I cannot recommend a book more than this one.
I was introduced to it at work as a book that would help me be a better leader/manager. I’ve got a long way to go, but it has had a huge impact on my approach to people at work. In addition, there have been several times where my wife and I have relied on its concepts in how we see, relate to, discipline, and love our 5 children. But that’s for another entry 🙂
80:20 Rule
FROM WIKIPEDIA:
The Pareto principle (also known as the 80–20 rule, the law of the vital few, and the principle of factor sparsity) states that, for many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes.[1][2]
Business-management consultant Joseph M. Juran suggested the principle and named it after Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, who observed in 1906 that 80% of the land in Italy was owned by 20% of the population; he developed the principle by observing that 20% of the pea pods in his garden contained 80% of the peas.[2]
So, what does this have to do with the book?
I don’t know if the ratio is really 80:20, but I’ve observed in my career and in dozens of others that how we see and treat others has more to do with our personal success than the oft-lauded ‘harder’ skill sets that are taught in MBA programs. You look at the typical coursework of an MBA and north of 80% of it focuses on business knowledge (finance, accounting, strategy, operations, statistics, etc.) Let’s put the 20% in the PEOPLE MANAGING, SELF-MANAGEMENT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT, HR categories. Based on my experience (in healthcare management) for general managers, healthcare administrators, you spend your time and your success is determined by those weakly taught soft/people skills.
L&SD teaches, powerfully, why and how we so easily ruin important relationships. Buy it. Read it. Then, like me, read it again. Every time I do I see my warts, imperfections, and I can better repair damaged relationships that not only allow me to be more effective but also allows the other person to advance.
Thanks, Dave. I’m headed to grab it from the library after work.
-Peter Clark
Good to hear, Peter. Let me know how you like it.