Tipping Sacred Cows: Kick the Bad Work Habits that Masquerade as Virtues

Praise for Tipping Sacred Cows

"We all know to be wary of our vices, but should we keep an eye on our virtues too? Jake Breeden warns us that even sacred managerial values such as collaboration, creativity, and fairness can backfire if pushed too far. Might you be suffering from too much of a good thing? Better read this book and find out. Tipping Sacred Cows is entertaining, provocative, and practical a rare trio."
Dan Heath, coauthor, Decisive, Switch, and Made to Stick

"Sometimes, conventional wisdom isn′t wise at all. Breeden takes a sharp look at seven ′unassailable′ virtues and stress–tests them; they emerge not weakened, but strengthened. Tipping Sacred Cows rescues genuine wisdom from the jaws of platitudes it helps us avoid the herd mentality at work and become stronger, more thoughtful leaders."
Charles H. Green, coauthor, The Trusted Advisor and The Trusted Advisor Fieldbook

"Breeden turns traditional workplace values like fairness and excellence on their head and demonstrates how tunnel vision can be the downfall of an otherwise promising career. Tipping Sacred Cows is a must–read for anybody managing the complexity of today′s business world."
Alexandra Levit, author, Blind Spots: The 10 Business Myths You Can′t Afford to Believe on Your New Path to Success

"Breeden′s alternate view to long–held beliefs will change the way you think, work, and lead."
Claire D. Hughes Johnson, vice president, Google Offers Product, Google Inc.

"Tipping Sacred Cows provides practical approaches to help develop the mindset needed to successfully challenge old ways of thinking and create positive change in workplaces around the world."
Hari Nair, managing director, Global Innovation Center, Kimberly–Clark

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

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.