About the Book
Make Waves encourages readers to step up and be the one to initiate change in their work and lives. Author Patti Johnson walks readers through the tools and techniques that they can use to create change in their own situations. Johnson elaborates on these tools even further to give readers a sense of how to encourage and instill these "wave-making" behaviors in others within their organization. Using several diverse case studies as illustrative examples, Make Waves highlights the important steps that individuals at any level can take toward positive change. By reinforcing readers' desires to contribute and make a difference, Johnson connects on an individual level and bridges the gap between that desire and the actions necessary to realize bigger changes. Change can be big or small. It is the act of stepping up that Johnson embraces, as well as the ripple effect on those around. Interviews with famous Wave Makers, as well as everyday people, illustrate why it is important to be the one to start change. Wave Makers profiled include: Clint Hurdle: Manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates; believes in positive attitude and culture and changes the MLB clubhouse; this year leading the Pirates to their first winning season since 1992. Charley Johnson: Started Pay It Forward foundation. Joe Nussbaum: Started Big Event at Texas A&M when in college in the '80s and has continued to grow; largest one-day college community service day in the country and has been adopted by over seventy universities. Emma Scheffler: High school soccer player who started Insulin Angels, a nonprofit for children diagnosed with diabetes, after her own diagnosis; feared her dream of college soccer was over, so engaged other students and local hospitals after thinking about how to make her diagnosis a positive. Allen Stephenson: Started Southern Tide at twenty-two-years old when in med school and followed a passion to create a clothing line; built momentum by creating interest and participation on southern college campuses; they are now growing rapidly and it started with a great polo shirt.
Table of Contents:
Acknowledgments, PART 1: What You Think, PART 2 : What You Know, PART 3: What You Do, PART 4: Inspiration, Notes, References, Index, About the Author
About the Author :
Patti Johnson is a career and workplace expert and the CEO of PeopleResults, a change and human resources consulting firm she founded in 2004. She and her team advise clients such as PepsiCo, Microsoft, 7-Eleven, Accenture, Frito-Lay and many others on creating positive change in their leaders and organizations.
Previously, Johnson was a Senior Executive at Accenture. She has been featured as an expert in "The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, MONEY Magazine, U.S. News" and "World Report," NBC.com, HR Executive magazine, Working Mother, and SHRM. She was selected as an ongoing expert for "SUCCESS" Magazine and "Fox Good Day." She is also an instructor for SMU Executive Education and speaker on "Leading Change." Johnson's first book, "Make Waves: Be the One to Start Change at Work and in Life," will hit shelves in May of 2014.
Review :
"Make Waves empowers readers to become everyday leaders by enacting real change in their lives, communities, and businesses. Johnson encourages asking "how can I help" and "what can I do" to bring tangible transformation to fruition. You'll find this book provides meaningful tools for any aspiring 'wave maker' to take charge and embody the change they want to see in the world." --Doug Conant, chairman, Avon Products; chairman, Kellogg Executive Leadership Institute; founder & CEO, Conant Leadership; former president & CEO, Campbell Soup Company; co-author of the NYT best seller Touchpoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments "Make Waves provides a unique and incredibly motivating approach to taking on a change. Change, no matter large or small, personal or professional, can seem daunting and Patti's book causes you to think that you can make a difference in a meaningful way. Patti's guidance causes you to step back, think, and get inspired to act. The book is just the right amount of how-to and inspiration. A must-read." --Maria Cramer, vice president, Hitachi Consulting "Make Waves is a wonderful narrative on change and how to most effectively navigate through it, with both real-world and practical examples. In a world of increasing change and growing complexity, it serves as a great resource to help manage through both the personal and professional changes everyone experiences. It avoids the all-too-common pitfalls of delving into the overly theoretical or academic; rather, it is a great balance of real-world examples that one can apply in all settings." --David Nashif, vice president, Change Leadership, McKesson "In Make Waves, Patti Johnson answers the question, "What is leadership?" Her writing is filled with the stories of real leaders and real leadership. This is a mustread book for anyone who has a wave that he or she needs to make!" --Larry Peters, professor of Management & Leadership Development, Neeley School of Business, Texas Christian University "Who better from whom to learn the art of change than Patti Johnson, a veteran of management consulting giant Accenture and a self-made wave maker? Make Waves proves that lighting that match is not just for high-profile people. Each of us has the power and ability to transform our lives, jobs, and organizations in incredible ways." --Alexandra Levit, business & workplace consultant and author of Blind Spots: The 10 Business Myths You Can't Afford to Believe "Make Waves is a fun and informative book that challenges each of us to find places in our lives where we can be positively disruptive. There are a lot of business books that provide great theories and models for personal change and transformation but Patti Johnson is able to transition from conceptual to practical and demonstrates how everyday individuals found the power to bring positive changes to their work, schools, and communities. This book serves as a reminder that everyone can move from being a spectator to an active participant in bring about positive changes. A great read for corporate leaders, early career individuals, and students." --Miya Maysent, vice president, 7-Eleven, Inc. "Want to make change, but completely unsure how to pull it off--or even, maybe, where to start? Drop everything and read Patti Johnson's phenomenal, inspirational new book, Make Waves. Her formula--Think, Know, Do--is simple without being simplistic. Rather, it's the essential how-to manual for those among us who thirst to bring needed change to our teams, our organizations, our communities, or maybe even our world. Savor every page. Scribble your notes. Read, Plan, Act. Make your own waves!" --Ted Coine, author, keynote speaker, and co-founder Switch and Shift "I always challenge my clients and audiences by asking: What are you doing today to help future business leaders who have yet to be born? In Make Waves, Patti Johnson shares pragmatic principles and practical tools to get us started on the journey of leaving a positive lasting legacy wherever we are in the workplace and marketplace." --K. Shelette Stewart, PhD, associate director, SMU Cox Executive Education "The personal and pragmatic approach to the topic of change was really refreshing. Leveraging wave makers, their stories, their insights, and their words brought to life the impact that we can each make when we embrace the opportunity to make a difference. I found myself being deliberate about embracing my own professional opportunity to be a wave maker. The assignment that was initially a task now has the potential to be a wave with much broader impact. So I'm off to embrace my wave opportunity, challenge conventional wisdom, and engage idea partners to collaborate on creating change." --Susan Barnicoat, senior director, PepsiCo
