Karen Evenson, Redefining F.E.A.R. Reviews

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Redefining F.E.A.R.: Maximizing Limited Resources with Unlimited Ideas
by Karen Evenson, Cameo Publications, $17.95, 144 pages, (July 2004), available at bookstores and online at www.cameopublications.com

Essentially, all businesses today experience similar challenges with competition, technology, communication, personnel, and various other internal and external problems. No business has it easy, but according to Karen Evenson's new book, Redefining F.E.A.R.: Maximizing Limited Resources with Unlimited Ideas, the difference between a success and a failure in the face of hardship, whether internal or external, rests wholly in the business's approach to the problem.
In the book, Evenson starts by defining fear as the "powerful feeling of alarm, distress, or apprehension caused by the expectation or perception of danger," and describes the cycle of poor decision-making that these feelings put into action. When leaders get trapped in this cycle of fear, they give power to the unfavorable situation and allow it to control them. This fear results in lazy, fast-fix approaches to the complex problems facing businesses today. But with Evenson's creative approach, businesses can overcome their challenges and reach a greater level of success.

What makes Redefining F.E.A.R. stand out from other business-related books is the author's use of a fictional storyline to relay her message. Evenson transports readers through time to the mythical Kingdom of Kaos, where fear-driven cutbacks and downsizing reign, and creativity took the last wagon out before the drawbridge closed. The distraught King of Kaos is at a loss for solutions. Meanwhile, his competition, the neighboring Kingdom of Opportunity, is thriving as a result of his lacking ingenuity. As fairy tales often go, a magical hero (in this case a bearded wizard) comes to the King's rescue. Guided by the Wizard's insight, the King redefines his own fears and learns that his kingdom can overcome a negative business environment with a little creativity and new approaches to old problems.

Evenson backs up the storyline with applications, which are based on Dr. Michael Kirton's theories and research into creativity and problem-solving, to help business leaders discover new approaches to their own challenges. Fear becomes redefined as F.E.A.R., an acronym for: Focus on a culture driven by creative approaches, Empower employees to make problem-solving decisions, Assess and act on ideas, and Recognize and reward people who perform above the standard. Quantum Leaps and instructions throughout the text also allow readers to identify their own fears, consider the bigger picture of their own business practices, and assess the effectiveness of their current systems.

Readers will come away from Redefining F.E.A.R. and the Kingdom of Kaos empowered by creativity and filled with new ideas for their business challenges. They will have a better grasp on the driving forces behind their decisions and the way these factors impact the business environment. Essentially, Evenson's message shifts the reader's mindset from drastic measures to lasting solutions.

As leaders continue to face internal and external challenges in the unpredictable business environment, they need to use creative problem solving techniques to maximize their effectiveness. By reading Redefining F.E.A.R., business leaders everywhere will have the tools to put their fears aside, approach challenges with creativity, and reach new productivity levels within their organization.

About the Author:

Karen Evenson works with Fortune 500 and 100 companies to design, develop, and deliver programs on creative and effective leadership. She has studied under Dr. Michael Kirton in the United Kingdom and is an advanced practitioner of the KAI cognitive profile.