This list of books is a suggestion of what to read to get into the mental state of the PAAM culture. Of course there are a lot of other prerequisites needed but it is a great start to read them in the suggested order. There are more than 70 books in the PAAM library, and the number is growing, and there are a lot of other great sources to get into the mood and feel at home.
Simon Sinek has a great TED-talk on this theme, that is one of the most seen of all times. This book is the written variant of that talk.
The idea that there is a need to have a clear why, before taking care of or presenting the what and how. It is very appealing. Even though Simon is not an academic, it feels like scientific evidence is presented in the different cases. It feels obvious when you read it and yet hard to realize and seldom experienced.
Jim Collins present one of the true management bibles.
The six steps to reach real long-term lasting company success requires that all work in the same way and pushes the common flywheel in the right direction. The buildup is made by disciplined people with disciplined thoughts shown by disciplined action. Only in that order, and no other way.
Kim and Mauborgne present a new way to think about a flanking strategy.
Nowadays, it is often called pivoting. It describes the strive to find a new market place or face an existing market with a diverse offer, without clear rivals.
The authors state that you should strive to have a dedicated strategy to search for the open blue ocean instead of swimming in the red ocean where there are a lot of hungry sharks shedding blood and coloring the ocean red.
The former director at Pixar and Walt Disney Animation Studios Ed Catmull has written an easy digestive book about creativity and the environment that creates it.
It is a great story about Pixar and the people around the company buildup. It is also a story about inspiration and the importance of it, how easy it is to loose it and what is needed to get it.
Frederic Laloux is showing a new way of organizing companies for success and best possible work environment.
The new Teal organization is an efficient self-managing organization with a clear evolutionary purpose. The organization itself is like a living organism. It can be seen as an evolution from the red (impulsive), via the amber (conformist), orange (achievement) and green (pluralistic) organizations of the past.
Patrick Lencioni and his team introduce a new way of explaining individuals capacities with working geniuses.
Everything in work as well as private life needs to go thru the six steps of wonder, invention, discernment, galvanizing, enablement and tenacity. No one is good at or interested in everything. Everyone usually got two areas that are producing energy (geniuses), two areas that are neutral (competences) and two areas that drains energy (frustrations). The thing is to make sure to use everyone’s geniuses as much as possible.
A classic from Patrick Lencioni when it comes to team building, identifying the five important parts to drive great teams.
It all starts with trust built on vulnerability, followed by healthy conflict implied by candid debate, creating commitment and accountability, ending up in great results.
Angela Duckworth summaries that grit is needed to reach success.
She gives several examples of gritty people over the years. People acting with a combination of passion and resilience, leading to success in the long run.
It was probably a surprise for a lot of old fashioned companies when Daniel Pink introduced a new way of looking at motivation.
He introduces that it is the combination of internal autonomy, mastery and purpose that gives true motivation. The external carrot-and-stick motivators does not work and often does harm.
