by Dan Heath
March 3, 2020
320 pages
I had been using Donald Ardell’s fable, “Upstream/Downstream” for many years to introduce problem-solving strategies to my audiences. Now, best-selling author Dan Heath has taken this concept and used it as the foundation for his latest book. Upstream challenges our belief that many problems are unsolvable and the best we can do is react to them rather than try to prevent them.
Upstream uses real stories of individuals and organizations that took on problems previously thought to be unpreventable; from hamstring injuries in NFL athletes, to low graduation rates in Chicago high schools, to teenage drinking in Iceland. These and many other success stories highlight what is possible when we look at problems in new ways.
Some takeaways you may discover:
· Recognize how we become blind to the problems around us.
· How to overcome the barrier of problem ownership.
· How to surround the problem with the right people and learn through data.
· Recognize when the system needs to change and where effective leverage points can be found.
· Identify measures to detect problems and demonstrate genuine successes.
The inspiring stories found in each chapter of Upstream help to frame each of the core strategies presented. They also illustrate the pitfalls leaders can fall into when they settle for the status quo. Many of the situations described had been dismissed by previous leaders as, “That’s just the way it is” or “There’s nothing we can do about it.”
Leaders often find themselves grinding away at doing the task right and never stopping to ask if they are doing the right task. Upstream challenges us to look at old problems in a different light. It gives both examples to inspire us and tools to empower us. Every leader who truly wants to make a difference in their community or organization should read this one.
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