Book Description

The Hudson Highland Center for High Performance recently completed the largestand most in-depth global study ever done of the factors that accelerate orstifle high performance. The alarming conclusion: only 10 percent of knowledgeworkers are part of a high-performing workgroup, one that makes money for thecompany and is creating a new product or service.

Contagious Success reveals Susan Lucia Annunzio’s proven strategies foridentifying, nurturing, and replicating business units that are already highperforming. These workgroups tend to be ignored while senior management focuseson fixing its lowest performing units. But Annunzio argues for the oppositestrategy: Focus on the groups that are doing the best work in the organization,learn their secrets, and help spread their expertise to the average groups.

Annunzio focuses on groups, not individuals, because even a great individualcan’t succeed in a weak environment.By using the high-performing groups toimprove just the top 20 percent of the average performers—what Annunzio calls"moving the middle"—a company can achieve dramatic, sustainable growth inrevenue and profits.

This is a book for leaders who want to unleash the hidden potential in theirorganizations. ... Read more

Book Description

For more than two decades, Dr. John Hoover has written books on leadership, creativity, and organizational performance, extolling the virtues of flattened organizations, collaborative leadership, and shared responsibility. His clients welcomed him, praised him...yet (he felt) completely ignored his advice! This book contains the confession of a recovering "I-Boss" (Idiot Boss). After decades of writing and consulting, Dr. John finally realized that the vast majority of people he kept trying to "energize," "motivate," and "enlighten" were, well, idiots. Also he was an idiot for trying to change them. Instead, he has decided to enlighten you, who actually have to continue working for difficult and demanding bosses. You cannot change them. You cannot challenge them. Yet, you can survive them, even thrive under them, if you learn how to deal with them using this book. It offers hope for the spirit and strategy for the mind to help you deal with your work place situation. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A Good Read!
John Hoover, an organizational leadership consultant, discusses how to deal with an "Idiot Boss" - or I-Boss - who does stupid things. Hoover distinguishes idiots from other tricky bosses, including those who think they are God, or who are paranoid, sadistic or Machiavellian. He leaves the reader with a couple of issues. First, you'll think no good, caring bosses still exist. Second, he doesn't tell you clearly where to set boundaries or when enough is finally enough. He often advocates appeasing bad bosses, although his other counsel on how to deal with them has some effective pointers. To his credit, Hoover is very candid about how he has learned from experience, including his mistakes. He offers personal examples from his experiences at Disney and elsewhere, and tries to write in a light-hearted or whimsical vein. We found the book strongest when it is strategic and weakest when it tries to be funny, given that with bad bosses you only laugh to keep from crying.

Reviews are Piling Up
USA TODAY/March 2004:
"Anyone who has to work should read How to Work for an Idiot."

Wall Street Journal/March 2004
"Dr. Hoover recommends admitting that you are 'powerless' over the jerks in your life. Otherwise, 'harboring all that resentment is like drinking a cup of poison and waiting for the jerk to die'."

New York Times/January 2004:
"There is no question that 'How to Work for an Idiot: How to Survive and Thrive Without Killing Your Boss' is a subversive book. People will pick it up expecting a tasty blend of commiseration and advice. They will put it down thinking, to paraphrase the famous line from the cartoon character Pogo, "We have met the idiot, and he is us."

Weekend TODAY SHOW/Campbell Brown/January 2004
"'How to Work for an Idiot' contains a lot of humor, with plenty of good information as well."

FOX NEWS/Neil Cavuto/January 2004:
"Dr. John's 'How to Work for an Idiot' is very funny stuff, with some stinging jabs in there."

The Miami Herald/January 2004:
"As amusing as his vignettes may be, the proffered advice is pretty sound and includes solid steps for coping and surviving a daily dose of determined and authoritative stupidity without committing any capital crimes. Hoover closes with a bibliography that includes three of the author's own books, so maybe he's not as much of an idiot as he claims to be."

Dallas Morning News January/2004:
"[Dr. John Hoover] is creating a New Year's buzz with his just published 'How to Work for an Idiot'."

Bloomberg Television/December 2003:
"If you have the unhappy experience of working for someone you think is a real jerk, Dr. John Hoover says there is hope."

Bloomberg Radio Network/December 2003:
"Dr. John's book about working for idiots is so cleverly disguised; you might think you're reading Norman Vincent Peale."

CNNfn/December 2003:
"...an irreverent and realistic look at what people must deal with every day at work."

