In this note I leave you with a few ideas, not only to entertain you, but to charge every neuron with creative energy.<\/p>\n
The list is divided into 4 categories:<\/p>\n
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OKRs – Books on how to adopt them seriously<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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People – Improving the culture of teamwork<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Processes – Freeing people from inefficiency<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Products – Inventing and selling products that everyone wants<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Disclaimer 1: You will not find fiction there, but extremely practical books.<\/b><\/p>\n
Disclaimer 2: Most are in English.<\/b>
\n<\/span>It is amazing the amount of information you can access if you decide to read in this language. For some you can look up the corresponding Italian version, although often, as with movies, it is not the same. <\/span><\/p>\nThis is the best time to learn<\/h2>\n
For a lot of reasons, but two out of all.<\/p>\n
Budget time<\/h3>\n
The first reason and also the most important one is that summer is the real time for budgets. It has never been December. Let’s face it! <\/strong><\/p>\n
If you are directly involved in running a business, by now the budget for the past year has already been written and everything that happened is now in black and white.<\/p>\n
For many people, summer is the only time when they think about strategy.
\nOf course 7 months late…but better late than never!<\/p>\nLeaving aside the creativity in drafting the budget itself, those numbers are evidence that the strategy either worked or it did not.<\/p>\n
It’s kind of like the report card for managers. <\/strong>You quickly find out whether the money invested simply continued to fund bad habits or brought a measurable result to the coffers.<\/p>\n
Then again, no matter how noble a Purpose the company decides to embrace, without money it will go little far.<\/p>\n
And not to make it all so venal, the magic question is:
\n“Are we making sure we have enough energy to keep doing what we are doing? Maybe on a larger scale?”<\/strong><\/p>\nInvesting in yourself<\/p>\n
The second reason is that in summer the rough sea of departure\/delayed\/closing projects calms down. The vacations empower us not to think (too much) about work and also to take personal stock of how the year has gone so far. <\/p>\n
Not for nothing is summer a time of high turnover. HR knows this very well. <\/p>\n
It is in this “tranquility” that you finally invest in yourself, your career, your skills, your ambitions.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Peace of mind and security are two excellent propellants for ideas.<\/p>\n
Not for nothing do the best ideas come in the shower or while brushing our teeth–moments in which it is impossible to be attacked by a “predator.” Our brains fortunately are still so simple that little is needed to make them better. <\/p>\n
Go ahead and take a few books from the list!<\/p>\n
OKRs \/ Books on how to adopt them seriously<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/book_okrs.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe official STRTGY Implementation Guide<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
A book I decided to write with the community.<\/strong><\/p>\n
This will not be a simple book on OKRs but an accurate description of a real business management system based on OKRs.<\/p>\n
It will not contain the classic chapters on what OKRs are, who invented them, and other motivating examples that do not help you practically adopt the methodology.<\/p>\n
It will indeed require that you have a basic knowledge of the subject, and for that I recommend that you read the books I point out.<\/p>\n
Instead, in this one you will find described the process of defining the strategy, implementing the cycle, the pace of meetings, how to separate (but integrate) them with project management, with the incentive system, with business software…<\/p>\n
There will be answers to all questions, including yours!<\/p>\n
To access behind-the-scenes, exclusive content and contribute to the writing…<\/p>\n
Candidates for the launch list<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/okrperformance.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOKR Performance. Center your organization’s goals. <\/a><\/strong>
\nBy Francesco Frugiuele and Matteo Sola<\/p>\nThe first book in Italian on OKRs. Easy to read and with 14 case studies of companies you know. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/measurewhatmatters.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMeasure What Matters: OKRs: The Simple Idea that Drives 10x Growth<\/a><\/strong>
