All Consuming : Kraig Parkinson

How "Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation (Shambhala Classics)" changed my life

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 05:24:44 GMT

Seeking the Heart of Wisdom: The Path of Insight Meditation (Shambhala Classics)

by Joseph Goldstein

I’ve read a number of books about buddhism and various meditation approaches. Every one of them seemed to only offer practices that were too weighty-~~I felt like I had to concentrate too hard on remembering the parts~~-or were basic and offered little in the way of understanding the intended outcome of the time spent. In addition, all of these practices were rarely presented under a cohesive program—until I read this book…

I’m a huge fan of this book. The meditation practices are simple and put into context with the philosophy of Buddhism well. In practice, I’ve been combining this with Tricycle Magazine’s “Commit to Sit” program, so I can establish a schedule for myself that works.

Finally, I feel like I have the building blocks of a meditation practice that I’m comfortable working with.

Why it's taking me forever to finish consuming "The Intelligence of Evil or the Lucidity Pact (Talking Images)"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Wed, 30 May 2007 04:47:50 GMT

The Intelligence of Evil or the Lucidity Pact (Talking Images)

by Jean Baudrillard

While very interesting, the language is a bit obscure and that’s been making it a bit of a slog. I’d say at this point, I’m going to give up for a while, considering it’s not in my regular library (i.e. I put it into storage for now, as I can only carry so many books with me while I travel).

Why I want to consume "You Want Me to Work with Who?: Eleven Keys to a Stress-Free, Satisfying, and Successful Work Life . . . No Matter Who You Work With"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Tue, 01 May 2007 13:36:41 GMT

You Want Me to Work with Who?: Eleven Keys to a Stress-Free, Satisfying, and Successful Work Life . . . No Matter Who You Work With

by Julie Jansen

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been realized that I need to learn how to better manage how I work with various personalities. By the autumn of last year, Eileen bought this book for herself, read it, and bought a copy for me by Christmas.

I;ve enjoyed some of the memes I picked up, like “a lack of curiousity often reflects a lack of confidence as well”. They’re very useful messages and help me think of new ways to engage with others at work. I think the toughest part about reading this book, though, is that it’s more of a pattern guide, and therefore doesn’t read well. That said, I think it’s still worth picking up.

How "Now, Discover Your Strengths" changed my life

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 17:52:32 GMT

Now, Discover Your Strengths

by Marcus Buckingham

So, I’m not sure if I’d say to anyone, “Oh my god, go out and buy this book now!” because the book itself isn’t that hot. What is hot is the Strengthsfinder assessment and the descriptions of the individual strengths. I’ve found that they’re quite accurate, and it’s given me a whole new way to work and communicate with others effectively. The most exciting part I’ve found so far is sharing my strengths with others, including those that I manage, so they can understand how I work best.

I’m now looking into Strengthsfinder 2.0. (See review here soon.)

Why I recommend "Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:08:28 GMT

Beyond Reason: Using Emotions as You Negotiate

by Roger Fisher

Awesome! This book outlines a method for negotiating with people effectively that can be used in just about any situation in which you’re working with others.

The method involves appealing to a negotiator’s five “core concerns”: appreciation, affiliation, autonomy, status, and role. I’ve found these profoundly useful when working with people in situations that can get tense. I think it’s a good foundation for coaching as well, as coaches often need to find ways to negotiate with their coachees to guide their behavior.

Why I recommend "Eating Mindfully: How to End Mindless Eating and Enjoy a Balanced Relationship with Food"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:03:49 GMT

Eating Mindfully: How to End Mindless Eating and Enjoy a Balanced Relationship with Food

by Susan Albers

I’m a big fan of this book as it recommends a great “Middle Way” for thinking about food. It’s not about counting calories or being anal-retentive; it’s about learning more about yourself and your habits, and I think it’s a great application of Buddhist principles and mindfulness.

Bravo!

Why I want to consume "Strategies of Genius, Volume One"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 03:25:51 GMT

Strategies of Genius, Volume One

by Robert Dilts

I’m looking forward to reading the various techniques used the folks included. I’m also looking forward to discovering new models of my own and others.

Why it's taking me forever to finish consuming "Emotional Intelligence : Why It Can Matter More Than IQ"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 03:01:16 GMT

Emotional Intelligence : Why It Can Matter More Than IQ

by Daniel Goleman

While captivating, it’s too academic and research oriented for me to read more than a few pages at a time. I’ve found I’m more of a fan of specific tools that I can practice over theory, so it’s hard to movitate myself to read it. Regardless, I think it’s still good research and adds a lot of context to tools like NLP and what Malcolm Gladwell covers in Blink.

