Green Beans & Ice Cream by Bill Sims, Jr. - Book review

Green Beans & Ice Cream

The Remarkable Power of Positive Reinforcement

By: Bill Sims, Jr.

Published: October 15, 2012
Format: Paperback, 144 pages
ISBN-10: 098602130X
ISBN-13: 978-0986021305
Publisher: GreenBeanLeadership Publications












"Many people assume that culture is what it is, and can never be changed. At best, they will say that culture change requires I long time. I beg to differ", writes speaker, behavior-based recognition program facilitator, and President of The Bill Sims Company, Inc., Bill Sims, Jr., in his engaging and human behavior based book Green Beans & Ice Cream: The Remarkable Power of Positive Reinforcement. The author describes how, through an clear vision of how people behave, and by applying positive reinforcement to improve performance, very real attitude and cultural change is the natural outcome.

Bill Sims, Jr. understands that they cultural change is not only possible, but is inevitable with the proper incentives and positive reinforcement. The author provides evidence that when a person's behavior changes, their attitude will change as well. If the behavior change is reinforced with a positive message, a nurturing and engaged culture will become the organizational norm. Bill Sims, Jr. cautions that a culture can be either toxic or engaging, and the form of reinforcements utilized by leaders and managers will determine the form taken by that culture. Through the science of behavioral analysis, the author provides the readily applied tools and practices to transform any organizational culture to one of high performance and motivated employees.



Bill Sims, Jr. (photo left) recognizes that behavior must change prior to any real transformation in attitude. To change the behavior of employees, the author emphasizes that only positive reinforcement is effective over the long term. Negative reinforcement and punishment doesn't result in long term behavior change, and most certainly doesn't change the culture. Bill Sims, Jr. offers the positive reinforcement prescription to change behavior, and to build an engaged culture.

The book is a guide to establishing a culture of positive reinforcement that changes behavior. When people behave differently, they become more engaged and the culture thought previously to be fixed, becomes a very different place to work. While training and other system and process changes cost money, time and resources, it costs nothing to share positive reinforcement with staff members.

Bill Sims, Jr. strives to change the actions of managers and supervisors who say nothing when an employee exhibits excellent behavior, but articulate dissatisfaction when the employee makes a mistake. The negative culture of fear and punishment is not effective and has lower productivity, and the book makes this condition clear to the reader.

For me, the power of the book is how Bill Sims, Jr. combines the concept of positive reinforcement with the practical tools and practices to not only change individual employee behavior, but to rebuild the overall organizational culture. The author creates an even more engaging book through the addition of short vignettes that illustrate the concepts. The book also includes the neuroscience behind the power of positive reinforcement to alter the brain, and create new neural connections following the behavior change. These changes in behavior then trigger a change in the person's attitude, and those alterations can be seen in the brain itself.

When the individual's attitude is changed, the overall organizational culture is reinvented and becomes a more positive and motivated workplace. The result is higher overall performance. While some employers may still prefer negative reinforcement and punishments, Bill Sims,Jr. demonstrates conclusively that approach is not only ineffective but also counterproductive. To build a higher performing company, the only effective means is through the transformational power of positive reinforcement.

I highly recommend the clear and concise book Green Beans & Ice Cream: The Remarkable Power of Positive Reinforcement by Bill Sims, Jr., to any business leaders, managers, executives, and entrepreneurs seeking a practical and hands on guide to pinpointing the desired behavior in employees, and rewarding it positively and immediately to achieve the desired change in employee behavior. This book will change forever the way you think about the power of positive reinforcement and and its ability to develop and maintain a fresh and engaged organizational culture.