Feeling Stuck? Dan Heath's "Reset" Offers Help

A Review by Lisa Timpf

Most of us, I imagine, have experienced situations in our work or personal lives where we’ve felt “stuck”—we know things aren’t going the way we’d like, but we don’t know what we can do to make the situation better. Getting unstuck, particularly in an institutional setting where there is a set way of doing things, can be difficult. But in Reset: How to Change What’s Not Working, Dan Heath offers a step-by-step approach, as well as real-world examples, that can help us determine where we need to go, and how to get there.

Heath’s examples are drawn from a range of settings, including manufacturing, hospitals, research and design, non-profits, and home life. For example, we see how a hospital’s receiving area streamlined their processes, how a football franchise developed ways to react to fan concerns in real time, and how a fast-food restaurant figured out ways to make the drive-through run more smoothly.

The book has two basic thrusts when it comes to getting unstuck. The first is to identify “leverage points,” which Heath defines as “interventions where a little bit of effort yields disproportionate returns.” The second is to re-align resources to push on those leverage points.

Some of the advice in the book, like “go and see the work” were familiar to me from my time working in the manufacturing sector. But even in the familiar areas, Heath provided some new perspectives and examples that made me expand my thinking.

Other suggestions, like “study the bright spots” (identifying what you are doing, or have done, right) were refreshingly different. Many problem-solving texts or techniques are so focused on what’s wrong that we forget to look at what we’re doing well.

The two primary tasks of first, finding leverage points and second, restacking resources to address those leverage points, are broken into several specific actions or approaches, each with its own chapter. Each chapter concludes with two things: a summary, and a list of recommendations for further research for those so inclined.

Heath’s approach to the chapter recaps was one of the best I’ve encountered. He succinctly lists the key points of each chapter, providing both the theoretic information and a brief reminder of the case studies he’s cited, with enough detail to bring the information back to mind.

The “Recommendations” section at the end of each chapter gives readers suggestions for where to go for a deeper dive on the topic. Having this information at the end of the chapter rather than at the end of the book encourages the reader to follow the train of thought while it’s still fresh in their mind. The print book provides several suggested resources at the end of each chapter and briefly explains what readers can expect to find there.

Readers who choose to investigate one of these suggested resources can go to a web site set up for Reset by typing in the URL provided in the book. At this site, live links to videos, articles, and other resources mentioned in the Recommendations section of each chapter are offered.

Heath’s writing style is straightforward, often humorous, and easily understandable. But while the advice in Reset is simply and clearly stated, it is not simplistic. Heath draws from a number of sources, including the Toyota Production System, solutions-focused therapy, and case studies explored in videos and books to elaborate on the points he makes, and is able to dovetail theories and examples from disparate sources to create a seamless flow of information.

Having been involved in quality circle programs and suggestion systems during my working career, I can see Reset being a useful resource for activities of this nature. The advice in Reset could also readily be applied by employees from floor level to management in a variety of settings, or by nonprofits and other organizations.

If you’re currently in a situation where you’re feeling stuck, or if you’re one of those people who is always on the hunt for new approaches to add to your problem-solving skill set, Reset is worth a look.

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About the Author

Dan Heath is the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor/author of six books, including Made to Stick, Switch, and The Power of Moments. His books have sold over four million copies worldwide and been translated into thirty-five languages. Dan also hosts the award-winning podcast What It’s Like to Be…, which explores what it’s like to walk in the shoes of people from different professions (a mystery novelist, a cattle rancher, a forensic accountant, and more). A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and Harvard Business School, he lives in Durham, North Carolina.

About the Reviewer

Lisa Timpf is a retired HR and communications professional who lives in Simcoe, Ontario. Her poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and book reviews have appeared in New Myths, Star*Line, The Future Fire, and other venues. Lisa’s speculative haibun collection, In Days to Come, is available from Hiraeth Publishing. You can find out more about Lisa’s writing and artwork at http://lisatimpf.blogspot.com/

Book Details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster (Jan. 21 2025)

• Language ‏ : ‎ English

• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages

• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668062097

• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668062098

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