Sacred Cows Make the Best Burgers: Paradigm-Busting Strategies for Developing Change-Ready People and Organizations

An iconoclastic blend of wit and psychology makes this a canny manual for business leaders focused on the biggest challenge of this and the 21st century--forging ahead of change. Keeping abreast is no longer good enough, according to Kriegel (If It Ain't Broke, Break It) and Brandt, a psychologist. Some of the sacred cows they barbecue are reports no one reads, mind-numbing conferences, an obsolete knowledge base (no one's talking about automation anymore, dummy), profitable product lines on their way out of style and sales pitches customers aren't hearing anymore. With businesses in the fast lane, formerly sound practices turned sacred cows could force them off the highway. Staying ahead of change means getting rid of sacred cows, even if that calls for risk and standing up to fear. The authors tell how to reenergize a sluggish business by turning fear to caution and providing incentives for employees to expose outmoded practices even when those cows are their jobs. Author tour. (Feb.)