This is the story of how a staid and stodgy American manufacturing giant transformed--into a beacon of industrial invention and supercharged success. How did Whirlpool do it? Authors Nancy Tennant and Deborah Duarte should know; they were two of the people who made it happen! Their book, Unleashing Innovation: How Whirlpool Transformed An Industry--takes us behind the curtain.

What's the anatomy of innovation? What are its rational and emotional drivers? How do you align a company's culture to maximize the power of both? And how can the learnings of a large enterprise benefit you, no matter the size of your organization? You'll hear an overview of the book, its key insights, and whether it's a "Best or Bust" for recommended reading.

Check out the SYLLABUST website for the Show Notes, and connect with other professionals to share your insights at the SYLLABUSTERS LinkedIn Group.

It's an oldie, but is it still a goodie? This month, SYLLABUST steps into the wayback machine for a trip to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Published in 1989, this landmark book has sold more than 25 million copies, in 40 languages, worldwide.  

So what keeps people coming back to Dr. Stephen Covey's signature work? What's the maturity continuum? And how exactly do we reach maximum effectiveness--and satisfaction--in work, and in life? Hear an overview of the book, its key insights, and whether it's a "Best or Bust" for recommended reading--more than 30 years later.

Check out the SYLLABUST website for the Show Notes, and connect with other professionals to share your insights at the SYLLABUSTERS LinkedIn Group.

SYLLABUST EPISODE 6.0: Dare to Lead by Brene' Brown

This month's SYLLABUST "rumbles with vulnerability" in our look at Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. Dr. Brene' Brown's 2018 New York Times Best Seller summarizes much of her earlier research into building trust and growing performance inside organizations. It also provides an abundance of tools to develop the hardest of "soft skills." 

What specific behaviors define armored versus daring leadership? How can leaders articulate and action organizational values? And what are the specific steps to engaging with empathy and reaping resilience? Hear an overview of the book, its key insights, and whether it's a "Best or Bust" for recommended reading. 

Check out the SYLLABUST website for the Show Notes, and connect with other professionals to share your insights at the SYLLABUSTERS LinkedIn Group.

SYLLABUST EPISODE 5.0: Think Again by Adam Grant

We conclude our month-long SYLLABUST salute to Dr. Adam Grant with his February, 2021 release, Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know. In his latest book, the Wharton wunderkind challenges us to question assumptions in ourselves, in others, and in organizations.

Is there really power in being wrong? Can we persuade people to truly reconsider their beliefs? And how can organizations create psychological safety to empower rethinking? As ever, the SYLLABUSTERS summarize the book, identify actionable takeaways, and share whether it’s a "Best or Bust" for recommended reading.

Check out the SYLLABUST website for the Show Notes, and connect with other professionals to share your insights at the SYLLABUSTERS LinkedIn Group.

SYLLABUST EPISODE 4.0: Originals by Adam Grant

It's International Adam Grant month--at least it is for the SYLLABUSTERS! Join us as we examine Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World by University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School professor, Dr. Adam Grant.

What exactly is originality? Why is it critical to individual and organizational success? And how can we be truer to our truest selves, in work and in life? In this episode, we’ll summarize the book, identify its most valuable takeaways, and share whether we think it’s a "Best or Bust" for recommended reading.

Check out the SYLLABUST website for the Show Notes, and connect with other professionals to share your insights at the SYLLABUSTERS LinkedIn Group.

SYLLABUST EPISODE 3.0: Rebel Talent by Francesca Gino

Our Women’s History Month celebration continues with our discussion of Rebel Talent: Why it Pays to Break the Rules at Work and in Life by Harvard Business School Professor, Francesca Gino.

In this episode, we’re looking at the different attributes rebels display, how we can replicate them at work, and where we each scored on Professor Gino’s rebel test.

Join us for our breakdown of the book, its valuable takeaways, and whether we think it’s a "Best or Bust" for recommended reading.

