Product Description

Written in a lively story format, Lessons from the Window Seat provides a practical tool for the reader to better understand themselves, their individual psychological core values and how those values relate to where and why they work.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1276499 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06-15
• Binding: Paperback
• 151 pages

Review
"...an engaging and reader-friendly book. The theories are clear; the demonstrations, realistic; and the ideas for application, abundant." -- R.W. Linneweh, Jr., President, Chief Executive Officer, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital

"...can be read with deceptive ease, but the reader will find paths toward deeper personal understanding and enhanced effectiveness at every juncture." -- Candice Frankovelgia, Senior Program Associate, Center for Creative Leadership

"...can be read with deceptive ease...the reader will find paths toward deeper personal understanding, enhanced effectiveness at every juncture. -- Candice Frankovelgia, Senior Program Associate, Center for Creative Leadership

"A simple read that discovers interesting insights to working differently and more effectively". -- Ken Blanchard, Co-author of The One Minute Manager

"An easy-to-read story that helps you understand your style and set personal and professional goals..." -- R.M. Jenson, President, SYSCO Food Services of Seattle

"Perfect for the organization faced with the issue of improving colleague retention." -- Kelly Bennan, Chief Learning Officer, Sedgwick Claims Management Services, Inc.

"The integration of individual and organizational values provides powerful energy that fuels a new definition of success!" -- Virginia Duncan, President, Wisconsin Leadership Institute

"The world would be a better one and companies healthier places if more people followed Specht's advice. Simple. Helpful. Worthwhile." -- Patrick Lencioni, Author, The Five Temptations of a CEO

Mr. Specht's prose style creates a remarkable look at diversity in value perception a must read for all "value-centered" organizations." -- Tom Hill, Senior Associate, The Ken Blanchard Companies, Co-Author of The Leadership Bridge

From the Author
The primary purpose of Lessons from the Window Seat is to introduce leaders to the essential components of achieving shared vision in relationships, primarily workplace relationships. Ive designed this book in a relatively quick reading story format. The storyline is combined with theory in the form of graphics. The graphics chart the course of the main characters search for shared vision and provide the reader with a ready-to-use guide for achieving shared vision in his or her personal situation.

Lessons from the Window Seat offers guidelines to achieving a shared future for both inexperienced and experienced leaders, with an understanding of why others will want to contribute. When individuals in an organizational system discover the interdependency of their core needs and values with those of their teams, they can take personal interest in product/service improvement. Lessons from the Window Seat does not try to place people into categories at work; rather, it illuminates how completely different people can work together effectively.

From the Inside Flap
Bob Sippel is a talented manager who thought he knew where he was going in life until he couldn't answer three simple questions posed by his wife:

1. What do you want to accomplish in the next five years?
2. What do you want from your company over the next five years?
3. What will your company need to do to survive and prosper over the next five years?

While on a business trip to corporate headquarters, determination and curiosity allow him to collect the information he needs to answer her questions. Bob is able to bridge work/life balance issues when he and his coworkers invent a process for achieving shared vision. By using their revelation, Bob is able to arrange his personal and professional values into a complementary plan of action. This process is laid out in the book, and a self-help section at the end allows the reader to undergo the process for himself or herself.

A Word from the Author
The primary purpose of Lessons from the Window Seat is to introduce leaders to the essential components of achieving shared vision in relationships, primarily workplace relationships.

I've designed this book in a relatively "quick reading" story format. The storyline is combined with theory in the form of graphics. The graphics chart the course of the main character's search for shared vision and provide the reader with a ready-to-use guide for achieving shared vision in his or her personal situation.

Lessons from the Window Seat offers guidelines to achieving a shared future for both inexperienced and experienced leaders, with an understanding of why others will want to contribute. When individuals in an organizational system discover the interdependency of their core needs and values with those of their team's, they can take personal interest in product/service improvement. Lessons from the Window Seat does not try to place people into categories at work; rather, it illuminates how completely different people can work together effectively.

Customer Reviews

True understanding
I thought Dave wrote a book that is easy to read and easy to understand. Very good information for someone going into a leadership role. I was able to read it in about a day. I have owned the book for years and often refer back to it.

Understanding me, you, them and the others!
The format and style of this book is ideal for anyone who needs to understand the subject quickly and without too heavy a read.

It's the kind of book that can be slipped into a desk drawer, glove compartment or bedside shelf.

The learning is taking place effortlessly and it's possible to read and retain the learning points that you accumulate as you flow through the sections.

I would recommend this book strongly.

Simple Strategies for Success
I would recommend this book to anyone that is in a leadership position or on a team. The book took me about five hours to read, but I will be using these ideas for a lifetime. Using the popular temperament theory (ref: Please Understand Me; D.Keirsey) along with the concept of shared vision, Mr. Specht has illuminated the need for incorporating each person's psychological needs into the group's mission, whether it be on a team or within the whole company. A special addition to the book is the last section called "Your Half of the Contract for Shared Vision Process" which is a self-exploratory "quick guide" to going through the process that the main character has described in the text. It helps you get a rough idea of what your temperament is and helps you build a short mission statement for yourself. I can see this book making an impact on employees throughout companies everywhere, so I recommend that you get a head start by reading it today.