Look: A Practical Guide for Improving Your Observational Skills - Hardcover

James H. Gilmore

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1626342997 ISBN 13: 9781626342996

Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press, 2016

Synopsis

Mastering the Way You See the World
Inspired by Edward de Bono's Six Thinking Hats method, Jim Gilmore has created a unique and useful tool to help our ability to perceive. In his latest book, Look: A Practical Guide for Improving Your Observational Skills, Gilmore introduces the metaphor of ''six looking glasses.'' Each looking glass represents a particular skill to master in order to enhance the way we look at the world.

The six skills include binoculars, bifocals, magnifying glass, microscope, rose-colored glasses, and blindfold looking. Each looking glass provides an observational lens through which to see the world differently. This framework will help its users to:

• See the big picture
• Overcome personal bias
• Pinpoint significance
• Better scrutinize numerous details
• Uncover potential opportunities
• See what's in the mind's eye

These varying perspectives offer myriad practical applications: They can help any executive, manager, or designer more richly observe customer behavior, philanthropists and policy makers more keenly identify human needs, and anyone else interested in innovative thinking to first ground their ideation in practical observation.

Gilmore helps readers grasp the Six Looking Glasses by including helpful everyday examples and practice exercises throughout. Put into practice, this method of looking will help you see the world with new eyes.

About this title

About the Author

Jim Gilmore is co-founder of Strategic Horizons LLP, based in Aurora, Ohio. He is a Batten fellow and adjunct lecturer at the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia, where he teaches a course on the Experience Economy. Gilmore is a visiting lecturer in Apologetics at Westminster Seminary California, where he teaches a course on cultural hermeneutics. He also teaches a design course at the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University.

Gilmore is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, an alumnus of Procter & Gamble, and, before co-founding Strategic Horizons LLP, was head of CSC Consulting's Process Innovation practice. Look is his third book. His other books include the highly influential, The Experience Economy: Work Is Theatre & Every Business a Stage and Authenticity: What Consumers Really Want.

Review

''Jim Gilmore teaches us that something as seemingly simple as looking can be crucial for success in any field. So get this book—and learn to look with whole new eyes.''
--Daniel H. Pink, Author of Drive and A Whole New Mind

''This book should be required reading in every design class and by every design team.''
--Mark Greiner, Senior Vice President, Business Concept Design & Chief Experience Officer at Steelcase Inc.

''Gilmore's Six Looking Glasses provide a powerfully simple tool for helping travelers to see the world more richly. Pack them in your suitcase and enjoy the view with fresh eyes!''
--Chip Conley, Head of Global Hospitality & Strategy at Airbnb

''After reading Jim Gilmore's new book, you will never look at the world—including healthcare—in the same way again.''
--Rolf Benirschke, Chief Patient Officer of Legacy Health Strategies

''Gilmore's The Experience Economy brilliantly anticipated a new economy based not on goods and services but on memorable experiences. This time around, he brings his unique perspective to the much-ignored power of observational skills. Take a good look at Look.''
--Lee Knight, Founder & CEO of Exhibitor Media Group

''Once again, Jim Gilmore challenges organizations to find unique ways to drive innovation. The power of observation has long been extolled but rarely emphasized in business. Jim's latest work will make all of us view our businesses through different lenses—and literally open our eyes.''
--David Peckinpaugh, President of Maritz Global Events

''Our culture is increasingly distracted. With eyes glued to screens, we are often oblivious to the people beside us and the places we inhabit. The ancient rebuke of God could certainly apply to our generation, 'You have eyes but you do not see.' Our failure to recognize the world around us is especially dangerous for those seeking innovative ideas because, as Gilmore reminds us, what we see determines what we think and do. Seeing differently is one of Gilmore's specialties. He is one of the most gifted observers I know. Five minutes with him will convince you that ordinary objects and processes are overflowing with untapped potential—from airline seats to food preparation—if we could just learn to see them with new eyes. In Look he shares his simple but profound observational methods using Six Looking Glasses. Once you see the world with this tool, you won't see it, or your work, the same way again.''
--Skye Jethani, Author of With and Futureville and Co-host of The Phil Vischer Podcast

Edition details

• Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1626342997
• ISBN 13: 9781626342996
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 192