Acupuncture for Management

Citation

Kent, T. (2009), "Acupuncture for Management", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 30 No. 4, pp. 400-402. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730910961739

Acupuncture is believed to work because it functions as a stimulant and energizer. This book works in the same way. Unlike many management books, this beautiful volume provides no “how to's” to lead the reader to nirvana. There are no seven steps to greater competitiveness, or five ingredients for customer satisfaction. Acupuncture for Management is served up on a more strategic level and stimulates and energizes the executive's brain in an enticing and sometimes moving way. But, like Acupuncture, you have to have some faith in it beforehand for it to work. So too, the executive's brain must be open to stimulation for Acupuncture for Management to work.

The book itself is structured like few I've seen. It is a large format, glossy paged volume containing over 50 essays written by one of Europe's best known consultants – Antonella Mei‐Pochtler. Roughly, every other page contains a brilliant, captivating photograph to stimulate the brain visually just as the essays stimulate the brain verbally. The volume is beautifully produced. And the essays are beautifully written and easily read. Each essay is short – roughly one type written page per essay. Each essay is presented in both English and in German. The German language takes up the left side of the page while the corresponding English version takes up the right hand side of the page.

I found each of the essays profound and thought provoking. They each present thoughts that most readers will find new or thoughts that are presented in new ways. For example, what does winning the America's Cup have to do with management? It is not as obvious as it may seem; and that is the beauty of this book. The not‐so‐obvious comes to life by taking management and leadership issues into realms not usually associated with management. This is no academic text; but rather, it is a serious, hit it between the eyes, volume written with clarity and wisdom.

The 50+ essays are arranged into six sections:

1. 1.

   Strategy & Action.

2. 2.

   Organization & Diversity.

3. 3.

   Leadership & Happiness.

4. 4.

   Competition & Responsibility.

5. 5.

   Performance & Creativity.

6. 6.

   Growth & Identity.

While, as mentioned earlier, none of the essays provide specific “how to” suggestions, most lay out ideas more at the strategic level. This appropriate given the intended audience – managers and executives – and the purpose of the book to stimulate and energize thinking.

Here are a few examples. Regarding what she describes as the prerequisites for making the impossible possible, Mei‐Pochtler suggests:

1. 1.

   passionately pursue the goal;

2. 2.

   realize the dream with an ingenious plan;

3. 3.

   select the team without compromising;

4. 4.

   integrate and delegate;

5. 5.

   work hard and play hard; and

6. 6.

   head into the field.

Each suggestion is supported with a brief discussion that defines the suggestion more deeply. Regarding how to systematically identify profit pools and exploit them she suggests:

1. 1.

   be first to sniff out developments;

2. 2.

   look behind conventional segments; and

3. 3.

   adapt your business model radically.

In her many analogies of management as other realms she lists the things we can learn from football:

1. 1.

   tailor strategy and tactics to the team;

2. 2.

   invest in new talent; and

3. 3.

   prepare for the unexpected.

The collection of essays runs a wide gamut and causes us to think about such things as social responsibility, organizational competitiveness and effectiveness, employee utilization and growth. Some of my favorites include: “Blown Trust” which talks about the economic relationship between trust in organizations and growth and prosperity. I also liked “Freud for Managers” in which she talks about the aim of management and leadership development.

Finally, every manager should read “Revolt of the Excluded.” The author suggests that governments and businesses have a responsibility to act together to prevent the disintegration of societies; and as usual she includes some of her thoughts about what it will take to do that.

The book is laid out so that the reader can start anywhere. You may want to read it cover to cover, or start in a section that seems most interesting to you like the item in Leadership and Happiness titled “The Power of Love.” Each essay is a short little piece that you can read on the ride to the airport; but you will want to think about it on your flight to your destination.

For the manager/executive who wants to have his or her brain stimulated to think about today's issues in new ways, this is a delightful volume that will challenge you and please you at the same time. It even has a section that lists the author's inspirations; another book might have called the section “References,” but here Mei‐Pochtler lists those writers, organizations, friends, etc. that have inspired and stimulated her. There are no radical political or philosophical points of view in this book. It deals with issues with no, seemingly, political agenda.

The entire book is written and arranged with stimulation in mind. It is acupuncture for management. It will conceptually, visually, and tactilely stimulate your brain. If you are open to such an experience, read this book.