Few know how to tap the power and creativity of a group of inspired
people. When a leader shares a vision with an empowered group, a path
opens for people to follow. This clarity enables a group to focus their
energy on the realization of a greater goal; yet obstacles naturally
arise which interrupt the group’s progress. These obstacles are
universal and unavoidable patterns of group behavior that emerge
whenever people attempt to transform systems or collaborate to solve
complex problems. Chris McGoff, founder of the management consulting
firm The Clearing, Inc., has given an identity to these group dynamics –
calling them the PRIMES.
Every leader has seen their effect, but few recognize, anticipate, and
manage them. Unacknowledged, PRIMES can put any leadership agenda at
risk. But once mastered, the PRIMES become a force to solve any
leadership problem. An essential guide for twenty-first-century leaders,
The PRIMES: How Any Group Can Solve Any Problem (Wiley; Paperback and
eBook; April 2012; $29.95; ISBN: 978-1-1181-7327-5) by McGoff unveils 46
universal secrets of how to navigate complex challenges, create a
brighter future, and produce extraordinary results.
The PRIMES is a collection of “eureka” moments that teams driving major
change initiatives experienced. These insights appeared at some of the
largest organizations in the world – the U.S. government, The World Bank
and Toyota for starters – but quickly became recognized by McGoff and
his colleagues as universally present wherever people get together in
groups to solve a problem. The “ah-ha’s!” in this book began as sketches
on scraps of paper or the backs of cocktail napkins, usually discovered
at times of desperation to help the change agents climb out of group
paralysis and drive transformation forward.
Any executive, manager, team leader, or consultant, will use the visuals
of the PRIMES to:
Tackle complex problems successfully
Build visions that inspire outcome-driven strategies
Forge lasting consensus among competing interests
Recognize and eliminate the most destructive forces in an organization
Establish cultures of integrity
Keep teams focused and productive
Transform your business painlessly
Produce and deliver extraordinary results on time
“The future of the world hinges on what I like to call, ‘Universe
Denters’, who have the imagination to envision what the world needs now
and who know how to enlist others in the challenge to achieve what they
can foresee. They step up to solve today’s challenges, and anticipate
and prepare for tomorrow’s. They’re changing and transforming
organizations and systems around the world right now,” adds McGoff.
“Whether you’re on the trail to the summit of new solutions and
possibilities, or just beginning to step out, I applaud you and stand
ready to dent the Universe with you. I ask only one thing: go beyond
trying and do it.”
For additional information about the book and to view some sample
chapters, please visit www.theprimes.com.