\nby John Doerr<\/p>\nIt is the first book one usually reads on the subject and makes one want to start OKRs right away. It reads quickly. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/measureanything.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHow to Measure Anything: Finding the <\/strong>Value<\/strong> of Intangibles in Business<\/strong><\/a>
\nEnglish Edition by Douglas W. Hubbard<\/p>\nWhen you start using OKRs you will ask yourself “where are the numbers?” and “how do I measure these things.” Here are all the answers. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/radicalfocus.jpg\")
<\/p>\nRadical Focus: Achieving Your Most Important Goals with Objectives and Key Results<\/strong><\/a>
\nEnglish Edition by Christina R Wodtke<\/p>\nUseful for product and marketing teams. Christina has worked on product design such as with LinkedIn, MySpace, Zynga, Yahoo! She knows. <\/p>\n
<\/h3>\n
People \/ Improving the culture of teamwork.<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/drive.jpg\")
<\/p>\nDrive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us (English Edition)<\/strong><\/a>
\nEnglish Edition by Daniel H. Pink<\/p>\nThe carrot and stick no longer work. Instead, find out how to motivate people to achieve greater performance and more satisfaction, not just at work. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/meetingdesign.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMeeting Design: For Managers, Makers, and Everyone<\/strong><\/a>
\nEnglish Edition by Kevin M. Hoffman, Matt Sutter, Jeff Gothelf<\/p>\nFix the worst of habits. The useless meetings. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/teamwork.jpg\")
<\/p>\nOvercoming the five dysfunctions of teamwork. A practical guide for team leaders, managers and facilitators <\/strong><\/a>
\nby Patrick Lencioni<\/p>\nAll teams are dysfunctional. In this book you can learn how to address the 5 root causes and establish a better work climate, which is essential if you want to achieve ambitious goals. <\/p>\n
<\/h3>\n
Processes \/ Freeing people from inefficiency.<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/checklist.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right<\/a><\/strong>
\nEnglish Edition by Atul Gawande<\/p>\nChecklists literally save lives. From medicine to flying to productivity. It’s amazing the power of a humble checklist of things to “check off” (not do) in improving outcomes. <\/p>\n
PS: if you want to write your tasks better I recommend this article of mine on Micro OKRs<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/code.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Code. The Evaluation. The Protocols: Striving to Become an Eminently Qualified Human. <\/a>
\n<\/strong>English edition by Jocko Willink <\/span><\/p>\nShort but powerful. Jocko is a NAVY Seals. This book is an action manual for acquiring stainless steel discipline. <\/span>
\n<\/span>It contains strategies, tactics, tools and solutions that you can start applying from the first page. Have a great workout! <\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/shapeup.png\")
<\/p>\nShape Up: Stop Running in Circles and Ship Work that Matters.<\/a>
\n<\/strong>English edition by Ryan Singer<\/span><\/p>\nThis book describes, step by step, how Basecamp’s product team and their Shaping->Betting->Building method works.<\/p>\n
It will make many agilists’ hair stand on end, but the people at Basecamp, Jason Fried David Heinemeier, in addition to inventing Ruby on Rails, have had a huge impact in shaping the culture of those working in digital and beyond.<\/p>\n
<\/h3>\n
Products \/ Inventing and selling products that everyone wants<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/hitmakers.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHit Makers: How Things Become Popular<\/strong><\/a>
\nEnglish edition by Derek Thompson<\/p>\nDerek looks at pop culture through the lens of science and tries to answer the question everyone is asking: how do you create a HIT?<\/p>\n
Easy to read, it considers elements of culture we all know, from JFK and Obama speeches to Snapchat, from Fifty Shades of Grey to Blockbuster hits. There is much to learn and it shatters the false myths of novelty and virality. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/smashthefunnel.jpg\")
<\/p>\nSmash the Funnel: The Cyclonic Buyer Journey-A New Map for Sustainable, Repeatable, Predictable Revenue Generation<\/strong><\/a>
\nEnglish Edition by Eric Keiles<\/p>\nFunnel was also invented 100 years ago. It works well when people have limited choices. But what happens when your customers have more information about your marketing department’s competitors? <\/p>\n
Marketing, Products and Sales are on a collision course.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/strtgy.design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/fanatical.jpg\")
<\/p>\n