Extraordinary Outcomes: Shaping an Otherwise Unpredictable Future

by Iris R. Firstenberg, Moshe F. Rubinstein

Steel your team against the unexpected by planning for uncertainty Extraordinary Outcomes presents an innovative approach to thinking and planning, giving leaders a playbook for dealing with uncertainty. Written by internationally recognized authorities on problem solving and creativity in organizations, this book provides an alternative outlook on business strategy and people management for leaders navigating uncertain waters, where the future is anything but guaranteed. The framework is the result of research in multiple fields and the authors' experiences with individuals, teams, and organizations, with examples from real-world situations that illustrate the concepts and dynamics at work to give readers deeper insight. The focus is on conquering uncertainty - eliminating it where possible, reducing it where it can be reduced, and embracing it when it's inevitable.

Traditional ways of thinking and planning do not work in the face of an uncertain future. Frequently there are just no guarantees, nothing written in stone, and even a fortune-teller couldn't accurately predict the outcome. Extraordinary Outcomes helps leaders prepare for that, with strategies geared toward preparedness and embracing uncertainty.

Learn why skills and talent are only two pieces of a bigger puzzle Discover how to better galvanize the team, and keep them motivated long-term Connect to a purpose that inspires enthusiastic engagement Conquer uncertainty, and develop a strategy for dealing with mistakes No one likes to be caught off guard, and the consequences can be severe at the organizational level. Leaders can't be psychic, but they can plan for possible outcomes and always have a solution at the ready. For those who like to have an answer for everything, Extraordinary Outcomes provides a roadmap toward an uncertainty-proof strategy for doing business.

Genres: Psychology, Business, Self Help

240 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2014

Reviews

[Nadya Ichinomiya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I just counted my bookmarks on my audiobook version of this book: 33!

This should say something about my view of this book. Some books I read, I might just bookmark a couple spots.

I work in an industry (entertainment) where the speed of change is dramatic, dizzying, and often devastating. It's also an industry where the top 4 companies in the world in terms of market capitalization (Google through its YouTube arm, Apple, Amazon, Facebook) are MAJOR players. Yep, not for the faint of heart, ha.

So that's why I found this book to be highly relevant to my work. It outlines approaches for leaders to harness innovative methods for responding to turbulence, creating the organization's reason for existing (purpose/meaning) - the importance of galvanizing teams around a compelling vision, and ways to foment resilience, tenacious creativity, and optimum performance.

[Cenk Undey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prof. Firstenberg is by far one of my favorite faculty when I attended UCLA Anderson. She is a great story teller. Her points about life, leadership, thinking on your feet, bringing future to present concepts still are very useful at my work.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read - is set up to get you thinking on your own journey, individually and for your team and organization.

She’s wonderful in person to hear the stories she shares and the book didn’t let me down! Loved it!