I wrote a book review of John Wooden's Wooden on Leadership over at Joyful Jubilant Learning. In the comments that followed, Rick Cecil and Rosa Say inquire about how Coach Wooden learned his lessons. Throughout the book Coach talks about lessons in leadership. Rick and Rosa are asking, not what those lessons are, but how did he learn them in the first place.
Rick and Rosa's question was a spark to a hungry, dry thought that had been bouncing around in my head for some time. The how answer is right there in the book. This answer however, does not have a chapter devoted to it nor can it be found in a checklist, diagram or a set of bullet points. The only way it can be found is if you are actually looking for it. In Coach Wooden's case lessons are learned from his dad, coaches, players and opponents. And they are learned through a process that the Coach developed, enhanced and fine tuned over the years.
The process of actually looking for how type answers is what has piqued my curiosity. If you are an Abstract-reader, Cliff Note, bullet point, cut-to-the-fact aficionado-type dude, stop here. I will be wasting your time.
Design Intent - I first learned of this term from the engineering world fifteen years ago. What do you intend to build? I love it! How does the engineer's design intent match up to the project outcome? (This gap was so horrific in my industry that a whole new profession was created by it).
I approach learning from books with both design intent and design intent modified through the process by an open mind.
Design Intent - When I first read Wooden on Leadership, I was a manager. So I read the book with the intent on learning stuff to make me a better manager. When I read it for the second time I was no longer a manager. So I read it with the intention of developing my own personal leadership. I learned, albeit separate lessons each time.
Design Intent Modified - I'll use the book Ogilvy on Advertising as an example. David Ogilvy was a big time, big company advertising legend-icon. Popular thought might be that this book is targeted for upcoming advertising executives. And it most certainly is. But I am not. I read the book with the intent on becoming a better writer. As I journeyed through the book, I took David's lessons and modified to fit my own learning intent. Another example is What Color is Your Parachute? This book is targeted towards job seekers. As a manager, I used the author's lessons to help me be a better interviewer.
The second part of this last method involves allowing metaphors or similes to pull up a seat right next to your comfy reading chair. You will not come close to enjoying the benefits of metaphorical learning if you approach the book with; GOTTA LEARN; GOTTA LEARN; GOTTA LEARN! You need to be in a relaxed, anxiety free state. Lets say an author is teaching a lesson on the difference between marketing and selling. For this demonstration my author is Theodore Levitt. According to Ted (from his book The Marketing Imagination):
Selling focuses on the needs of the seller, marketing focuses on the needs of the buyer.
In a parent-child relationship; do you sell or do you market?
"Uhhh Dave? What's that got to do with business?"
Exactly my point!
See? If you were ripping through the book with the a blinders-on-GOTTA LEARN-mindset , you would have blown right past the opportunity to reflect on a very meaningful thought.
Rich learning opportunities abound in books. What is your design intent?
