentic leaders themselves.

This fine book challenges leaders and commits them to a worthwhile vision of balance, demonstrating that the very core of leadership - that which makes real leaders successful - is as timeless as the elements of nature. It is a road map as well as a "how to" manual for maintaining satisfaction with the bottom line while building trust. It represents the hope of leaders - the potential to achieve success, even in difficult times.

Terms of Engagement: Changing the Way We Change Our Organizations
by Richard H. Axelrod

Axelrod defines four leadership challenges that must be met if an organization is to deal with the dramatic changes that are our ongoing reality: widening the circle of involvement, connecting people to each other and ideas, creating communities for action, and embracing democratic principles. Facing these challenges will require change-a different kind of change. Through real life examples and provocative writing he provides the reader an opportunity to become an active participant in that different kind of change. The change that will energize an organization to new levels of performance and satisfaction.

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
by Stephen R. Covey

Despite having sold many millions of copies, Stephen Covey's groundbreaking book remains as fresh, helpful, and important as when it was first published. Such longevity is a testament to the quality of the insights that Covey offers: Eschewing easy fixes and simple-minded formulas, his writings offers a comprehensive and highly detailed program for invigorating your career as well as other aspects of life.

Emotional Intelligence
by Daniel Goleman

Everyone knows that high IQ is no guarantee of success, happiness, or virtue, but until the discoveries of modern brain researchers, theorists could only guess why. Daniel Goleman's fascinating report from the frontiers of psychology and neuroscience offers us startling new insight into our "two minds" - the rational and the emotional - and how they together shape our destiny. Beginning deep in the brain, Emotional Intelligence shows us the exact mechanism of an "emotional hijack," when passion overcomes reason.

"Crucial" conversations are interpersonal exchanges at work or at home that we dread having but know we cannot avoid. How do you say what needs to be said while avoiding an argument with a boss, child, or relationship partner? Crucial Conversations offers readers a proven seven-point strategy for achieving their goals in all those emotionally, psychologically, or legally charged situations that can arise in their professional and personal lives. Based on the authors' highly popular DialogueSmart training seminars, the techniques are geared toward getting people to lower their defenses, creating mutual respect and understanding, increasing emotional safety, and encouraging freedom of expression.

A smart way to find the answers we need to succeed-in business, relationships, and life.

Questions are an essential tool of the seeker and the problem-solver, and in our personal and professional lives, they can make the difference between getting what we want and going without. Questions have power-and by harnessing that power, we can change our world. This unique book reveals the seven powers of questions-and shows how to use them most effectively. Learn how questions can improve relationships, help determine what people really want, uncover opportunities, persuade others, and get more out of every business or personal encounter.

by Scott Thorpe