Lightning in a Bottle: Proven Lessons for Leading Change [Paperback]

David Baum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 8, 2000

Full of energy and insight, David Baum sparks ideas for executives and managers to embrace change. Baum has transformed his own talents from clown and fire-eater with three circus companies to lecturer at Whartons Executive Development Program and the California Institute of Technology. (Some may readily see the similarities of working in those capacities.) Baum imparts his enlightened thoughts on leading change in over 60 vignettes with titles like, Fish in Muddy Waters, Dont Eat Your Seed Corn, and Keep to the Short List. These essays impart memorable yet practical ideas to transform an organization.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"...brilliantly shows us how we can embrace change in both the personal and professional aspects of our lives." ---Angeles Arrien, Author of The Four-Fold Way

"An easy read and great reference. Lightning in a Bottle is full of good laughs and practical advice." ---Paul R. Sullivan, Director, Technology Applications and Research Shell International Exploration and Production

"This is a book of many jewels. David Baum has captured the best practices in business and entrepreneurial activities and translated them into bite-sized nuggets that are useful, illuminating, and often profound." ---Rick Little President and Founder, International Youth Foundation Former President of Americas Promise

"Entertaining, delightful, quite easily read, yet deeply profound. The reader will laugh, ponder and thinkthen read on, more and more impressed with the importance of the subject and methodology for dealing with change suggested by this gifted author." --- John P. Flaherty, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania

About the Author

With 20-plus years of experience as a consultant, David Baum provides clients with innovative, creative solutions to change. Drawing on a rich and varied background from experience as a clown, to resolving conflicts in Belfast, Northern Ireland, to revitalizing Native American communities, Baum is sought after by such clients as Shell Oil, Condé Nast, Barclays Bank, Johnson & Johnson, and Outward Bound.

Jim Hassinger holds a black belt in Aikido and has spent the past 12 years applying the principles of this innovative martial art to organizational performance. With more than 20 years’ experience as a business consultant, he is sought by corporate leaders for his wise counsel. Such clients as Avid Technology, Disney, Fleet Bank, Lotus Development, Liberty Mutual Funds, and Hewlett-Packard have benefited from the coaching of this master of integration.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Publishing (February 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793135958
• ISBN-13: 978-0793135950
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #755,743 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun to Read and Full of Practical Wisdom, May 31, 2000

By 

"anonymous1111" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lightning in a Bottle: Proven Lessons for Leading Change (Paperback)

Lightning in a Bottle is the best management book that I have ever read - and that is saying a lot because after an MBA and years as a manager I have read too many management books! David Baum's book is FUN and FAST READING and PRACTICAL. Best of all Dr. Baum dispenses business advice that has the wisdom of experience. I used his advice - the chapter about facilitating change by getting all of the affected employees and managers in the same room. Over 100 people did a workshop together to find creative plans to implement an internal project. The meeting was dynamic and very successful and the general manager was impressed by the new approach. In summary, I highly recommend this book. I read it during a couple of short plane flights (it is only about 200 pages) and these few hours turned out to be the most useful 'training' time that I gave myself in the last few years.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An accessible alternative to Kotter, April 24, 2000

By 

Tom Sutter - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lightning in a Bottle: Proven Lessons for Leading Change (Paperback)

David Baum's work on change management, while not as scholarly or detailed as John Kotter's widely-read "Leading Change," is well-written and accessible to a variety of audiences. He arranges his subject matter so that you can open to any page, begin reading there and glean some useful, practical advice on the process of change management. He writes in a very easy and informal style, which makes the book fun to read. As is the case with many of these "management" books, Baum leans a little heavily on anecdotes and witty stories to illustrate his points, but nevertheless manages to keep them concise and relevant. If your company, organization or group is going through a reorganization or a change management process, I would definitely recommend reading this book as a group both before and during the process. I think it will be very helpful, thought-provoking and well worth your time.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, Witty and Wise, May 26, 2000

By 

Pat (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lightning in a Bottle: Proven Lessons for Leading Change (Paperback)

This is a great book. I am an organizational consultant and I love this book. The author is able to communicate complex lessons very effectively. I will give copies to my clients so they can benefit from his advice and wisdom. Great book.