Unlocking Curiosity

For an essay-themed paja (a training session at Proakatemia), we were instructed to bring a book as a pre-task. In an effort to simplify things, I opted for a familiar Seth Godin bestseller, a staple read at Proakatemia. My intention was to maintain a sense of comfort during the paja, especially since the purpose of the book in the session was still unknown.

Just before the themed paja commenced, I asked a teammate, almost as a joke, for a business book recommendation. To my surprise, she suggested a book completely unfamiliar to me, sparking a curiosity that I couldn’t resist. Despite my wish to stay within my comfort zone, I decided to, of course, play around with the unfamiliar. I downloaded the book and walked in to the paja with the feeling of being very not prepared in case of needing to know anything about the book.

The book in question was: Scaling People. I will open up later about the book’s content. During the paja, we discussed about reference structure of an academic essay, relevance of content and shared about the difficult or ability of writing essays.

After sharing knowledge about writing essay process, we learned about the

methodology for quickly reviewing or “skimming” through a book. It involves techniques such as reading headings, subheadings, introduction, and conclusion, while also focusing on the first and last sentences of paragraphs to grasp the main ideas efficiently. This approach is widely discussed in general reading and academic resources on effective reading strategies. (Carnegie Mellon University, 2023)

Here starts my trouble. The book Scaling People is way too interesting to only skimming it through.

Scaling People Book

I think the book caught my attention in the very beginning in the session who is this book for as one of sub-items of its introduction. All the key points matched with my current stage of leadership development and also entrepreneur explorer.

Moving forward, our exercise was to be able to skimming through the whole book in half hour and write some sort of mind map of our understanding of the book. The book is divided into five main sessions.

The first chapter is about the essential operating principles, where the author tackles building an operating system and find root your leadership skills around good behaviors such as saying things you think you cannot say and build self- and mutual-awareness.

In the second chapter, Johnson talks about a first core framework: Foundations and planning for goals and resources. In this chapter, the author gives solutions to build the base of a company just as it would be building the base of a house. It talks about goals, aspirations and short-term work and progress tracking. Resource allocation and accountability systems are also covered.

For the third chapter, the books brings the second core framework: A comprehensive hiring approach. As interesting as it can go, the book truly go through the whole hiring process of an employee. From the beginning of recruiting until what are the hiring mistakes.

Fourth chapter, Johnhon brings its third core framework: Intentional team framework. I could write a whole essay about this chapter because the author manages to go in deep different situations a team can be facing and how to react to the situations. My most exciting part, is that diagnosing team state is also available in this chapter.

On the last chapter, a hot topic is presented. The fourth framework is: Feedback and performance mechanisms. Again, a whole essay could be written about this chapter. Feedback has been an important tool in all levels of all teams I’ve been active professionally, in studies and volunteer work. Every team needs to have space and a working systematic framework to enable the feedback-giving and receiving process to happen. The most interesting point for me, was the sub-title “managing managers”. Many times we forget this is a needed skill, and we find ourselves struggling to delegate and purely manage other managers.

Last but not least, the conclusion doesn’t wrap around any of the core frameworks presented during the book. The conclusion talks about “you”.

YOU

Probably we, ourselves, are the most forgettable part while learning about management skills. We learn how to act, what to know, and practice everything. Scaling people’s book bring ends it’s book not forgetting the “you” in the sum. It talks about managing time, fostering relationships, and considering our career. All these points are relevant in it’s own specification. On managing time, the book gives solid examples of how to avoid meetings which could be a message and how to say no or give a more realistic deadline for deliverables or review of a report. It also gives some inputs about how organizing your time can give you better positive days once you prioritize in your day things that make you feel happy even if they are very simple as having dinner with your kids.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the journey through the book “Scaling People” during the essay-themed paja was a surprising positive learning into the leadership, team dynamics, and personal growth.

As the paja unfolded, the challenge arose to skim through the book in a short time, yet the compelling nature of the content resisted such a swift examination. The book’s chapters unfolded like a roadmap for leadership development, each core framework offering valuable insights and practical strategies. From building an operating system rooted in good behaviors to navigating the complexities of team dynamics, “Scaling People” proved to be a valuable resource for anyone on a leadership and entrepreneurial journey.

The book’s concluding chapter took an unexpected turn, shifting the focus from the core frameworks to a more personal perspective— “YOU.” In doing so, the author reminded us that the individual is a crucial and often overlooked element amidst the complexities of management skills and team dynamics. The chapter underscores the significance of managing one’s time, fostering meaningful relationships, and considering personal career growth.

Reflecting on this holistic approach, the book serves as a reminder that effective leadership encompasses not only the application of frameworks and strategies but also the cultivation of self-awareness and personal well-being. The insights on time management, relationship building, and career considerations provide a well-rounded perspective, emphasizing that successful leadership starts with a balanced and mindful approach to one’s own life.

In the end, “Scaling People” goes beyond being a mere guidebook for organizational success; it becomes a compass for personal and professional growth. As I navigate through the intricate landscape of leadership, team dynamics, and self-improvement, the book’s impact resonates, unlocking not only curiosity about the intricacies of scaling people but also prompting introspection about the role of “YOU” in the grand scheme of leadership excellence.

References

Johnson, C.H. (2023) Scaling people tactics for management and Company Building. Stripe Press.

Carnegie Mellon University. Strategies for Reading. Available at: https://www.cmu.edu/student-success/other-resources/handouts/comm-supp-pdfs/reading-strategies-handout.pdf (Accessed: 07 December 2023).