I have read quite a few books on leadership and various related topics, but I have never come across one like Kirk Weisler’s “The Dog Poop Initiative”. All of us in the business of trying to help others develop their skills are constantly searching the world around us for events that could become great stories. Weisler has set the bar high with this book.
The premise of the book is that few people will take the initiative to solve a problem. Most are much more likely to avoid it. As the author points out, in the case of parents, this tendency to avoidance will probably give rise to a new generation of avoiders, who will choose to avoid, rather than solve, problems.
This is an excellent leadership lesson. What example are you, as a leader, setting for your people? Leaders must always be aware that they are always being watched. What they do or don’t do can have immediate results, but it can also have far-reaching consequences. Leaders who avoid problems or sweep them under the rug will find that their subordinates begin to do the same. When the leader protests such behavior, a conflict will develop that will be impossible to resolve without a change in the leader’s behavior.
I found another interesting application for this story. One of the most important jobs of a leader is to develop new leaders. “The Dog Poop Initiative” provides a perfect example of a character trait to look for in potential new leaders: initiative. A person who is not willing to take the initiative when the situation calls for it is probably not a good leader.
This is without a doubt one of the shortest book reviews I’ve ever written. But then, “The Dog Poop Initiative” is one of the shortest books I’ve ever read. That’s why I haven’t spent much time on the story line either. To do so would be to give it away. The story is only 23 pages long; each page contains a rhyming sentence and some illustrating artwork. It’s not just a children’s book though. It’s one of those nifty little books you’ll put up in your office for others to read, hoping they get the point.