The concept of this book was interesting from the start. It’s all about the common misconceptions about what leads to high performance organisations. What you’ve always believed may not be correct, after all.
I am, of course, talking about “The Halo Effect: … and the Eight Other Business Delusions That Deceive Managers” by Phil Rosenzweig. A look into why the traditional view of high performance is flawed, and how managers allow themselves to be decieved.
I was quite excited to start reading, and the book is very interesting. The ideas in this book really are against the grain of traditional literature in the area, and I liked that. It does repeat the concepts again and again, albeit with different examples. It’s a little dry and heavy in places, and perhaps Phil could have gotten to the point more directly.
The book is fairly critical of what I’d call “long term success”. It takes the view, and provides evidence, that success is fleeting. To a degree, I found that demotivated me. I like to think that long term success is a real possibility, attainable through careful, considered planning and a degree of skill.
Overall though, it provides an invaluable look at organisational performance. It takes an approach not often seen, and that’s refreshing. If you’re a manager of any type, I strongly recommend that you buy this book from Amazon.