How: Why How We Do Anything Means Everything…in Business (and in Life)
by Dov Seidman
The book is about ethics and reputation, value-based cultures vs. rule-based cultures, and as the author likes to say, “getting your hows right.” There are some valuable messages in the book.
For example, the University of Michigan Hospital and Health System experienced a 50% reduction in malpractice lawsuits after encouraging doctors to apologize to patients and admit when mistakes are made. The author also cites an academic study which found “the least trusted buyer incurred procurement costs six times higher than the most trusted.” These examples are powerful evidence that behaving responsibly is good for the bottom line.
This book would have much more impact if it was distilled to half its length. An important message is buried by painfully verbose writing. I read the first edition, published in 2007. There’s a newer 384-page “Expanded Edition” published in 2011. I am reminded of the expression, “I would have written you a shorter letter, but I didn’t have time.”
Seidman, Dov. How. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2007. Buy from Amazon.com
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The Key Point 