Book Recommendations
from Bret L. Simmons

From Bret's review: "Despite its flaws, it is a good book. It will make the list of optional readings for my MBA class this fall because I think it will have an impact on the students that read it. The book is very well written with excellent organization and a very conversational style. The best thing about the book is the numerous excellent examples Liz gives to support her points, coming from her years of experience as a top executive and consultant."

Order now from Amazon!

From Bret's review: "I liked the book so much I might make it required reading for my next MBA class in organizational behavior. I neither like nor agree with everything Pfeffer has to say in the book, but he backs up his points with solid research, which I love. It has a few too many stories for my taste, but this is one of the best evidence-based books on leadership and management you can put your hands on, which is why I am recommending it."

Order now from Amazon!

ACT Change: Only You Can Empower Yourself

December 31, 2009 by Bret L. Simmons · Filed under: Leadership, Purpose, Video

I hope you have enjoyed this series on Advanced Change Theory (ACT) as much as I have enjoyed making it. Here are my final thoughts.

Empowerment is the ability to make decisions and take action. No organization or individual can empower us – only we can empower ourselves. When we fully grasp the significance of the first principle of ACT change, understanding our organization’s purpose and assuming full responsibility for aligning our behavior with that purpose instead of our self-interest, we become self-authorizing individuals with a unique voice.

(ACT practitioners)..have a larger perspective on power and have more choices available to them. Yet, their choices do highlight the fact that there is danger in the change process. Making deep change always involves risk or walking on the edge of chaos. Traditional change theories wish this reality away whereas ACT recognizes the danger and embraces the associated pain. This is possible for ACT practitioners because the purpose is now more important than self. It is not possible for traditional change agents because the survival of the current self is more important than purpose. (p. 162).

We live in a time of tremendous opportunity to lead a life of abundance. Yet this opportunity will only be realized by purposefully empowered individuals that have the courage to continually transform themselves.

Excellence is a form of deviance

Are you untouchable?

Give yourself permission

Excuses are irrelevant

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Tags: ACT change, Change, courage, Excellence, responsibility, systems
Posted in Leadership, Purpose, Video

2 Responses to “ACT Change: Only You Can Empower Yourself”

Vern Taylor says:

January 4, 2010 at 12:28 am

I like what you are saying here. I took a class where the Prof. asked me what I had to do when the phone rings. I responded with “answer the phone.” He calmly said, “You don’t HAVE to do anything.” “You choose to, we empower ourselves.” Thanks!

[Reply]
Bret L. Simmons Reply:
January 4th, 2010 at 6:58 am
Welcome, Vern! Empowerment gets a LOT tougher than choosing whether or not to answer the phone. Some of the decisions we are faced with are seemingly much more complex. The bottom line is still the same. Thanks! Bret

[Reply]