Nilofer Merchant – författare

How can we fix what we can't see? The norms crushing innovation—and our joy—are finally made visible. All 24 of them.In Our Best Work, Nilofer Merchant names the 24 invisible norms—born of hierarchy, control, and a worn-out model of capitalism—that limit us all. Along the way, she dismantles some of management’s most beloved ideas:Servant LeadershipPersonal BrandingSpeaking UpPerformance ReviewsMove Fast and Break ThingsThese aren’t just ideas that fall short—they are daily routines that trap us in the past. Merchant exposes how and why they fail us. But it’s not enough to know the problem, we must also know how to move forward. She lights the path to the future by providing the 24 leading indicators that bring out the best of us and the best of us. Each chapter closes with a concrete practice, so teams can turn insight into action.Ranked among the world’s most influential management thinkers by Thinkers50, Merchant brings an unmatched range of experience: from her start as an administrative assistant to shaping strategy at Apple and early-stage startups to serving on corporate boards. She has experienced the realities of power from every seat at the table, across industries, and around the globe. Her ideas have already reshaped companies—and their futures. With this incisive take, Merchant offers a clear and collective path to do our best work, including:Unlocking the essential source of innovation: new and novel ideasReplacing competition with trustCreating the solutions of tomorrow, not just today’s profitsIf you’ve tired of self-help fixes or the latest fads, Our Best Work offers another way: by changing the rules of work itself.

An 800-CEO-READ Staff PickShortlisted for the Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea AwardA Financial Times Business Book of the Month“For any would-be activists who hear the voice: ‘not me’ or ‘not now,’ Merchant makes the strong case for ‘yes you’ and ‘yes now’—and even shows you how to jump in.” —Van Jones, host of CNN’s The Messy Truth, author of Rebuild the Dream and The Green Collar Economy“The Power of Onlyness is a book for our times. . . . Merchant forces us to dig deep, into the book and ourselves, and it goes beyond self-knowledge and self-empowerment, obliterating the fear of otherness with an understanding of the onlyness of us all.” —Sally Haldorson, 800-CEO-READ An innovation expert illuminates why your power to make a difference is no longer bound by your statusIf you’re like most people, you wish you had the ability to make a difference, but you don’t have the credentials, or a seat at the table, can’t get past the gatekeepers, and aren’t high enough in any hierarchy to get your ideas heard.In The Power of Onlyness, Nilofer Merchant, one of the world’s top-ranked business thinkers, reveals that, in fact, we have now reached an unprecedented moment of opportunity for your ideas to “make a dent” on the world. Now that the Internet has liberated ideas to spread through networks instead of hierarchies, power is no longer determined by your status, but by “onlyness”—that spot in the world only you stand in, a function of your distinct history and experiences, visions and hopes. If you build upon your signature ingredient of purpose and connect with those who are equally passionate, you have a lever by which to move the world. This new ability is already within your grasp, but to command it, you need to know how to meaningfully mobilize others around your ideas. Through inspirational and instructive stories, Merchant reveals proven strategies to unleash the centrifugal force of a new idea, no matter how weird or wild it may seem. Imagine how much better the world could be if every idea could have its shot, not just the ones that come from expected people and places. Which long-intractable problems would we solve, what new levels of creativity would be unlocked, and who might innovate a breakthrough that could benefit ourselves, our communities, and especially our economy. This limitless potential of onlyness has already been recognized by Thinkers 50, the Oscars of management, which cited it one of the five ideas that will shape business for next twenty years.Why do some individuals make scalable impact with their ideas, regardless of their power or status? The Power of Onlyness unravels this mystery for the first time so that anyone can make a dent. Even you.

The era of social technologies provides seemingly endless opportunity, both for individuals and organizations. But it’s also the subject of seemingly endless hype. Yes, social tools allow us to do things entirely differently—but how do you really capitalize on that?In 11 Rules for Creating Value in the Social Era, the newest in Harvard Business Review’s line of digital books (HBR Singles), social strategist and insightful blogger Nilofer Merchant argues that “social” is much more than “media.” Smart companies are letting social become the backbone of their business models, increasing their speed and flexibility by pursuing openness and fluidity. These organizations don’t operate like the powerful “800-pound gorillas” of yesteryear—but instead act more like a herd of 800 gazelles, moving together across a savannah, outrunning the competition.This ebook offers new rules for creating value, leading, and innovating in our rapidly changing world. These social era rules are both provocative and grounded in reality—they cover thorny challenges like forsaking hierarchy and control for collaboration; getting the most out of all talent; allowing your customers to become co-creators in your organization; inspiring employees through purpose in a world where money alone no longer wields that power; and soliciting community investment in an idea so that it can take hold and grow.The strategies of the Industrial Era—or even the Information Age—will not be enough for the Social Era. Read 11 Rules for Creating Value in the Social Era to get ready to meet the challenges of this new age and thrive.HBR Singles provide brief yet potent business ideas, in digital form, for today''s thinking professional.Editorial ReviewsNamed a “Best Business Book of 2012” by Fast Company“Ms. Merchant''s new work provides a provocative vision of the future of both what organizations and what work might look like, yet grounded in real businesses today…this will inspire ideas and thought about what running a business really means.” — Forbes.com“Every CEO, CMO, and decision maker needs to read this. Nilofer has taken a high-level concept and made it abundantly clear how to implement this big idea.” — Tara Hunt, cofounder and CEO, Buyosphere; author, The Whuffie Factor: Using the Power of Social Networks to Build Your Business“A rare combination: strategic, well researched, and actionable. Nilofer Merchant helps executives see what’s at stake in the connection economy.” — Seth Godin, author, Meatball Sundae: Is Your Marketing Out of Sync?“Traditional strategy is dead. But do not fear—Nilofer Merchant shows how your organization can thrive with the new rules of the Social Era. Buy yourself a copy—and one for every member of your board.” — Charlene Li, founder, Altimeter Group; author, Open Leadership: How Social Technology Can Transform the Way You Lead; and coauthor, Groundswell“Social media is not about hooking up online. It’s becoming a new means of production and engagement. Nilofer lays out her enormously helpful ‘11 Rules’ to embrace the Social Era.” — Don Tapscott, coauthor, Macrowikinomics: Rebooting Business and the World“Pay attention to Nilofer Merchant. Or risk obsolescence.” — Dave Gray, Senior Vice President, Dachis Group“Nilofer Merchant nails it in this important and timely book. It’s an insightful road map. through the new world of business that embraces openness, stability, sustainable advantages, profitability, and the new value chain. It’s all here for you to devour. I hope you’re hungry.” — Mitch Joel, President, Twist Image; author, Six Pixels of Separation: Everyone Is Connected. Connect Your Business to Everyone“Nilofer Merchant offers not just a name—the Social Era—to these confusing and turbulent times, but thoughtful and straightforward advice about how both institutions and people can thrive, not just be the last one standing. Required reading for today’s leaders—and tomorrow’s.” — Barry Z. Posner, Accolti Professor of Leadership, Santa Clara University; coauthor, The Leadership Challenge: How to Make Extraordinary Things Happen in Organizations“With tools, metrics, and markets pulsing with change, Nilofer’s 11 Rules for Creating Value in the Social Era is a vital compass to staying relevant and profitable. Embrace them.” — Lisa Gansky, entrepreneur; author, The Mesh: Why the Future of Business Is Sharing“Nilofer Merchant deftly dissects the industrial traditions that are failing us. Not content to simply describe the state of affairs, she also offers comprehensive, prescient guidelines for taking the future into our own hands. This book opened me up to a whole new way of thinking about business, influence, and power.” — Deanna Zandt, media technologist; author, Share This!: How You Will Change the World with Social Networking“11 Rules for Creating Value in the Social Era completely, convincingly, and lucidly redefines what it’s going to take for companies to be successful going forward. Powerfully provocative and highly practical. Bravo, Nilofer!” — Tony Schwartz, President and CEO, The Energy Project; coauthor, The Power of Full Engagement and The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working

What people are saying about The New How

"How are you going to get rid of your Air Sandwich if you don''t even know what it is? Provocative and practical at the same time."--Seth Godin, author of Linchpin

"The New How is informative and provides exciting insights because the suggestions are practical and doable. Merchant gets the new reality--leadership fails not so much from flawed strategy as it does from failed processes of engagement from those responsible for implementing the strategy. In high-performing organizations, everyone acts like a leader, and they own the strategy and take actions to ensure its success. If you care about making a difference, read this book."--Barry Posner, author of The Leadership Challenge

"Collaboration is a powerful, competitive weapon: this book shows you how to use it to win markets."--Mark Interrante, VP Content Products, Yahoo, Inc.

