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The Next Common Sense

Written by: Andy Marken

Article Overview: Book Review -- : Mastering Corporate Complexity Through Coherence

The Next Common Sense

The Next Common Sense: Mastering Corporate Complexity Through Coherence
By Michael Lissack, Johan Roos
Nicholas Brealey Publishing
ISBN# 1857882407


Do you go to bed at night wondering where the next shot at your company will come from? Worry about when your firm’s next competitor will appear? Trying to recall if you answered the last email customer, business partner or editorial request properly and thoroughly? Business and life is now in hyperdrive and there’s no turning back. But the challenge is how to deal with it. Especially in our Internet connected, instant response world.

For most business professionals it is nerve wracking and an adrenaline high all at the same time. Like Peter Senge, author of The Fifth Discipline, Michael Lissack and Johan Roos give managers a new perspective on understanding and dealing with our new environment. In 12 clearly written chapters they advise managers how to attack and handle the complexity of the issues we face … simplicity. Each chapter represents a corporate rule that will inculcate a corporate culture that will lead to individual creativity.

The Next Common Sense is delightfully simple which is probably why it escapes most of our bosses and us. It is also why professional and experienced managers probably feel they have more authority and more responsibility. Top-down management directives no longer work in a world where anyone can talk to anyone – inside and outside the organization. No matter how omnipotent your executives, they can’t anticipate all situations or that the company can react if all decisions have to flow through channels. It’s this challenge that keeps most managers up late at night wondering where the next volley will come from and what new “opportunity” he or she will face in the morning.

As the authors note, interaction happens and sanctioned or unsanctioned teams and workgroups work outside their conventional boundaries to accomplish great things for their companies.

Large organizations that are weighed down by their own inertia can change and we feel it is part of public relations’ role to help management understand the need for change and promote that change. The authors cite how Southwest Airlines and GE (stories that have been told and retold) have implemented their own versions of the next common sense by encouraging and rewarding creative behavior.

Senior and middle management people – the reviewer included – who have years of experience must be open to new ideas. How often have you found yourself saying to a staffer.. ”We’ve tried that/done that before and it won’t work?” Experience is the best teacher but unfortunately it doesn’t guarantee success because you have to remember – the world has changed dramatically since yesterday.

Lissack and Roos give company managers a great blueprint for tapping into the creative energy of employees. The book is exceptionally easy to read and use. The authors do an excellent job of using examples and braking down definitions for you. Best of all, they repeat their each of the 12 guidelines at the end of each chapter.

The best way to conquer the complexity of our constantly changing world is with simplicity and the authors have done an excellent job of giving you simple guidelines you can use today…and tomorrow.

Reviewed by: G.A. “Andy” Marken
Marken Communications Inc.
Andy@markencom.com

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