book

Built to Beat Chaos

by Gary Harpst

April 2023

Intermediate to advanced

288 pages

6h 8m

English

Wiley

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Is My Situation Worse?The Question that Started It AllDiffering WorldviewsSeeking AnswersScience and BeyondBirth of Our First BusinessThe First Chaos Was GoodFrom Iron Ore to SteelTakeaways
The Craftsperson and Their ChairHuman Design RequirementsThe Multiplication ParadoxThe Creator's CritiqueDesire Precedes ThoughtThought Precedes IntentionIntention Precedes ActionAction Precedes ResultsTakeaways
Natural ChaosSocial ChaosThe Chaos WithinOvercoming Chaos Brings New ChaosTakeaways

Don't Get Hung Up on TerminologyGod's Grand ExperimentThe Creator's Critique—(continued)Who Decides What Is Good?Gregory Boyle, Los Angeles Gangs and HopeOne Thousand Races Pushing a WheelchairTo Lead, You Must FollowTakeaways
There's a Pony in Here SomewhereOrder Matters More than InputsA Cell Is More Complex than New York CityThree Buckets of Coal and a Bucket of WaterShakespeare in Every CellIt's about TimeWisdom Came FirstThe Essence of LeadershipClosing the LoopTakeaways
The Growth DeceptionThe Time DeceptionThe Perception DeceptionThe Skill DeceptionSelf‐leadershipFunctional LeadershipChange LeadershipProcess LeadershipStrategy LeadershipThe Desire DeceptionWeight Watchers SpeaksTakeaways
Why Do I Need a System?Design RequirementsFinal Caution on Your SystemTakeaways
1. Start with the “Why”2. Know Your Customers3. Quantify What You're Best At4. Quantify “Growth” VisionTakeaways
1. Set Change Pace2. Charter Vital Projects3. Stop the Nonessential4. Connect People to PurposeTakeaways
1. Resource External Projects2. Plan as a Team3. Plan One‐on‐one4. Implement BI Strategy
1. Know and Report Progress2. Synch One‐on‐one3. Synch as a Team4. Step Back and LearnTakeaways
1. Act on Ideas2. Manage Processes ProactivelyTakeaways
1. Face the Facts2. “Own” Team Development3. Give Career FeedbackTakeaways
Four Types of Relational BondingThe Paradox AnsweredMy Two‐faced NatureFive Steps to EngagementHarold Morgan Flies in from TulsaGive What's in Your HandGetting Real—Eight Tips for CaringAdditional Thoughts about Living Wisely
TrustValuing DifferencesAgreed‐upon StandardsCan't Accept the FactsBeyond Skin DeepSaying What We Mean Is Not EnoughGetting Real—Eight TipsBiblical Insights for Wise Living
The Power of OneWhat Does “Oneness” Look Like?Not for WimpsTo Kill Teamwork Do ThisGordian™ Problem SolvingA House DividedAdditional Wisdom about Oneness, Teamwork, and Unity
Trait 1: Team Results Come FirstTrait 2: Results and Behaviors MatterTrait 3: Capability Gaps Are ClosedTrait 4: Conflict Is Expected and ManagedTrait 5: Poor Performance Is Addressed ProactivelyAdditional Wisdom about Taking Ownership:
Changing the WorldTip 1: Check Your MotivesTip 2: Commit to a ScheduleTip 3: Do as I DoTip 4: Transfer OwnershipTip 5: Know Work Is HolyAdditional Wisdom about Mentoring
Gordian™ Problem Solving App

Overview

“Exceptionally well reasoned, written, organized and presented, "Built to Beat Chaos: Biblical Principles for Leading Yourself and Others" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, corporate, church, and academic library Leadership & Management collections.” – Midwest Book Review, June 2023

Apply timeless, biblical insights to overcome organizational chaos

Over 47% of leaders say that chaos is pervasive in their organizations. Though disorder can feel overwhelming at times, human beings are actually designed to overcome and conquer chaos.

In Built to Beat Chaos: Biblical Principles for Leading Yourself and Others, renowned teacher, coach, speaker, and best-selling author Gary Harpst delivers an insightful and practical discussion of how to transform chaos into order by relying on strategies drawn directly from the Bible. You’ll learn how to find fulfillment and success by leaning into your innate ability to calm the madness and control chaos by:

Understanding the fundamental processes underlying how we put things together for a purpose
Discovering why everyone is biblically called to leadership and the dynamics of self-leadership
Applying biblical principles to transform your organization through action

An invaluable roadmap for board members, executives, managers, pastors, and other organizational leaders, Built to Beat Chaos is the straightforward, practical, and biblically grounded business manual that every leader should read.