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Why Make Eagles Swim?: Embracing Natural Strengths in Leadership & Life
Stop wasting time “fixing” your so-called weaknesses. And start leveraging the powerful ways you’re already innately great!
Bill Munn says the key to maximizing performance is already planted within us—and within everyone around us—in the inherent strengths we often ignore while we focus on overcoming so-called weaknesses. This bias toward improving on negatives gets in the way of our ability to fully excel in our work life and at home. We devalue our innate strengths in part because we take our gifts for granted, and in part because we’ve been conditioned to focus on getting good at things we struggle with, at the expense of excelling in the ways we're intrinsically great . An eagle doesn’t need to put energy toward improving his swimming skills because he is a natural master of soaring. Munn explains, with heart and authority, how we can live like the eagle, finding true success as we focus on our gifts—and help those we manage do the same.
Munn provides a selection of specific traits (Creator, Decisive, Developer, among others) and tools to help readers identify unique strengths in themselves and others. He follows with techniques that help us nurture our strongest gifts—our power-alley attributes—and better grow and manage teams according to the group’s overall attribute profile. With his advice, we kick unproductive habits to the curb and experience the power of our personal best. Munn presents tactics for recognizing and appreciating power-alley traits in others as well as insights into the power and pitfalls of each attribute, the best and worst attribute pairings, which attributes fit with specific job functions, and more.
Munn’s book speaks to those seeking to improve their teams and their leadership skills, as well as to any person who wants to leverage his or her own natural gifts while better understanding, engaging, and nurturing others.
Bill Munn is a management-coaching veteran of twenty-six years and former top-level executive of a Dow 30 and Fortune 500 company.
Bill Munn says the key to maximizing performance is already planted within us—and within everyone around us—in the inherent strengths we often ignore while we focus on overcoming so-called weaknesses. This bias toward improving on negatives gets in the way of our ability to fully excel in our work life and at home. We devalue our innate strengths in part because we take our gifts for granted, and in part because we’ve been conditioned to focus on getting good at things we struggle with, at the expense of excelling in the ways we're intrinsically great . An eagle doesn’t need to put energy toward improving his swimming skills because he is a natural master of soaring. Munn explains, with heart and authority, how we can live like the eagle, finding true success as we focus on our gifts—and help those we manage do the same.
Munn provides a selection of specific traits (Creator, Decisive, Developer, among others) and tools to help readers identify unique strengths in themselves and others. He follows with techniques that help us nurture our strongest gifts—our power-alley attributes—and better grow and manage teams according to the group’s overall attribute profile. With his advice, we kick unproductive habits to the curb and experience the power of our personal best. Munn presents tactics for recognizing and appreciating power-alley traits in others as well as insights into the power and pitfalls of each attribute, the best and worst attribute pairings, which attributes fit with specific job functions, and more.
Munn’s book speaks to those seeking to improve their teams and their leadership skills, as well as to any person who wants to leverage his or her own natural gifts while better understanding, engaging, and nurturing others.
Bill Munn is a management-coaching veteran of twenty-six years and former top-level executive of a Dow 30 and Fortune 500 company.
216 pages, Hardcover
Published October 18, 2016
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433 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 16, 2017
This book is about positioning people in their strengths so that they can succeed. An eagle would be a terrible swimmer because it is not designed for it. In the same thinking, placing people who are not gifted (called attributes in the book) in a particular area and then asking for success will most likely cause frustration and failure.
Another point made is that there can be a propensity to work on weaknesses for the ultimate goal of being a better individual. While working on weaknesses is needed, it should not be done so that the strengths receive little attention. Think of it this way.
A pizza establishment can go to a hamburger establishment to learn about quality control and customer service. They can observe ways to better improve their efficiency and experience to customers. It does not make sense to go to a hamburger restaurant to learn how to make hamburgers better. That is not what a pizza restaurant serves.
This book is smaller than other books on this subject and distills much of the same information. I would consider it a good starting point for those who need a primer on this subject. From their a larger book could be considering for a better grasp on strengths and applying them for success.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Another point made is that there can be a propensity to work on weaknesses for the ultimate goal of being a better individual. While working on weaknesses is needed, it should not be done so that the strengths receive little attention. Think of it this way.
A pizza establishment can go to a hamburger establishment to learn about quality control and customer service. They can observe ways to better improve their efficiency and experience to customers. It does not make sense to go to a hamburger restaurant to learn how to make hamburgers better. That is not what a pizza restaurant serves.
