Making meaning and then expressing it in a way that connects.

One of my passions in life is writing – mine and that of others. I am an introvert – I ‘think my talking’, whereas extroverts tend to ‘talk their thinking’. Most often I think my talking by writing things down: in my journal, my note pad, blog posts and books that I have written and am writing. I also get inspiration from reading other authors’ blogs and books. Much of what I come up with is informed by the work of other people; my truly original ideas are rare, I remember having one but can’t remember what it was.

Having made some sense or meaning of something, my biggest challenge is to express it in a way that connects with people. Do I keep it short and tight so that those who are interested can think it through or do I elaborate and give it to them on a plate? And how do I know if it has connected when the vast majority of what is written seems to go into a black hole?

It’s fantastic when someone says to me ‘Dave I really got that’ and then to find out what they ‘got’ wasn’t what I intended but something different or deeper and in the conversation that follows we both learn something ‘new’.

Stepping back for a moment I thought I would share or at least point you to some of my writing and to some of the writing by other authors that has helped shape my thinking. Hopefully you might ‘get’ some of it and if you do it would be fantastic to hear from you – who knows we might both learn something.

So firstly some of my stuff and then five of my favourite books by other authors:

Over the last seven years I have been writing two blogs which can be found at www.dsabuilding.co.uk – check out “The Leader” and “Blog” tabs. The Leader as the title suggests is about attributes of leadership whereas “Blog” tends to be more about my work experiences as a leadership team coach. If you would like to subscribe to this blog you can do so on the website or by asking tracey@dsabuilding.co.uk to include you.

For the last few months I have been writing a new, more colourful, blog on www.davestitt.com – ‘hits and clicks’ are up as are ‘connects’ on LinkedIn so who knows they may be interesting or even useful.

My first book which I co-wrote with Paul Fox “Twenty First Century Leadership” still has over eighty years shelf life though I don’t think the stockist has many left and I’m not sure if I am going to do a second edition so if you want a copy then ask tracey@dsabuilding.co.uk and she will arrange to send you one in the post.

My second book “We need to talk about collaboration” is a free download from www.dsabuilding.co.uk – in it I explain: why the UK Government is demanding collaboration, some of the reasons why collaboration is so difficult in the construction industry and one way to establish and sustain collaboration. If you are a leader or manager in the construction industry or aspire to be one then you need to read this book. The good news is it will only take you an hour or so to read it cover to cover.

My third book is now underway and will be published around Christmas. The working title is “How to delegate and free up your life”. It’s for time pressed managers who are doing work at weekends and handling e mails while in bed or on holiday. My premise is simple – learn to effectively delegate and forget about time management. If you can’t wait till Christmas check out www.delegate4results.com

My fourth book “The little do nothing leadership book” is already written though my editor is so excited about the delegation book that we have agreed to delay its publication into the New Year. I love this book; it’s a five week leadership programme in which you don’t have to do anything to improve as a leader, you don’t even have to concentrate while you are reading it. Though read it and I believe you will improve as a leader.

Enough about my writing, here’s a list of a few of my favourite books – in no particular order:

1. Who Moved my Cheese by Spencer Johnson. I wish I’d written this, it’s sold millions! Read it when you are feeling sorry for yourself and if work is drying up. Read time less than one hour.
2. Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink. “There is a gap between what science knows and what business does” – proven more than 50 years ago managements main ‘tool’ to motivate doesn’t work and yet they keep using it! Fascinating.
3. Made to Stick: why some ideas take hold and others come unstuck by Chip and Dan Heath. If you are a leader and you need to get something to ‘stick’ or if you are looking to influence someone or something then this is a must.
4. Good Strategy/ Bad Strategy: The difference and why it matters by Richard Rumelt. This guy knows strategy and I get the impression that much of what he sees tends towards the latter.
5. The Ultimate Question 2.0 by Fred Reichheld. This is about ‘customer’. Bin all your lengthy customer satisfaction surveys, they are not doing it for you and your customer. Read the first few chapters and you will get it.

If you have got this far then I wish you happy reading. As always it would be great to hear what works for you and what you ‘get’.