Friday, January 17, 2020

Notes & quotes from "Transforming Nokia"

I finished an interesting book by Risto Siilasmaa: Transforming NOKIA: The Power of Paranoid Optimism to Lead Through Colossal Change. (Technically, I listened to the Finnish version, "Paranoidi optimisti - Näin johdin Nokiaa murroksessa"). The main story of the book follows the history of Nokia since 2008 when Siilasmaa joined Nokia's board of directors. In addition to Nokia's story during that time, Siilasmaa discusses his thoughts on leadership. I'm gonna take some picks & quotes related to these leadership ideas.

Paranoid optimism & scenario mapping

Paranoid optimism is a way of thinking through (in a "paranoid way") different things & scenarios that could go wrong and finding out how to either prevent them or prepare for them. This allows optimism that balances the paranoia. Book website has article How Paranoid Optimism Helped Nokia Survive Apple and Android on the topic.

Golden rules for boards

Siilasmaa shares Golden rules for boards used in Nokia. The main ideas are mostly relevant also in other team-working contexts. List here shortened from a related tweet

  • Assume the best of intentions in the actions of others.
  • Data-driven philosophy based on analysis.
  • Be well educated in the company's success and deeply engaged in the discussions with the management
  • Be prepared for a passionate debate, but do it in an informed and respectful way.
  • Firm and respectful challenge of the management
  • We seek to constantly improve in everything we do.
  • A board meeting where we do not laugh out aloud is a miserable failure.

Some quotes

"No news is bad news. Bad news is good news. And good news is no news." (Source tweet)

"Trust is the glue that binds us together and the oil that removes friction and enables motion." (Source tweet)

No comments: