Tasler, an organizational psychologist, offers a motivational book on maximizing change.
The author offers a unique perspective on personal and professional growth. His simple framework asserts that “Change happens. You grow. Then you win”; he blends social science with storytelling to reinforce these theories and offers examples from the careers of leaders such as IBM CEO Ginni Rometty and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Tasler observes that people who’ve reached a certain level of success find themselves at a crossroads: They either cling too closely to their survival instincts and avoid change, or they embrace a growth mindset and evolve. He explains how one can leverage the “spring fever effect,” in which the anticipation of a win triggers a greater dopamine release than the win itself, and explores the “power of a nudge,” such as a mentor’s encouragement, to push one toward new opportunities. The book urges readers to shift from “fragile optimism” (a belief in one specific positive outcome) to “agile optimism” (a belief that one will gain insights leading to any number of desirable outcomes). It also intriguingly questions the role of resilience, noting that “bouncing back to our original form isn’t the optimal response to change.” His “push-and-love approach” encourages leaders to challenge their team members while also reassuring them that they’re capable of more. Similarly, in times of change, rather than infuse subordinates with fear (via “jump-or-fry ultimatums”), leaders can inspire creativity through “dream-and-fly suggestions.” Some readers may find the “Change→Grow→Win” scenario to be overly optimistic, as it assumes people immediately have enough agency to instigate change and will ultimately come out on top. Still, throughout this book, Tasler offers creative conceptualizations of self-improvement, such as contrasting “chameleon resilience” (a survival instinct in which someone returns to the status quo after change) versus transformative “caterpillar resilience.” Overall, his advice is simple and practical, and he offers several insightful exercises, such as considering one’s current situation from a future perspective or writing about oneself in the third person to alter common self-perceptions.
An often invigorating guide to pursuing change with confidence.