Breaking Bad Habits: Why Best Practices Are Killing Your Business

Best practices can be outdated, harmful, and a hindrance to innovation. In Breaking Bad Habits, Freek Vermeulen offers tools to identify and rid them from organizations, presenting a compelling case for how eliminating popular but outworn ideas, processes, and strategies can create new opportunities for innovation and growth.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 272 pages
\n Publication date: 30 October 2018
\n Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
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Best practices are often followed blindly, without questioning their effectiveness or relevance. In many cases, these practices can be outdated, harmful, and hinder innovation. They are prevalent in organizations and can go unnoticed for years, as they are often adopted based on past success or industry norms. However, as Freek Vermeulen argues in his book "Breaking Bad Habits," these practices can be detrimental to an organization's growth and success.

Vermeulen highlights the absurdity of many common practices and offers practical tools to identify and eliminate them from organizations. Through examples of successful norm-defying organizations across various industries, such as IVF clinics, hotels, newspapers, and a famous London theater, he demonstrates how breaking out of the status quo can lead to new opportunities for innovation and growth.

One of the key arguments in "Breaking Bad Habits" is that best practices are often based on assumptions and biases that may no longer hold true in today's rapidly changing world. For example, the traditional model of a hierarchical organization with clear lines of authority and authority is often outdated and inefficient. In contrast, flat organizations, where teams are empowered and collaboration is encouraged, can be more effective in today's fast-paced and dynamic business environment.

Similarly, the belief that long hours and hard work are the keys to success is often misguided. While dedication and hard work are important, they are not the only factors that contribute to success. Burnout and stress can lead to decreased productivity and creativity, while a healthy work-life balance can promote innovation and creativity.

Another common practice that Vermeulen challenges is the insistence on having check-in desks in hotels. While this may have been necessary in the past, it is now outdated and inconvenient for modern travelers. Hotels that offer self-check-in and mobile check-out are more efficient and convenient, and can improve customer satisfaction.

In addition to identifying and eliminating harmful practices, "Breaking Bad Habits" offers practical strategies for reinvigorating businesses and breaking out of the status quo. Vermeulen encourages organizations to embrace change and innovation, to challenge assumptions and biases, and to experiment with new ideas and strategies. He also emphasizes the importance of employee engagement and empowerment, as well as the need to create a culture of continuous learning and improvement.

Overall, "Breaking Bad Habits" is a valuable resource for managers and executives who want to improve their organization's performance and growth. By challenging the status quo.quo and embracing new ideas and strategies, organizations can break free from the constraints of outdated best practices and create a more dynamic and innovative environment.

\n Weight: 254g\n
Dimension: 132 x 199 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781633696822\n \n