Tipping Sacred Cows

We all know the "sacred cows" at work?the conventional wisdom to try your best, work well with others, and produce excellent work. But these cherished nuggets of advice, in practice, have a dark side that can lead to career-limiting unintended consequences. Based on Jake Breeden's experience coaching thousands of leaders in 27 countries, and the latest scientific research in behavioral economics, neuroscience, and psychology, Tipping Sacred Cows reveals how to overcome the dangerous behaviors that masquerade as virtues at work, and how to lead with fewer self-imposed limitations and greater results.

• Identifies the seven most common sacred cows at work, including balance that turns bland, creativity that conceals narcissism, and passion that becomes obsession
• Offers simple steps for recognizing and overcoming the potentially career-limiting effects of each of the most common sacred cows
• Written by Jake Breeden, a faculty member at Duke University's Corporate Education program, rated by Businessweek and The Financial Times as #1 in the world

Tipping Sacred Cows shines a light on the hidden traps that lie between good intentions and great results, clearing a path so leaders can finally realize their full potential at work.

Take this quick 21-question survey to find out which of the seven sacred cows are standing in your way at work.

1 Meet Your Sacred Cows 1

2 Bland Bold Balance 25

3 Automatic Accountable Collaboration 49

4 Narcissistic Useful Creativity 69

5 Process Outcome Excellence 95

6 Outcome Process Fairness 119

7 Obsessive Harmonious Passion 141

8 Backstage Onstage Preparation 167

9 Extinguish Your Backfires 187

Notes 193

Acknowledgments 203

About the Author 205

Index 207

"This is a very sensible book that offers plenty of good, practical advice about examining behaviour we often take for granted." (Business Life, May 2013)

"Many of his arguments will come as a breath of fresh air...overall a powerful look at how what we perceive as the right thing to do is not always the best thing to do." (HR, May 2013)

"Well written and well researched...this very readable book might make you question some of your own organisation's 'sacred cows'". (The CA, April 2013)

"How well do we know ourselves? So many roles and identities shape individual lives that it's easy to be confused about what is authentically 'us.' Rohr, a Franciscan priest and founding director of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, N.Mex., leads a narrative excursion to the 'True Self,' the core of character that lies like a diamond buried within. Writing for secular seekers, the author claims that individuals need to allow the false self to fall away in order to get in touch with the true self, allowing it to breathe and flourish. Grasping onto the superficial identities of the false self, such as job, class, race, or accomplishments, can keep people from being the loving and generous conduits of the Divine that they are meant to be. God is always communicating with humans, but those who cling to ego and social position can't hear these divine messages. The author makes clear that it is not easy to shed this falseness for truth in the inner life, but it is a spiritual path well worth the effort. (Jan.) (Publishers Weekly, December 2012)

Jake Breeden teaches on the faculty of Duke Corporate Education, the world's top-rated provider of custom executive education. He has taught leaders in some of the world's leading companies, including Google, Starbucks, Cisco, Microsoft, and IBM. He has an MBA from Duke University and lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where his three daughters keep him laughing and learning.

For more information, please visit www.breedenideas.com.

We all know the "sacred cows" that are revered in the workplace—the conventional wisdom to try your best, work well with others, and produce excellent work. But these cherished nuggets of advice, in practice, have a dark side that can lead to career-limiting, unintended consequences.

Based on Jake Breeden's experience coaching thousands of leaders in 27 countries and on the latest research in behavioral economics, neuroscience, and psychology, Tipping Sacred Cows reveals what it takes to overcome the dangerous behaviors that masquerade as virtues at work and how you can lead with fewer self-imposed limitations and greater results. In this groundbreaking book, Breeden identifies the dark side of the seven most common sacred cows at work:

Balance: Disguising indecision as a bland compromise that attempts to achieve many things but ends up accomplishing nothing

Collaboration: Creating a culture of learned helplessness with little individual empowerment and accountability

Creativity: Wasting time and money coming up with new ideas because it feels good, not because it's needed

Excellence: Spending too much energy producing perfect work instead of developing the quick-and-dirty solution needed now

Fairness: Keeping score and evening the score to make sure no one gets more than their "fair share"

Passion: Racing down a path seeking success only to find burn-out and misbehavior instead

Preparation: Planning to do work instead of productively working out just-in-time solutions with just the right people

For each of these seven sacred cows, Breeden offers proven, powerful strategies for how you can overcome their allure and achieve real results.

Tipping Sacred Cows shines a light on the hidden traps that lie between good intentions and good results, clearing a path so you can finally realize your fullest potential at work.

We all know the "sacred cows" that are revered in the workplace—the conventional wisdom to try your best, work well with others, and produce excellent work. But these cherished nuggets of advice, in practice, have a dark side that can lead to career-limiting, unintended consequences.

Based on Jake Breeden's experience coaching thousands of leaders in 27 countries and on the latest research in behavioral economics, neuroscience, and psychology, Tipping Sacred Cows reveals what it takes to overcome the dangerous behaviors that masquerade as virtues at work and how you can lead with fewer self-imposed limitations and greater results. In this groundbreaking book, Breeden identifies the dark side of the seven most common sacred cows at work:

Balance: Disguising indecision as a bland compromise that attempts to achieve many things but ends up accomplishing nothing

Collaboration: Creating a culture of learned helplessness with little individual empowerment and accountability

Creativity: Wasting time and money coming up with new ideas because it feels good, not because it's needed

Excellence: Spending too much energy producing perfect work instead of developing the quick-and-dirty solution needed now

Fairness: Keeping score and evening the score to make sure no one gets more than their "fair share"

Passion: Racing down a path seeking success only to find burn-out and misbehavior instead

Preparation: Planning to do work instead of productively working out just-in-time solutions with just the right people

For each of these seven sacred cows, Breeden offers proven, powerful strategies for how you can overcome their allure and achieve real results.

Tipping Sacred Cows shines a light on the hidden traps that lie between good intentions and good results, clearing a path so you can finally realize your fullest potential at work.