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Upstream

How to solve problems before they happen

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Upstream

By: Dan Heath
Narrated by: Dan Heath
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

New York Times bestselling author Dan Heath asks what happens when we take our thinking upstream and try to prevent problems before they happen.

We all have a tendency to work around problems. We are resourceful. We improvise. We’re so accustomed to managing emergencies as they strike that we often don’t stop to think about how we could prevent crises before they happen. Why 'solve' crimes when we could stop them being committed? Why treat chronic diseases when they could be prevented from developing? Why provide shelter for the homeless rather than working to keep people housed in the first place? Why do our efforts skew so heavily towards reaction rather than prevention?

The notion of preventing problems is an evergreen need in our professional and daily lives. Which makes Upstream a book for skeptical optimists - across all sectors - who know it's not going to be easy, but who believe that we have the capacity to solve some of our thorniest issues, if only we start to think about the system rather than the symptoms. Drawing on insights from Dan Heath's extensive research, as well as hundreds of new interviews with unconventional problem solvers, he delivers practical solutions for preventing problems rather than simply reacting to them.

Includes a supplementary PDF.

© Dan Heath 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

 Career Success Decision-Making & Problem Solving Forecasting & Strategic Planning Management Management & Leadership Motivation & Self-Improvement Career Business Leadership

Critic reviews

Upstream contains research and storytelling that informs, engages and, above all, entertains. If you want to stop firefighting problems and prevent them from happening in the first place, then you should read what Dan Heath has to say.
Dan Heath has written the ultimate primer on the power of prevention, a work that deserves a prominent place on every leader's bookshelf. Packed with vivid stories and practical examples, Upstream is the rare book that can both revitalize your business and make our world a better place.
Considers our chronic failure to address our problems before they hit us.
In a style reminiscent of Malcolm Gladwell and the Freakonomics team, Heath explores fascinating case studies from the business world and beyond... Upstream just might change the way you think about problem-solving.
An elegant manifesto... With the frenetic pace of modern life, Heath observes, it's easy to become accustomed to putting out fires instead of looking for the spark that's igniting them... This is a pragmatic guide for those seeking big changes on either an individual or organizational level.
Psychology meets neuroscience and self-help in this engaging study by business writer Heath... A smart, provocative book that guides readers to better decision-making when confronting seemingly intractable problems.
All stars
Most relevant
The potential benefits offerd from the teachings in this book are huge, to be able to prevent rather than cure is not a new revelation but it is a lesson that the 'instant gratification' generations should learn and apply.

Insightful and Practical

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So many sub-stories that I want to return back to that I had to buy the book too!

👍

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Taking ownership of problems and finding out what causes them is the only way forward.

Very inspiring

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interesting book gave me ideas for some new projects at work. worth reading to take a step back and see things from another angle. case studies were interesting and almost all were new to me.

would recommend

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Just finished reading “Upstream” by @danheath. I have to say I did enjoy the book, my view would be that the system needs to shift its perspective to an outside in as a system view and those measures of learning should be looked at overtime in capability charts to allow for effective learning.

For me the book had some useful ways to tactics and with the knowledge of John Seddon’s work of how to study, and change a system they could come in very handy but also equally as dangerous if the right mindset is not applied.

Systems and sub systems services exist because customer see how they create value in their lives. Upstream thinking will help you question and understand what is real value as defined by the arbiter, the customer. The only question left is as Deming would say “by what method”.

Our view would be study your organisation as a system, gaining knowledge and understanding of how, how well and why only so well in a systematic manner.

Doing so will ensure you understand what needs to be given up and why in order systemic change to be effective.

Change starts with study

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