A story about "From Coach to Awakener"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 02:18:59 GMT

From Coach to Awakener

by Robert Dilts

I’m really enjoying From Coach to Awakener so far. Using the Neuro-Logical Levels ~~- environment, behavior, capability, beliefs and values, identity, and purpose -~~ the author explains the variety of coaching activities in each context. Including great examples and specific tools, I’ve found it to be a great read.

Why I recommend "Coaching with NLP: How to Be a Master Coach"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 02:16:28 GMT

Coaching with NLP: How to Be a Master Coach

by O'Connor Joseph

Coaching with NLP is a great resource for anyone starting a coaching relationship. As a consultant in the past, I’ve found this book to be an essential guide to describing how trust is built with a client, and how to make suggestions that are balanced with respect to their environment.

Why I recommend "When Cultures Collide"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 02:04:47 GMT

When Cultures Collide

by Richard D. Lewis

When Cultures Collide is an essential read for anyone working in a culturally diverse environment and seeks to effectively integrate working styles. The book provides a clear structure for understanding cultures, including motivation, timeframes, relationships, negotiation, and meeting styles. It goes so far to describe language styles, tones, and sense of humor, which are key for communicating effectively.

I’ve used this material extensively when training multicultural groups. As I’ve applied the specific patterns I’ve mentioned above, I’ve noticed significant differences in how cultural sub-groups participate in class. When abstracted, the patterns help reveal models for any culture.

Those interested in other patterns should read Introducing Neuro-Linguistic Programming or NLP Workbook, both by Joseph O’Connor and John Seymour.

Why I gave up consuming "The Fifth Discipline"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 01:38:51 GMT

The Fifth Discipline

by PETER M. SENGE

The Fifth Discipline is a broad introduction to systems thinking, which an important practice for every learning organization. It describes some basic patterns which are helpful for visually modelling systems and finding root causes to problems.

That said, I think it takes a lot of creativity and insight to simply visualize systems. Causal loop diagrams are by necessity driven by more quantitative factors than qualitative, and think this might lead some people to creating some odd associations. Ultimately, I think such diagrams need to be validated using behaviorally-driven models to complete the picture.

Overall, the principles of systems thinking are very valuable and encourage thinking in the Ecology Frame of NLP. As a practice of modeling, however, I think the book leaves much to be desired in order for it to be done effectively. If you’re modelling human and social behavior ~~- something I need to do quite a bit in coaching and training -~~ I would suggest using NLP skills such as Multiple Positions, the Meta Model and Neuro-Logical Levels to frame the discussion, after which one can build the visual model based on the conclusions.

Why it's taking me forever to finish consuming "Thinking for a Living: How to Get Better Performances And Results from Knowledge Workers"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Wed, 07 Dec 2005 00:41:28 GMT

Thinking for a Living: How to Get Better Performances And Results from Knowledge Workers

by Thomas H. Davenport

So far, I’ve really enjoyed Thinking for a Living. I’ve found it to be a good, clear summary of the different models of knowledge work that people are performing today. The author explores each model by providing examples of motivation, education, evaluation, and environment that help and hurt. Examples of Agile methods in one chapter were nice to read, too.

This book can be a little bit dry at times, like reading article after article from the Harvard Business Review. It also introduces a fair bit of new vocabulary in each chapter as well. So far, I’ve found it easier to read a chapter, then meditate on it with respecct to my organization, then pick it up again to finish another.

I think it’s an essential read for anyone that’s leading a group of knowledge workers and has an impact on structuring work within teams.

A review of "Alpha Leadership: Tools for Business Leaders Who Want More from Life"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 04:51:45 GMT

Alpha Leadership: Tools for Business Leaders Who Want More from Life

by Anne Deering

Alpha Leadership describes a basic model of leadership for those in strategic positions in their organization: Anticipate, Align, and Act. Many of the tools are fairly high-level such as “detecting weak signals”, “leading through embodiement”, and “80:20 leadership” and would be a good summary for those looking for a review of stuff that’d likely appear in the Harvard Business Review.

As a sampler, it’s a good read. I think it’s best read after Thinking for a Living, which provides a richer context for the kind of knowledge work that dominates the business world and the focus of the tools of this book.

Frankly, I’m a little disappointed in this book, because I think the ideas could have been developed with more examples and case studies of those that have used these tools. Without these, I’d be worried that some of these tools would be poorly translated into real life and cause more distress than help. From what I understand, it looks like Topgrading would be a similar read.

