Rookie Smarts

Why Learning Beats Knowing in the New Game of Work

By: Liz Wiseman

Narrated by: Liz Wiseman

Is it possible to be at your best even when you are underqualified or doing something for the first time? Is it still possible, even after decades of experience, to recapture the enthusiasm, curiosity, and fearlessness of youth to take on new challenges? With the right mindset - with Rookie Smarts - you can.

In a rapidly changing world, experience can be a curse. Careers stall, innovation stops, and strategies grow stale. Being new, naïve, and even clueless can be an asset. For today's knowledge workers, constant learning is more valuable than mastery.

In this essential guide, leadership expert Liz Wiseman explains how to reclaim and cultivate the curious, flexible, youthful mindset called Rookie Smarts. Wiseman reveals the different modes of the rookie mindset that lead to success:

• Backpacker: Unencumbered, rookies are more open to new possibilities, ready to explore new terrain, and don't get stuck in yesterday's best practices.
• Hunter-Gatherer: Rookies seek out experts and return with ideas and resources to address the challenges they face.
• Firewalker: Lacking situational confidence, rookies take small, calculated steps, moving fast and seeking feedback to stay on track.
• Pioneer: Keeping things simple and focusing on meeting core needs, rookies improvise and work tirelessly while pushing boundaries.

Rookie Smarts addresses the questions every experienced professional faces: Will my knowledge and skills become obsolete and irrelevant? Will a young, inexperienced newcomer upend my company or me? How can I keep up? The answer is to stay fresh, keep learning, and know when to think like a rookie.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.©2014 Liz Wiseman (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

Great concepts needs new case studies

Huge fan of Liz Wiseman but this book didn’t hold up as well over time as Multipliers. This needs to be updated with all the change in the world over the past few years. It’s almost seems time deaf out into the context of politics, race relations, pandemic and so worth, so it could really use an update. Otherwise, still a fan of Liz’s work!

Unique concept and a great speaking voice

Clearly answers the question "when is not knowing better". I heard her on an interview she did on Dave Ramsey's EntreLeadership Podcast in December of 2014 and found myself re listening to it. I bought the book and it did not disappoint. Liz really lays out the concepts well and you can tell it is well researched. Her speaking voice is full of character and is almost cute which makes the book nice to listen to as she explains everything.

Phenomenal Book

This book was so totally worth the read. If you in management or just staring out you should definitely get this book

Simply Great! Loved it!

Great Audio book! For All public! Highly recommended for any kind of person. Glad to begin 2015 with this book

Can relate!

Great insights on skills and qualities that are so important to maintaining engagement and relevance in one's field. I have been in education for almost 30 years as a teacher and administrator. I spent seven years in a position where I felt useless and tired. I am now finishing my first year in a position with the same title but with a boss and team that views my job very differently. I am put in situations that are just a bit above my ability and am required to use my mind again. There was so much I took from the book to go forward into my next school year; not only for myself, but for those individuals whom I supervise.

Great work greater lessons.

I really liked the format of this book. I read Liz's other book, Multipliers and loved it so I thought I'd try this one. I'm so glad I did.

There are so many great ideas and stories I had to make a list to be sure I wouldn't forget any. Now all I have to do is forget all I know and focus on what it don't.

This book is awesome!

In all honesty this is one of the best business and stuff and for the books I've read. Liz is a phenomenal writer and researcher, and this book has helped me see things a whole new light. I highly recommend this book to the veterans and rookies or to anyone looking to push themselves to the next level.

Great non-rookie book

I just finished listening/reading this book for the second time. I've heard Liz speak twice and also loved Multipliers. I recently took a promotion to a job that did not previously exist in my company. There are just three of us with my title out of thousands of employees. I have been struggling a bit and this book has helped me again. Thank you for encouraging me to continue to learn and for telling me it is ok not to "know".

Liz Wiseman does it again

Excellent! My top fav professional development authors, Liz Wiseman is thoughtful and concise in Rookie Smarts. Great use of real world examples followed by practical application for your business or career. On par with her book Multiplers, which I HIGHLY recommend

Good thoughts and nice advice

I felt the overall thought from the author was good and helped me revive some of my work ethics.
Bit out was a little long with all of the examples of companies that aligned with the authors thoughts. hard to get through.
I was disappointed in the lack of highlight of the openness of the manners that supported the rookie. In order for rookie successfulness, you have to have a great leader.