Check out the SYLLABUST website for the Show Notes and connect with other professionals to share your insights at the SYLLABUSTERS LinkedIn Group.

SYLLABUST Episode 2:0: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

We're celebrating Women's History Month! In honor of the annual March observance, this episode of SYLLABUST focuses on one of the few well-known business books authored by a woman.

Dr. Angela Duckworth's 2016 title, GRIT, rocketed to number one on the New York Times Best Sellers list. Its research and conclusions about grit as an essential factor in success--resonate (and for some, rile!) to this day. What is grit? Who are "paragons of grit?" Why does grit matter? How can it be measured? How can it be grown in families, in cultures, and in organizations?

Dr. Duckworth is the daughter of Chinese immigrants and mother to two daughters of her own. She is a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, a MacArthur fellow, and the founder and CEO of Character Lab--a nonprofit dedicated to advancing the science and practice of character development.

To stay up to date on each episode, subscribe to SYLLABUST on your favorite podcast platform.

If you're reading or listening along with us, we'd love your feedback. You can connect with other professionals to share your insights at the SYLLABUSTERS LinkedIn Group, or the SYLLABUST LinkedIn page. And don't forget to bookmark the website. 

Up next, in Episode 3.0, we break the rules to build something better with REBEL TALENT by Francesca Gino. See you then, and thank you for listening!

Research Resources

Angela Duckworth's website

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (TED Talk)

The Limits of "Grit":

No Stupid Questions

Angela Duckworth-Wikipedia

Boulder Crest Foundation

SYLLABUST Episode 1.0: The Tipping Point

It’s Malcolm Gladwell Week!

We’re kicking off our first full episode with Malcolm Gladwell’s first book, THE TIPPING POINT. Originally published in 2000, we’re digging into some of the historical, social and economic developments at the time it was written (hello Y2k); exploring what’s still relevant in 2021; and what we really need to leave at the turn of the millennium.

To stay up to date on our episodes, subscribe to SYLLABUST on your favorite podcast platform.

If you're reading or listening along with us, we'd love your feedback. You can connect with other professionals to share your insights at the SYLLABUSTERS LinkedIn Group. 

Up next, in Episode 2.0, we get real with GRIT: THE POWER OF PASSION AND PERSEVERANCE by Angela Duckworth. See you then!

Research Resources

Criticism of Gladwell Reaches Tipping Point (2009)

NYT Book Review of Outliers, 2008

The Atlantic: Malcolm Gladwell Reaches His Tipping Point 2019

The Problem with Malcolm Gladwell 2013

Is The Tipping Point Toast? 2008

The Economist: Tipping Point Idea 2009

State of Working America 1998-1999 EPI

Episode 0.5: Welcome to SYLLABUST!

What does required reading really mean in 2021? Does anyone even have time to crack a book, let alone talk about it?

We're digging into all of that, and a whole lot more.

Welcome to SYLLABUST, a business book podcast that discusses and challenges "required reading" for management and strategy. In each episode, we review the most recommended texts for business leaders, and test what's relevant and valuable for the challenges we face in today's changing work landscape.

We're kicking things off with a brief episode to introduce ourselves and this project, and announce our first book THE TIPPING POINT, by Malcolm Gladwell.

To stay up to date on our episodes, subscribe to SYLLABUST on your favorite podcast platform.

If you're reading or listening along with us, we'd love your feedback. You can connect with other professionals to share your insights at the SYLLABUSTERS LinkedIn Group.

Show Notes

·  While the numbers of people reading increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, most adult readers in the U.S. struggle to get through 12 books a year.

·  Our first book selection for February is THE TIPPING POINT, by Malcolm Gladwell.

·  Content Warning: This book was originally published in 2000 addresses topics some readers might find triggering, including: assault; urban policing; and suicide. We will not discuss these subjects in the podcast.

·  If you want to read along with us, you can request the book from your local library, or consider supporting a local indie bookstore by purchasing from www.bookshop.org.