Leapfrogging: Harness the Power of Surprise for Business Breakthroughs

by Soren Kaplan, Marshall Goldsmith (Foreword)

“Leapfrogging is as much about the secrets of breakthrough leadership as it is about business innovation . . . loaded with fresh ideas and examples.” —Hans Middag, Director, Learning and Development, RandstadIn his trailblazing debut, Soren Kaplan gives business leaders the tools to do exactly what they’re taught to embrace surprise—the new key to business breakthroughs. Instead of fighting against uncertainty, Kaplan reveals how to use it to break down limiting mindsets and barriers to change the game. By highlighting specific ways to transform both good and bad surprises into unique opportunities, Kaplan encourages leaders to compete by embracing counterintuitive ideas, managing paradoxes, and even welcoming failure. This is the key to “leapfrogging” —creating or doing something radically new or different that produces a significant leap forward.Leapfrogging connects new research, unconventional strategies, and practical tools for navigating the “messy” and elusive process of achieving business breakthroughs. Filled with real-world examples from innovators such as Gatorade, Intuit, Philips, Kimberly-Clark, Colgate-Palmolive, OpenTable, and Etsy, Kaplan shows that any organization or business function can leapfrog. Using his LEAPS process (Listen, Explore, Act, Persist, and Seize), leaders learn to seek out, recognize, and respond to surprising experiences and events as a way to create solutions that leap beyond the current expectations of customers, partners, employees, the market, and the competition. Kaplan’s Leapfrogging is the new handbook for the modern leader.“Superbly crafted, powerful in its simplicity, offering smart, actionable learning . . . Finally, a simple, holistic model that allows for breakthrough thinking and living.” —Mary Beth Robles, Vice President, Colgate-Palmolive“His campaigning for fearless innovation and flexibility is compelling.” —Publishers Weekly

Genres: Business, Buisness, Management

224 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Soren Kaplan, PhD, is an award-winning author, former corporate executive, founder of Praxie.com, a columnist for Inc. Magazine and Psychology Today, and an affiliate at the Center for Effective Organizations at the University of Southern California. He is an international keynote speaker and has led professional development programs for thousands of leaders around the world, including Disney, NBCUniversal, Visa, PayPal, Colgate-Palmolive, Kimberly-Clark, Medtronic, Roche, Hershey’s, Red Bull, and many others. His work has appeared in Harvard Business Review, Psychology Today, Forbes, Fast Company, CNBC, NPR, and many other academic and popular business media.

Reviews

[Sterling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as an assignment for my MBA program, and although I usually don't like these kinds of books, I was pleasantly surprised. It was easy to get through and the author used a lot of good examples of current businesses to make his points.

His last two chapters that discussed the effects of fearing failure on future success were especially significant for me. Many of his principles can be applied to both business as well as our personal lives.

If you are looking for a quick but worthwhile book, this is a good choice.

[Tom Herzog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like these kind of books, especially the real world examples. A nice touch are the questions and suggested actions at the end of each chapter. The personal introspection makes it different than most case study reads, providing a nice change of pace.

- Good team gift to underscore attributes vital in today's workforce.

- Several highlights and books which I'll reference.

- Will go on my mentor list because it deals with the age old issue if we are not willing to rethink, the market will do it for us and move on.

[Jeromy Peacock · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars = Yearly re-read
4 stars = Re-read eventually
3 stars = Very Good
2 stars = OK
1 stars = Pass on this one.
0 stars = Couldn't finish it.

[Wai-kit Ng · Rating 2 out of 5]

To achieve breakthrough, surprise is fundamental. Got that. Can't say much else about the book though.

[Saurabh Hooda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Borrowed it from a neighbor using Lenro: https://lenro.co/books/13585877-leapf...
Pretty average read. Lots of theoretical stuff.

[Kaustubh Kirti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definately a must read. More than the ideas the examples are interesting and develop the connect the author wants to achieve. Leapfrogging as people assure to be technology or process driven is more about mindset of how to change and bring in radical changes. It talks about disruptions radical ones through engaged explorations something like questioning all the values and ideals like Google which after all started library searches or Unilever which wants to expand ice cream business by selling it to adults.

Answers come from different parts and sides and in ways you might not comprehend so be ready anywhere and everywhere but as writes quotes a famous clause - I know it when I see it like the risque positioning of Magnum Ice Creams to serve adult customers or the online cataloging by Four Seasons as part of the connect with customer strategy or MOM inspired Diapers by KC- leapfrogging is everywhere, it is just you need to be ready to do it.

[Allisonperkel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the idea of embracing surprise. I didn't love the same examples being given over and over. While I do think Mr. Kaplan does have a lot of good points and I did take some good concepts and ideas out of the book, I was left feeling that correlation doesn't equal causation.

[Paulo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Não busque um insight inesperado.

Um livro fino, o qual pode ser sintetizado em poucas palavras: o poder da surpresa e das inovações (com análises de fatos ocorridos). Como dono do seu negócio, ouça, explore, aja, persista e aproveite.

Não é voltado para auto-ajuda pessoal, mas o viés negocial.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides some good examples of how surprise and unexpected outcomes can have positive results. Not sure that I will use the framework, but a good read and a slightly different approach to problem solving and creating breakthroughs.

[Kailas Ramachandran · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent guide for thinking out of the box with great case studies..

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. It had some good theory to it but it was just a boring listen. Case study after case study. Could have been over after the first couple of chapters.

[Michelle Kennelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really a great anecdotal book about success in business. Worth a read!

[Mohammed alkindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice piece of writing, another perspective of looking at surprises, according to the author, all surprises are good in a way, even the not so good, they supposed to be a guide post for better if we know where to look. break through may come from places or time one could not expect. and if people do not follow such posts they may be missing the opportunity to arrive to a surprising break through.

[Vijay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book. Harnessing the surprise is a good concept. The incidents that are added are good.But I feel planning is of course necessary . we can't enter any business without planning well. planning should be done and after decision we can invite surprises. Giving 3 stars

[Hamad Al-ibrahim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great book to read, highly recommend it

[Saju · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice read, even though the contents might not get understood deeply at one go, I believe revisiting this book after a couple of years would strengthen the insights in this book.

[J. J.]

Some very strong chapters. The book’s main strength lies in its excellent end-of-chapter questions and reflection exercises. The book also contains great common grace insight into the nature and value of humility for insight and true creativity.