Book Summary Preview : MANAGEMENT OF THE ABSURD

The Big Idea
To understand basic human behavior and relations, we must first recognize that most often it is irrational, and we cannot simply answer leadership problems with trendy, simplistic formulas. This artfully written and unique book is fresh in its perspective, offering an out-of-the-box approach and exploring a new way of looking at things.

Embrace A Different Way of Thinking

First of all, throw out all previous ideas of leadership and human relations that you have learned over the years. Open your mind to these new ideas. Number one, you cannot control or manage people. Once you know this, you will go about your leadership role (and private roles) with less frustration.

For as long as humans are thrown together in organizations, absurdity will remain with us. There are no techniques offered here, this is a book full of wonderful big ideas.

The Opposite Of A Profound Truth Is Also True

The rise of the fast food industry went right along with that of the gourmet and organic products boom. Let’s take the ideas of pleasure and pain, conflict and peace, good and evil, love and hate – all these opposing forces coexist and in fact enhance one another.

Opposites often coexist in management. To be healthy, or organization needs full and accurate communication, but at the same time, there is also a level of distortion and deception embedded within these messages.

Nothing Is As Invisible As The Obvious

It takes someone with a fresh perspective to see what most people don’t, even if they have it in front of their faces everyday:

James Watt observed the power of steam from a teakettle, leading to the invention of the steam engine and the birth of the industrial revolution. Alexander Fleming saw that bacteria inhibited the growth of microorganisms, which led to the development of antibiotics. Henry Ford saw that by making workers do one task repeatedly the automobile assembly line could produce much more at a faster rate.

Some things that are terribly obvious only need to be pointed out by a pair of fresh eyes and applied accordingly.

The More Important A Relationship, The Less Skill Matters

When performing in the area of human relations, our obsession with technique, skills, and technology does not help. . . . . . . . . . . . .

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