"In a world in which the pace of change is ever quickening, collaboration, not control, is the route to a successful organization. This book tells you how to make your organization collaborative. And Nilofer Merchant''s writing is a model of clarity."--Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less

"Want to transform your organization into a collaborative enterprise? Nilofer Merchant provides insightful and practical strategies in The New How."--Padmasree Warrior, CTO, Cisco Systems, Inc.

"Merchant''s book is a practical guide for the journey from strategy to implementation. The collaborative tools described here can help companies reach strategic success--and avoid pitfalls along the way."--Tom Kelley, General Manager, IDEO, and author of Ten Faces of Innovation

Once in a generation, a book comes along that transforms the business landscape. For today''s business leaders, The New How redefines the way companies create strategies and win new markets.

Management gurus have always said "people matter." But those same gurus still relegate strategy to an elite set of executives who focus on frameworks, long presentations, and hierarchical approaches. Business strategy typically has been planned by corporate chiefs in annual meetings, and then dictated to managers to carry out. The New How turns that notion on its head. After many years of working with Apple, Adobe, HP, and many other companies, Nilofer Merchant discovered the secret sauce: the best way to create a winning strategy is to include employees at all levels, helping to create strategy they not only believe in, but are also equipped to implement.

In The New How, Nilofer shows today''s corporate directors, executives, and managers how they can transform their traditional, top-down approach to strategy planning and execution into collaborative "stratecution" that has proven to be significantly more effective.

Enhance performance and outcomes by deflating the "air sandwich" between executives in the boardroom and employeesRecognize that strategy and execution are thoroughly intertwinedUnderstand how successful strategy is founded in effective idea selection-a pile of good ideas doesn''t necessarily build good strategyCreate company strategy and link it to targeted execution, using the practical models and techniques provided

What people are saying about The New How

"How are you going to get rid of your Air Sandwich if you don''t even know what it is? Provocative and practical at the same time."--Seth Godin, author of Linchpin

"The New How is informative and provides exciting insights because the suggestions are practical and doable. Merchant gets the new reality--leadership fails not so much from flawed strategy as it does from failed processes of engagement from those responsible for implementing the strategy. In high-performing organizations, everyone acts like a leader, and they own the strategy and take actions to ensure its success. If you care about making a difference, read this book."--Barry Posner, author of The Leadership Challenge

"Collaboration is a powerful, competitive weapon: this book shows you how to use it to win markets."--Mark Interrante, VP Content Products, Yahoo, Inc.

"In a world in which the pace of change is ever quickening, collaboration, not control, is the route to a successful organization. This book tells you how to make your organization collaborative. And Nilofer Merchant''s writing is a model of clarity."--Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less

"Want to transform your organization into a collaborative enterprise? Nilofer Merchant provides insightful and practical strategies in The New How."--Padmasree Warrior, CTO, Cisco Systems, Inc.

"Merchant''s book is a practical guide for the journey from strategy to implementation. The collaborative tools described here can help companies reach strategic success--and avoid pitfalls along the way."--Tom Kelley, General Manager, IDEO, and author of Ten Faces of Innovation

Once in a generation, a book comes along that transforms the business landscape. For today''s business leaders, The New How redefines the way companies create strategies and win new markets.

Management gurus have always said "people matter." But those same gurus still relegate strategy to an elite set of executives who focus on frameworks, long presentations, and hierarchical approaches. Business strategy typically has been planned by corporate chiefs in annual meetings, and then dictated to managers to carry out. The New How turns that notion on its head. After many years of working with Apple, Adobe, HP, and many other companies, Nilofer Merchant discovered the secret sauce: the best way to create a winning strategy is to include employees at all levels, helping to create strategy they not only believe in, but are also equipped to implement.

In The New How, Nilofer shows today''s corporate directors, executives, and managers how they can transform their traditional, top-down approach to strategy planning and execution into collaborative "stratecution" that has proven to be significantly more effective.

Enhance performance and outcomes by deflating the "air sandwich" between executives in the boardroom and employeesRecognize that strategy and execution are thoroughly intertwinedUnderstand how successful strategy is founded in effective idea selection-a pile of good ideas doesn''t necessarily build good strategyCreate company strategy and link it to targeted execution, using the practical models and techniques provided