How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything...in Business (and in Life) (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Although the tone of this business primer suggests a commercial version of St. Paul's epiphany on the road to Damascus, consulting firm CEO Seidman hems so closely to the familiar earmarks of the genre-powerpoint diagrams, catchy acronyms, buzzwords and inspirational stories of successful, sane corporate culture-as to engender cynicism early on. Among some compelling accounts of exemplary work environments-the General Electric Durham aircraft engine assembly plant, where nearly flawless products are turned out on flexible schedules and the honor system is arranged by self-governed aircraft technicians, represents one such utopia-Seidman fails to explore the roots of those practices or why they aren't more widely imitated (GE hasn't attempted to reproduced the Durham plant model). As such, Seidman falls short of his goal-teaching leaders how to imbue their corporate culture with moral purpose-which is sure to leave readers frustrated.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“The simple thesis of HOW is that in today’s totally wired world, you are set apart by “how” you conduct yourself. Everyone is so much more transparent and connected than ever before. As a result, so many more people can now see more deeply into what you do and into you company’s operations and tell so many more other people about it via the Internet – without any editor or any filter. Therefore “how” you live you life, “how” you conduct your business, and “how” you say you’re sorry (or don’t’) matter now more than ever.

“…And we will not get out of [the global economic crisis] without going back to some basics, which is why I find myself re-reading a valuable book that I wrote about once before, called, “How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything in Business (and in Life).” Its author, Dov Seidman, is the C.E.O. of LRN, which helps companies build ethical corporate cultures…We need to get back to collaborating the old-fashioned way. That is, people making decisions based on business judgment, experience, prudence, clarity of communications and thinking about how — not just how much.”–Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and author Thomas L. Friedman

“In his book How, published last year, Mr Seidman explained why he feels behaviour (as opposed to the more fashionable management notions of engagement or motivation) is the key to organisational success….Thought leadership, and big ideas, are rare. But here is a challenging thought for you. Outbehave, outperform, outgreen – or out you go.” –The Financial Times Business Life columnist Stefan Stern

“The book has understandably received a second wind, propelled by the global economic turmoil. Books like Seidman’s on the importance of trust and building and strengthening corporate reputation are being heralded as the voices of sanity.” –Economic Times journalist Arati Menon Carroll

“Seidman, an erudite intellectual and practical philosopher, shows that in today’s transparent commercial environment, operating openly and morally is both honorable and economically necessary.” –Syndicated Get Abstract book reviewer Rolf Dobelli

“One of the more interesting and ambitious books to cross my desk lately is How by Dov Seidman. The appeal of Seidman’s work is that he’s taken such a sweeping view of the business world in his explanation of how we think, behave and govern — as individuals and organizations — influences our achievements in the marketplace.” –Chief Learning Officer Magazine editor Brian Summerfield

“…Behaving as if everyone is armed with your personal information is a very good idea, according to author Seidman, because they are. He also discusses the ethical and moral implications of all this openness. Seidman is an experienced and worldly observer, so he is not unrealistic about the baser instincts that motivate many of us. Nonetheless he also presents a hopeful and positive future where lying and obfuscation are less possible and ultimately unacceptable because there are fewer places to hide.”
–The Miami Herald reviewer Richard Pachtert

“In his superb book on corporate behaviour, HOW: Why HOW We Do Anything Means Everything ... in Business (and in Life), Dov Seidman tells the story of the New York City doughnut seller who taught him a valuable lesson in business trust…Doing the right thing has always been good for business. What Seidman's book makes clear is that regardless of whether it is in Sydney or in Auckland, being open about the manner in which a corporation operates, trusting customers and insisting on maintaining standards which enhance reputations, is now of global significance. Investors everywhere are looking at issues relevant to integrity.”
– The New Zealand Herald reporter Stephen Loosley

"…Companies with a should-do culture can outperform those with a can-do culture because they value intellectual capital, not just human capital, and forward-think about the impact of "What’s next"…An integral component of Mr. Seidman’s should-do advocacy also involves connecting outside knowledge to the organization. The nature of should-do firms involves asking questions, change and accuracy of communication. Being inquisitive makes them aggressively search for "what they don’t know". Miscommunication is the Achilles heel of any firm; when a mouse click can send information around the globe, a company’s reputation can be damaged by an errant email. Mr. Seidman’s personal anecdotes illustrate how should-do firms deal with their thirst for knowledge and communicate effectively.”
–Syndicated columnist Jim Pawlak

“HOW is a radically different and compelling approach to competing in business today. Dov Seidman connects the dots in an original way, focusing on transparency, trust, and reputation as important drivers of success. We're all aware of the implications of operating in a transparent, wired, global marketplace. What Seidman has done is crystallize how we now need to think and act to win in this new world.”
–Chairman and CEO of Pfizer Inc. Jeff Kindler

“Dov Seidman’s intellect and passion—brilliantly displayed in HOW’s well-written and entertaining case studies, anecdotes—show us a new way to think about enduring success in times of change. Seidman’s penetrating insights into what really matters in a wired world challenge the very best in each of us to see what is right and wrong in everyday decision making.”
–U.S. Senator Bill Bradley “In HOW, Dov Seidman takes the idea of 'success' even further, redefining it as a quest for significance. Isn't that what we all really want? To have a positive impact, to make a difference, to excel? To do that you have to achieve significance, and Seidman brilliantly shows you HOW. This book will change your life in profound ways.”
–Author Marcus Buckingham

“Dov Seidman ’s book introduces you to the world of how in a way that will revolutionize the way you think about, assess, and experience success.”
– Former Chief Learning Officer, Goldman Sachs and former head of leadership development at GE, Steve Kerr

“HOW is a trip through the lens of a first-class observer. Dov Seidman captures the life lessons that impact how we should think and respond in today’s world. HOW’s clarity and common sense make it a must read for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere.”
–Chairman, Equity Group Investments, Sam Zell

“This book is the ultimate guidebook for successful living. Its truths are simple but stunningly powerful.”
– Author Marianne Williamson

“We do business on every continent. Everywhere we go, Dov Seidman's message rings equally true. HOW provides valuable insight for anyone who believes their company culture and core values can determine their ultimate success.”
–Massimo Ferragamo, Chairman, FERRAGAMO USA

“Dov Seidman captures the power that Ray Kroc instilled in us at McDonald’s from the day he opened his first restaurant in 1955—a culture based on values puts the customer first. In today’s world, focusing on the ‘how’ is critical to accelerating momentum. HOW is required reading for anyone seeking enduring success in business or life.”
– Jim Skinner, CEO, McDonald’s Corporation

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (June 4, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0471751227
• ISBN-13: 978-0471751229
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #65,441 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars 3 books in one adds up to confusion, September 1, 2007

By	J. M. Raimondo (New Jersey) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was drawn to this book through various points of exposure to Seidamn's thinking. Having just completed, I admit to being disappointed more than anything else. The structure of the book and its ultimate point is lost as the book attempts to be both a contemplation on personal ethics, a case study in modern management, and a theoretical work in organizational development. It doesn't succeed at any of these.
I think the core notion of Seidman's work is sound, but the execution of translating it into a book really fell apart. The book comes across as a confusing amalgam of business case studies and self-help. the beginning of the book sets the stage for an overarching architecture of "how" that never really materializes. Seidman returns to the grand unification theory of how from time to time, but the overall impact is too diffuse. I'm surprised the editors weren't able to gauge how ultimately confusing and unsatisfying this book is.
As an author, Dov Seidman is a good lawyer.

29 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A remarkable vision for enduring success, June 6, 2007

By	LA reader - See all my reviews

This book reminded me in some way of The Tipping Point and The World is Flat, a terrifically readable and entertaining take on what makes the world tick. HOW is full of surprising insights, thoughtful analysis, and compelling anecdotes that paint a surprising picture of the world today.

Seidman sees in the way technology connects and reveals us a new need to focus on both who we are and how we relate to others, and further posits that, given these conditions, it's the best way to win in the new economy. At it's heart, it's a clear and simple vision with huge ramifications: in an connected world, he says, those who connect best gain an advantage. From this central idea, Seidman branches out to identify and articulate the forces at play in every group activity from a PTA meeting to a corporate boardroom, and his conclusions resonate.

I have read few books that so clearly assay a useful world view that almost anyone can understand and put to immediate use. I've already seen the results in my dealings with others. There's nothing here to "study," no tips, rules, or techniques to learn, but reading the book gives you a different way of seeing everything around you. I found myself making different choices based on this new understanding and reaping immediate and powerful results. It suddenly got easier to get things done with others.

HOW is an easy read for such a thoughtful book, and it will stay with you long after you put it down. Almost everyone will gain something useful from it, and I highly recommend you try.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars In the Information Age successful entrepreneurs will outbehave their competitors!, October 7, 2007

By	Jeff Lippincott "www.Jlippin.com" (Princeton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

What I got from this book after struggling with it is that it's great to systematize your business so it is lean and efficient, but the real secret to winning in business TODAY is to have employees that work the system really well. It's awsome employees that will differentiate your company from the competitors and have customers come your way. The book tells us that to be successful an entrepreneur's company must OUTBEHAVE the competition.

This book is about "Process Management." It explains (sort of) that businesses can tinker with what they do, and how they do it, in order to win customers and grow revenues. It tells us that most things today are commodities and that it is very difficult to tinker with WHAT we do in order to stand out. And that means we pretty much have no choice but to differentiate HOW we do what we do in order to stand out.

The book is divided into four parts:

1. Today businesses operate in an Information Age
2. Successful companies appear to be sincere and helpful
3. Successful companies act with integrity and exude positive values
4. Successful companies value their culture and collaboration

So how do companies stand out in their market? This book says they can do it by having a work culture that is collaborative. It says that companies with employees that do their jobs so the customer sees a company that has good values and integrity will rise above. In sum, a company that develops trust and a stellar reputation in the eyes of its customers will retain those customers and get new ones.

The reason I hit this book with a 3-star rating is that as I read it I felt as though I was reading a first draft of a poorly outlined manuscript. The section headings were not very helpful to me in understanding what the book was about. And the chapter titles were even less helpful. Interestingly, I couldn't even read the book reviews posted for this book and get very far in understanding what the book was actually about. I disliked the layout of this book so much I'd really like to give it a 2-star rating, but I haven't done that yet to any book. And I'm not ready to do it with this one. 3 stars!