Simple Stories for Success

About the Book

Simple Stories for Success is a compilation of short, entertaining stories that illustrate examples of what it takes to be successful as a business and examples of what companies do that hamper success. These stories apply to all types of organizations. Some are about non-profits; others describe for-profit businesses’ examples. The stories are about dance groups, plumbers, government entities, Fortune 500 companies, and many other types of organizations. Although each story is based on actual events and real organizations, the organizations and businesses are not named.

The thirty-seven stories are sometimes humorous, sometimes sad, but always educational and practical. Although based on sound theories from psychology, business, management, and science, the stories derive from real situations and provide helpful suggestions for how you can improve your business or organization. Topics include improving customer service and quality, implementation of teams or balanced scorecards, organization restructuring and redesign, and how to manage large-scale change.

The format of this book was driven by a comment made to me by a client. The CEO told me: “Never send me anything longer than two pages because I will not read it.” I listened to his advice. The stories in this book, written in a non-academic style, are not all two pages, but they are short enough to read quickly.

Please share Simple Stories for Success with your organization. They make great starting points for conversation and dialogue about, “How can we be more successful as an organization?” Sometimes the best solutions for improving business performance begin with open discussion about problems and opportunities. These stories can provide a non-threatening vehicle for you and your organization to start talking about.

Sample Chapters include:

FOR EVERY ACTION THERE’S A REACTION
STRATEGIC PLANNING – WORTH THE EFFORT OR NOT?
LEADERS HAVE HARD TIME FUNCTIONING AS A TEAM
A SILO MENTALITY CAN HURT MOST ORGANIZATIONS
DESIGN AN ORGANIZATION AROUND THE CUSTOMERS
INNOVATIVE COMPANIES JUST DON’T HAPPEN, THEY’RE CREATED
TRANSFORMATION REQUIRES A CHANGE CHAMPION

The book also provides a basic overview of “Whole System Transformation,” “Implementation of Team Systems,” and a brief overview of “Best Practices in Managing Change.”

About the Author

Helene F. Uhlfelder, Ph.D., with almost thirty years of experience, has consistently helped clients improve performance and successfully managed large-scale change. Her focus has been on assisting Fortune 500, midsize companies, government, and nonprofits achieve business results through strategy development and deployment, organization design, performance measurement and management, leadership development and coaching, and integrated change efforts. She has led organizations to understand and apply successful implementation methodologies that combine strategy, process transformation, technology, and people systems. She co-wrote three books: Advanced Team Skills, Change Management: Whole System Architecture, and The Leader’s Guide to Change Management.