Tipping Sacred Cows: Kick the Bad Work Habits that Masquerade as Virtues - Hardcover

Breeden, Jake

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1118345916 ISBN 13: 9781118345917

Publisher: Jossey-Bass, 2013

Synopsis

Strategies for overcoming the "sacred cows" that hold people back at work

You should try your best, work well with others, and produce excellent work. Right? But these cherished nuggets of advice, in practice, have a dark side that can lead to career-limiting unintended consequences. And they're not alone.

Based on Jake Breeden's experience coaching thousands of leaders in 27 countries, and new research in economics, neuroscience, and psychology, Tipping Sacred Cows reveals how to overcome the dangerous behaviors that masquerade as virtues at work, and how to lead with fewer self-imposed limitations and greater results. It's a guide for curious, courageous people at work. The book:

• Identifies the seven most common sacred cows at work, including balance that turns bland, creativity that conceals narcissism, and passion that becomes obsession
• Offers simple steps for recognizing and overcoming the potentially career-limiting effects of each of the most common sacred cows
• Written by Jake Breeden, a faculty member at Duke University's Corporate Education program, rated by Businessweek and The Financial Times as #1 in the world

Tipping Sacred Cows shines a light on the hidden traps that lie between good intentions and great results, clearing a path so leaders can finally realize their full potential at work.

About this title

About the Author

Jake Breeden teaches on the faculty of Duke Corporate Education, the world's top-rated provider of custom executive education. He has taught leaders in some of the world's leading companies, including Google, Starbucks, Cisco, Microsoft, and IBM. He has an MBA from Duke University and lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where his three daughters keep him laughing and learning.

For more information, please visit www.breedenideas.com.

From the Back Cover

We all know the "sacred cows" that are revered in the workplace the conventional wisdom to try your best, work well with others, and produce excellent work. But these cherished nuggets of advice, in practice, have a dark side that can lead to career-limiting, unintended consequences.

Based on Jake Breeden's experience coaching thousands of leaders in 27 countries and on the latest research in behavioral economics, neuroscience, and psychology, Tipping Sacred Cows reveals what it takes to overcome the dangerous behaviors that masquerade as virtues at work and how you can lead with fewer self-imposed limitations and greater results. In this groundbreaking book, Breeden identifies the dark side of the seven most common sacred cows at work:

Balance: Disguising indecision as a bland compromise that attempts to achieve many things but ends up accomplishing nothing

Collaboration: Creating a culture of learned helplessness with little individual empowerment and accountability

Creativity: Wasting time and money coming up with new ideas because it feels good, not because it's needed

Excellence: Spending too much energy producing perfect work instead of developing the quick-and-dirty solution needed now

Fairness: Keeping score and evening the score to make sure no one gets more than their "fair share"

Passion: Racing down a path seeking success only to find burn-out and misbehavior instead

Preparation: Planning to do work instead of productively working out just-in-time solutions with just the right people

For each of these seven sacred cows, Breeden offers proven, powerful strategies for how you can overcome their allure and achieve real results.

Tipping Sacred Cows shines a light on the hidden traps that lie between good intentions and good results, clearing a path so you can finally realize your fullest potential at work.

From the Inside Flap

We all know the "sacred cows" that are revered in the workplace the conventional wisdom to try your best, work well with others, and produce excellent work. But these cherished nuggets of advice, in practice, have a dark side that can lead to career-limiting, unintended consequences.

Based on Jake Breeden's experience coaching thousands of leaders in 27 countries and on the latest research in behavioral economics, neuroscience, and psychology, Tipping Sacred Cows reveals what it takes to overcome the dangerous behaviors that masquerade as virtues at work and how you can lead with fewer self-imposed limitations and greater results. In this groundbreaking book, Breeden identifies the dark side of the seven most common sacred cows at work:

Balance: Disguising indecision as a bland compromise that attempts to achieve many things but ends up accomplishing nothing

Collaboration: Creating a culture of learned helplessness with little individual empowerment and accountability

Creativity: Wasting time and money coming up with new ideas because it feels good, not because it's needed

Excellence: Spending too much energy producing perfect work instead of developing the quick-and-dirty solution needed now

Fairness: Keeping score and evening the score to make sure no one gets more than their "fair share"

Passion: Racing down a path seeking success only to find burn-out and misbehavior instead

Preparation: Planning to do work instead of productively working out just-in-time solutions with just the right people

For each of these seven sacred cows, Breeden offers proven, powerful strategies for how you can overcome their allure and achieve real results.

Tipping Sacred Cows shines a light on the hidden traps that lie between good intentions and good results, clearing a path so you can finally realize your fullest potential at work.

Edition details

• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Publication date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1118345916
• ISBN 13: 9781118345917
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 224