A review of "The McKinsey Mind: Understanding and Implementing the Problem-Solving Tools and Management Techniques of the World's Top Strategic Consulting Firm"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Tue, 06 Dec 2005 03:55:57 GMT

The McKinsey Mind: Understanding and Implementing the Problem-Solving Tools and Management Techniques of the World's Top Strategic Consulting Firm

by Ethan M. Rasiel

The McKinsey Mind is a great follow-up to The McKinsey Way. The authors take the basic tools presented in the original book and frame them with respect to a specific process for applying them. The context that this adds to the tools is invaluable and places them in an easy-to-understand model.

A story about "Throwing the Elephant : Zen and the Art of Managing Up"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Sun, 20 Nov 2005 18:41:41 GMT

Throwing the Elephant : Zen and the Art of Managing Up

by Stanley Bing

I’ve found Zen philosophy always offers a good kick in the head when it’s needed most. As applied in this book, the philosophy directs one away from trying to achieve control and focuses much more on the art of influence and perception. While less direct, it’s certainly still powerful when living in the realm of the absurd “elephants”, and it’s typically the only power you can expect to exhert on these beasts.

While I felt the last couple of chapters fell flat from being too vague and without any examples to back up the suggestions, I think it’s still worth a read.

A story about "Throwing the Elephant : Zen and the Art of Managing Up"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 16:06:02 GMT

Throwing the Elephant : Zen and the Art of Managing Up

by Stanley Bing

While I’m still getting through it, this has been a really worthwhile read. Even though I’ve enjoyed applying Buddhist philosophy in business when possible, I’m typically critical of many of the “Zen” business books out there. This seems to hit the mark well when it comes to managing up.

The author makes great observations on the typical types of folks in management. The politics of managing up that the author describes are not those of backstabbing and climbing to the top, but rather that feeling one gets when it seems like nobody up top is listening to you as you’d like to be heard.

While I’m not entirely convinced that his strategies for dealing with these “elephants” are ones I’d like to use to shape my own path, I think the perspective he offers on the nature of the beast are worth noting anyway.

A story about "Six Thinking Hats: An essential approach to business management"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 15:55:08 GMT

Six Thinking Hats: An essential approach to business management

by Edward De Bono

The Six Thinking Hats is a very simple framework to get people thinking in the same direction, while allowing a turn for different kinds of voices throughout a meeting. Each hat represents a distinct point of view, and when used well, can keep a meeting moving by keeping everyone engaged in a collective problem solving process. If you’re already familiar with the Disney Creative method (Dreamer -> Realist -> Critic), you’ll find the Six Thinking Hats familiar, but the Hats method seem a bit more detailed and rigorous.

Reading the book, I found myself distracted by DeBono’s writing style which seemed haphazard at times. This surprised me, considering he’s supposed to be the guru of thinking. ~~- His examples of using this framework in practice make it seem like he’d doing it for the sole purpose of name dropping, but that’s a different story. -~~ The most excruciating part of the book was how his examples weren’t clearly labelled as good or bad until after they were presented. This left me confused at times, as I thought he wasn’t applying the hats with much consistency.

Overall, I think it’s still worth a quick read despite its style.

A story about "The McKinsey Way"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Tue, 15 Nov 2005 15:44:04 GMT

The McKinsey Way

by Ethan M. Rasiel

I really enjoyed this one. It was a rather fast read, with practical tips and tools woven throughout. I’ve already started applying MECE (mutually exclusive, collectively exhaustive) and the problem solving process is very clearly described.

As the author says himself, he wrote the book in a style that reflects McKinsey’s values. I found the text was jargon-free and really approachable.

Anyone serving a “client”, be it a set of stakeholders in your own organization or someone outside, should get a hold of this book.

A story about "Training With NLP"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 21:45:57 GMT

Training With NLP

by Joseph O'Connor

Once again, O’Connor successfully describes how to integrate NLP methods into training. From using multiple perspectives to reframing discussions, this is a good starting point for anyone that wants to design a holistic learning environment.

A story about "Slight of Mouth: The Magic of Conversational Belief Change"

nobody@allconsuming.net (Kraig Parkinson) — Wed, 09 Nov 2005 21:37:51 GMT

Slight of Mouth: The Magic of Conversational Belief Change

by Robert Dilts

I’ve done a lot of training and consulting, and this book offers a great perspective on the conversations I’ve had every day. Dilts sets a clear framework for how beliefs can be built and reinforced through conversation.