Philadelphia Daily Local/December 2003:
"Hoover, a self-acknowledged idiot boss himself in recovery, says American workers should stop whining about their clueless bosses and learn to make the most of it."

Minneapolis Star Tribune/December 2003:
"There's more than humor in this fresh look at the perennial problem of incompetent leadership at work."

Orlando Sentinel/December 2003:
"Idiot bosses are so common, writes John Hoover, that he shortens the term to I-Bosses in How to Work for an Idiot."

More than words
This is an excellent book. Having suffered for four years from an idiot, sadist, masochist, and all the other categories that Dr. Hoover describes, I found it of excellent encouragment to have read the book. With funny real (or unreal) stories, the author goes through different bosses' personalities and how to approach them. I've tried a few things for a few days and I've felt marvellous, when long before I would have felt miserable. Even if some of the things Dr. Hoover says are things we already know, it was great that someone reminded me what the true nature of boss-employee relationships are all about.

Funny but no meat
We've become used to catchy titles for books. And for obvious reasons, they sell more books. But catchy or humorous titles usually are just that...titles. In the case of this book, the humor doesn't end with the title. It is in fact an entire book of humor. Upon completion of it, I felt like I had just spent a night at the Improv, rather than learning about a serious business issue. Now don't get me wrong, it is an enjoyable book to read and at some parts I found myself laughing quite often. However, I was looking for some serious knowledge to go along with the chuckles. This book simply does not deliver that. Throughout the book, the author makes conscious (or possibly unconscious)choices to divert the topic towards humor rather than dive deeper into the serious aspects of what an employee is do when they work for a terrible boss. In short, he "chickens out" when real dialogue is necessary.
If you're looking for a book to make you laugh, or something light-hearted for a Sunday afternoon read, this is it. If however, you work for an "idiot-boss" and need some serious guidance and direction, skip this book altogether. It will be of no use to you.

BULLIES - FAMILY / WORKPLACE / SCHOOL / NEIGHBORHOOD
Excellent compliments to this book are: Emotional Blackmail: When People in Your Life Use Fear, Obligation and Guilt to Manipulate You by Susan Forward and Donna Frazier; Why Is It Always About You?: The Seven Deadly Sins of Narcissism by Sandy Hotchkiss and James Masterson; The Angry Heart: Overcoming Borderline and Addictive Disorders by Joseph Santoro and Ronald Cohen; The Narcissistic Family: Diagnosis and Treatment by Stephanie Donaldson-Pressman and Robert Pressman; Understanding the Borderline Mother: Helping Her Children Transcend the Intense, Unpredictable and Volatile Relationship by Christine Ann Lawson; Living with the Passive-Aggressive Man by Scott Wetzler; Malignant Self Love: Narcissism Revisited by Sam Vaknin and Lidija Rangelovska (Editor); Children of the Self-Absorbed: A Grown-Up's Guide to Getting Over Narcissistic Parents by Nina Brown; Treating Attachment Disorders: From Theory to Therapy by Karl Heinz Brisch and Kenneth Kronenberg; Toxic Coworkers: How to Deal with Dysfunctional People on the Job by Alan Cavaiola and Neil Lavender; Bully in Sight: How to Predict, Resist, Challenge and Combat Workplace Bullies by Tim Field.

And if you want to pursue the subject even further, you may be interested in reading The Narcissistic / Borderline Couple: A Psychoanalytic Perspective On Marital Treatment; Parenting with Love and Logic: Teaching Children Responsibility by Jim Fay and Foster Cline. ... Read more

Book Description

When it was published in 1994, Roger Schwarz's The Skilled Facilitator earned widespread critical acclaim and became a landmark in the field. The book is a classic work for consultants, facilitators, managers, leaders, trainers, and coaches--anyone whose role is to guide groups toward realizing their creative and problem-solving potential. This thoroughly revised edition provides the essential materials for facilitators and includes simple but effective ground rules for group interaction. Filled with illustrative examples, the book contains proven techniques for starting meetings on the right foot and ending them positively and decisively. This important resource also offers practical methods for handling emotions when they arise in a group and offers a diagnostic approach for identifying and solving problems that can undermine the group process.

