The Song of Significance: A New Manifesto for Teams by Seth Godin
“Management is the practice of using power and authority to get what we want. …Leadership is the art of creating something significant.” This is one of the many pithy quotes from Seth Godin’s book, all about how the workplace should be a place where workers play a significant role towards attaining a meaningful purpose. Based on the observation that bees work together and make communal decisions without having an appointed leader directing them, Godin calls for managers to build high trust environments where people can learn from each other and evolve together.
Rather than wordy chapters, the book is divided into 144 numbered sections, each between one and a few paragraphs long. The writing style is short and sharp, as if there is no time to waste on long explanations. I imagine this is meant as a reference tool for managers rather than a sit-down read, as the constant stream of pertinent quips starts to feel a bit like being shouted at.
