Simplicity is the Key (Paperback)

I read In Search of Excellence on a train journey to a conference in 1983 and on the return journey I decided I wanted to write a book. The simplicity of Tom Peters and Robert Waterman in that classic book certainly made an impact on me. After working for14 years in the NHS I had finally discovered authors who made some sense to me. They put things over in an interesting way that was underpinned by common sense and used straightforward language rather than the language I had been learning in my 14 years at work. That language confused me, left me cold and generally made it very difficult to describe what I actually did as a manager in the National Health Service (NHS).

I always loved writing and took great care to keep things simple. Written words are powerful tools and the more I wrote the more responses I got, sometimes challenging my views sometimes agreeing with me. I enjoyed the banter and made a decision to try and get articles published. Needless to say to achieve publication in the "old days" only five years ago! the path was littered with obstacles and challenges. Comments like "lack of depth and argument" or "sounds like a management gurus pep talk" came back from editors. I tried hard to ignore those comments and searched for a market for my thoughts. Almost by accident, I approached Management Web Site editors asking whether they would like some articles that were not necessarily academic but reflections of my experience of operational and strategic management and policy development in health care. It was pleasing that some Web Site editors were willing to give this school of thinking a chance and I wrote for them. Responses to!
the article spurred me to write more articles and then suddenly one day it dawned on me. I simply thought, why not put these together and write the book you have promised yourself for 20 years?

I hope you enjoy it.

The book is my reflections after 35 years management experience in the National Health Service in the United Kingdom - the third largest employer in the world. The book is about leadership; change; and generally how things get done informed largely by my experience in this massive organisation.

I am convinced we make things that are simple unnecessarily complicated. I sometimes wonder if complexity is merely the sum of simple parts. This book does not contain new management theory. It simply suggests that there has to be an easier way.

My experience tells me that there is much to do to lighten the sometimes stuffy and sterile world of management by releasing the power that all staff and managers have within them.

I believe keeping things simple helps make work a better place to be - my book is intended to assist that. The book is anecdotal, subjective and not academic. It is about what I feel based on experiences.

Simplicity is the Key is intended as a book you can read on that long train journey to that complex conference you have to attend.

I hope you enjoy reading the book please let me know

Trevor Gay
trevor_930@hotmail.com