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A Review of The Art of Possibility, Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander, Harvard Business School Press, 2000
Benjamin Zander is the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra and also presents leadership workshops widely in the business community. Rosamund Stone Zander is a family systems therapist in private practice. This unlikely combination of authors for a business text has written a refreshing and hopeful guide to personal and organizational transformation that results in innovative leadership. The book outlines twelve practices that anyone can use to create new possibilities in any situation. Their wide personal experience illustrates each practice with unforgettable stories.
“Standard social and business practices are built on
certain assumptions—shared understandings that have evolved from older
beliefs and conditions. And while
circumstances may have changed since the start of these practices, their
continued use tends to reconfirm the old beliefs.
For this reason our daily practices feel right and true to us,
regardless of whether they have evolved to keep up with the pace of change. In just such a way a business culture arises and perpetuates
itself, perhaps long after its usefulness has passed. This book offers practices that are transformational—practices that may feel ‘illogical’ or counterintuitive to our normal understanding of how things operate. The purpose is to initiate a new approach to current conditions based on uncommon assumptions about the nature of the world. . . p. 4
For anyone wishing to have fun, be creative and change their life and the life of organizations, the book is a must read. Practical, passionate and provocative, the book is for those who want to get more joy, fulfillment and pleasure out of their life and be a contribution to the whole community of creation.
Each chapter describes a practice that is fundamental to creating the future: 1. It's all invented - the future is ours to make. 2. A universe of possibility - unlimited possibilities exist that are ours to find. 3. Giving an "A". Give every student an "A" at the beginning of the semester and have them justify how they earned it. 4. Being a contribution - Consider yourself a contribution in any situation. 5. Leading from any chair - Leadership is possible from any place. 6. Rule number 6 - Don't take yourself so goddam seriously. 7. The way things are includes our perceptions and feelings about things. 8. Giving way to passion - Passionate commitment to any task is an asset. 9. Lighting a spark - Convince others of the opportunities before them. 10. Being the board - Design the board for the game you are playing and not simply the piece or the moves. 11. Creating the frameworks for possibility - Build the network for making your dreams happen. 12. Telling the WE story - Remember the connection and similarity you have with all people instead of the differences.
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