This book is smaller than other books on this subject and distills much of the same information. I would consider it a good starting point for those who need a primer on this subject. From their a larger book could be considering for a better grasp on strengths and applying them for success.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
September 10, 2017
This book is a great direction for all people because it offers great advice on problems, organization, ways to interpret others, communicate…. It is a wonderful insight on how to reach one’s full potential using attributes one already has. This book also offers insight on how to successfully connect with others. I am letting family and friends know about this book because it offers great insight and techniques that will help parents/guardians, their child/children, and their friends excel to a higher level with greater success, less stress, and less fear of failure.
Based on a five-star rating, I give it five stars!
1) Buy from the author in the future? Yes
2) Did it keep me intrigued? Yes
3) Story line adventurous, mysterious, and believable? Yes
4) Would I recommend to a family member/friend? Yes
5) Did my idea of the book based on the cover remain the same after I read the book? Yes, I LOVE the eagle with the flippers. The flippers are illogical. Thus, the book and the image go hand in hand. The book is full of logical processes and procedures that will make life as it should be – great for everyone.
Based on a five-star rating, I give it five stars!
1) Buy from the author in the future? Yes
2) Did it keep me intrigued? Yes
3) Story line adventurous, mysterious, and believable? Yes
4) Would I recommend to a family member/friend? Yes
5) Did my idea of the book based on the cover remain the same after I read the book? Yes, I LOVE the eagle with the flippers. The flippers are illogical. Thus, the book and the image go hand in hand. The book is full of logical processes and procedures that will make life as it should be – great for everyone.
May 22, 2017
I liked this book a lot more than the myriad other books of its type. Munn speaks as someone who is experienced and cares a lot about his employees and making a company/department run well.
The descriptions of each type are clear and conversational, and it's likely you'll immediately think of a coworker that fits each description in addition to the strengths that describe you. The idea that a successful team is comprised of members with a variety of core strengths and it's important to identify them. Also important: instead of working on improving your weak areas, you should instead concentrate on making your fortes even better.
The big negative for me was the sheer number of attribute groups. It's probably more accurate with more categories, but it's really hard to keep track of them.
Still though I thought it was more concise than most books of this ilk and the ideas are immediately actionable. It's worth reading and I can really see myself going back and referencing this book from time to time. Ideally at some point I'll really implement it fully.
The descriptions of each type are clear and conversational, and it's likely you'll immediately think of a coworker that fits each description in addition to the strengths that describe you. The idea that a successful team is comprised of members with a variety of core strengths and it's important to identify them. Also important: instead of working on improving your weak areas, you should instead concentrate on making your fortes even better.
The big negative for me was the sheer number of attribute groups. It's probably more accurate with more categories, but it's really hard to keep track of them.
Still though I thought it was more concise than most books of this ilk and the ideas are immediately actionable. It's worth reading and I can really see myself going back and referencing this book from time to time. Ideally at some point I'll really implement it fully.
February 5, 2017
I wish I read this when I was a teenager! I always focus on my weaknesses instead of my strengths. This book teach me how to find true success as we focus on our gifts and not on our weaknesses. It's very helpful. This book has helped me change the way I see myself and others.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
Thank you Netgalley for this book.
May 30, 2017
By far one of the best books that I have read recently! It does an excellent job taking you through the process of identifying and leveraging your own strengths and those of other people, rather than trying to make people do something they are not good at. Very inspirational, practical, and effective guidance. Loved it!!!!
April 4, 2018
I was unimpressed with this book. I picked it up to try to learn how be a better leader. My main attribute is the responsible was not given much information on how to achieve leadership or much information at all about that attribute. I think it will be a great resource for someone who is not me.
December 30, 2023
Probably my favorite business type of book!! Such a great perspective on how to view life and what you are good at and how to maximize it!
March 3, 2023
I'm trying to read some more business / management books, which I normally am not a fan of, so started with this! Overall it was good and I liked it, especially the emphasis on building on your strengths rather than focusing on correcting weaknesses.
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June 12, 2022An easy to read and engaging book that I can take action steps from immediately at work.
March 28, 2017
I really like the whole concept of focusing on our strengths, rather than weaknesses. This needs to be translated to more workplaces, so there's more innovation with professional reviews. Definitely read this book if you're interested in what makes people tick and you're trying to understand different personalities!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews