The Primes: How Any Group Can Solve Any Problem

by Chris McGoff

An essential guide for 21st century problem solvers and change agents, The PRIMES unveils 32 universal secrets of how to ….
* Tackle complex problems successfully
* Build visions that inspire outcome-driven strategies
* Forge lasting consensus among competing interests
* Recognize and eliminate the most destructive forces in an organization
* Establish cultures of integrity
* Keep teams focused and productive
* Transform your business painlessly
* Produce and deliver extraordinary results on time
The PRIMES gives leaders the edge they need to succeed. Once the PRIMES are revealed, they’ll show up everywhere!

Genres: Business, Leadership, Management, Design, Psychology, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 30, 2010

About the author

Chris McGoff is the founder of The Clearing, a Washington, D.C. consulting firm specializing in strategy, culture transformation, and organizational change management. Chris is an author, consultant, and speaker with over 30 years of experience assisting leaders of business and government in engendering new and transformative possibilities that drive peak performance cultures. He is the author of The PRIMES: How Any Group Can Solve Any Problem and Match in the Root Cellar: How You Can Spark A Peak Performance Culture.

Reviews

[Blake Kanewischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has some incredible nuggets and insights that are going to make it into my facilitation toolbox. All I can say is one diagram alone is worth the price of admission:

Behaviours we tolerate
CULTURE = ------------------------------
Behaviours we do not tolerate

Now imagine a book full of ideas that approach this level of sustained excellence and simplicity. Go buy it. Seriously.

[ZouHao · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best problem solving book I have ever read

Ten years ago, I started reading this book but never had a chance to finish it since some of the primes were still remote with my own experience. Ten years later, after becoming executive director of a listed company, I picked up the book again accidentally and came to realize I had dealt with every single Prime already. Compared with many other books I have read during the past ten years, this one is highly to the point and very practical.

Again, this is a book worth every leader or manager to read, master, and practice in daily work environment or life.

[Sergii Khlivnenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Лаконічно і глибоко. Над кожним принципом хочеться задуматися. Як відрізняється роль лідера, менеджера, власника? Чому вірність слову це основа продуктивних груп? Як побудувати ефективну комунікацію через визначення заяв, прохань та розпоряджень? Багато корисних порад як зібрати команду до купи і досягти результату. Дякую автору за велику кількість інсайтів. Must read.

[Brendan Powell · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's nuggets of wisdom in this book ... but really, it could have been half the length, and more effective.

I'll take bits of it "Primes" and try to apply them at work ... but a lot of these just seemed fanciful, and the stories behind the primes seem obviously fake.

Meh ... not recommended.

[Katy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this up out of a free pile because it’s very relevant to my interests right now. I tried to pick out helpful info but the writing style is not for me. So much CAPS LOCK! I hate to say it but it felt like mumbo jumbo.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book—I’ve been fortunate to work with The Ckearing

[Viktor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely useless as for me. A lot not interesting and abstract stuff. Highly not recommend it

[Ruthann Wheeler · Rating 3 out of 5]

DNF. This was a good book for someone who is a leader in their company. It doesn't really apply to me in my current situation. Recommended for anyone leading in their career.

[Charity]

cory rec, harrison st

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right name.” This Confucian reference was quoted early and it provided a context that allowed me to read and absorb Chris McGoff’s 2011 book, “The Primes, How Any Group Can Solve Any Problem.”

Chris gives us 32 constructs or tools that we can use in almost any challenging situation to not just wrestle with incremental change, but to blast our organizations into another “universe.” In fact, you may want to get comfortable with the term “universe denters” because it’s used a great deal throughout the book as a term of endearment for people that can embrace a future and help lead an organization to its fullest potential.

The constructs, or The Primes, are time-tested truths Chris and his team have used in large transformational projects all over the world. As I read through many of The Primes, such as Integrity, Big Hat-Little Hat and Fragmentation, I could easily imagine myself in ‘strategic planning session’, where integrity, hidden agendas, problem ownership and allegiances were very difficult issues to manage. The Primes give you insight into handling those difficult situations and many more.

Not included as Primes but useful nonetheless are concepts like “Strategic Pause” and “Dragons.” Trust me, if you’ve ever spent more than 5 minutes in any organizational planning meeting, you’ll relate to all of these concepts.

“The Primes” is very much worth your investment of time and money. It is a book to get you thinking. A book that will challenge your sense of destiny. If you’ve been comfortable with the status quo, you’ll be a bit uncomfortable while you read “The Primes”, but that is exactly why you should.

[Radu Davidescu · Rating 5 out of 5]

In today's world understanding groups dynamics is essential for leaders, managers and facilitators. This book presents great insights that will help any influencer to spark collective attitudes and behaviors.

[Roxanne Nichols]

This is an eye opener for non profits that rely on the harnessed energy supplied by volunteers. Implementing the primes in this book will set apart struggling non profits from stable ones

[Roxanne Nichols · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an eye opener for non profits that rely on the harnessed energy supplied by volunteers. Implementing the primes in this book will set apart struggling non profits from stable ones

[Roman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Как создавать эффективные команды, как ими управлять, как убирать препятствия, устранять конфликты. Отличные принципы и твердая пятерка. Обязательно применять!

[Justin Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting, helps you think about everything you do in a new way. Refreshing.

[Den Smirnov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshing and innovative

[Mihai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great great book! Stuffed full of insights so better to re use it as reference in the future!
Highly recommended to anyone who is looking to challenge the status Quo or needs to drive change.