... Read more

Reviews (6)

More Than Practical Wisdom
The subtitle of this accessible guide to facilitation, "Practical Wisdom For Developing Effective Groups", accurately describes the book's scope and utility. In four parts and thirteen chapters, Schwarz provides an overview, with countless meaningful examples, of how facilitators can most effectively help groups develop their capacity for improvement. He distinguishes between two types of facilitation: (1) Basic facilitation, which aims to help a group "solve a substantive problem"; and (2) Developmental facilitation, which accomplishes basic facilitation while helping a group learn "to improve its process". He argues that three core values underlie effective group and facilitator behavior. The first is "valid information", which means that relevant information is shared by group members and that all groups members can validate and understand the information. The second is "free and informed choice", which means that group members define their own goals and methods of achieving those goals using valid information. The third is, "internal commitment to the choice", which means that group members take responsibility for their decisions by making informed choices based on valid information. Using a basic or developmental approach, facilitators most effectively intervene by making explicit and modeling these core values. These values are maintained by a group agreeing and sticking to essential ground rules, which Schwarz lists on p. 75 and treats extensively throughout the book.

In the heart of Schwarz's book are seven chapters on intervening effectively in groups. In those chapters, he advises the reader on, among other things, how to intervene, meeting management, group problem-solving, following ground rules, and dealing with emotions. He closes with wisdom on serving as a facilitator in your own organization and on the facilitative leader. His opening sections on how facilitation helps groups achieve their goals and establishing the foundation for facilitation lay the groundwork for his later chapters.

In the opening chapters, he includes two models worth mentioning. In his "group effectiveness model" (p.23), Schwarz shows how group processes (the primary concern of the facilitator) interact with group structure and organizational context to contribute to a group effectiveness. Group effectiveness is assessed through three criteria: (1) The group's services or products meet or exceed the expectations of the clients; (2) The processes and structures used to deliver services or create products enhance the group's capacity to work together; and (3) The group's experience is satisfying, not frustrating, for the group's members. In the second noteworthy model, Schwarz presents the "diagnosis-intervention cycle" (p. 68). In this cycle, there are three diagnostic steps and three intervention steps. In the diagnostic phase, the facilitator observes behavior, infers meaning and decides whether to intervene. In the intervention phase, s/he describes observations, test her/his inferences, and helps the group decide whether and how to alter behaviors. Understanding and using these models are critical for effective facilitation.

For the would-be facilitator or group leader, this book provides exactly what the subtitle promises.

Not An Entry Level Facilitation Book
I picked up this book because I needed to read up on how better to sell facilitation and exactly what facilitators should be doing. This book explains this and more. However, if you are looking for a simple overview of what a facilitator should, could and would do incertain situations, this is NOT your book. If you are a manager trying to be a better facilitator, do not buy this book unless you want in-depth information.

That said, if you are a facilitator looking to improve your skills, combine theory and practice or simply go back to the basics of what makes some facilitators great, this is your book.
Also, if you are a manager who really wants to become an effective facilitator/mentor, this is your book. But don't think that you can simply read the material and be more effective. The ideas and theory will take practice. Luckily, the book also gives many examples to make the ideas and theories practical and concrete.

As I said, I bought it to become better at selling professional facilitation. It gave me that and much more. I will keep it as an invaluable resource and make sure all of my facilitators utilize the practices described in detail.

Make it easy on yourself!
Roger's book is a unique hybrid of theory, practical exercises, examples, and personal stories. It works! The art and science of facilitation (to make easy or easier) is presented clearly, concisely, and completely. And, that is what I enjoyed about Roger's book so much. He gives it to you with "the bark on." He makes you aware of the good, the bad, and the ugly relative to the practice of facilitation.

I had used this book for several years in my work as a trainer, facilitator, and manager. Then, I had the pleasure to attend a workshop conducted by Roger. He lives what he teaches. While I was fortunate enough to have my company pay for the workshop, it is one of only three workshops I have ever attended that I feel like I would pay my own money to attend.

Keep this book nearby. It is THE best read on this subject out there.

Facilitation is coming of age
Roger Schwarz is one of the leading thinkers in the newly emerging field of facilitation. He brings insight and depth to group processes. He is concerned with the health functioning of groups in organisations. The Skilled Facilitator provides both the beginner and the expert insights into providing quality facilitation of group processes. As facilitation becomes more and more recognized as a profession, Schwarz will be acknowledge as one of the real pioneers in the field.

Rated Best By Facilitators
As a new entry to the facilitation field, I wanted to find out what the industry thought was the BEST resource for combining theory with the practices of facilitation. I submitted my request to GRP-FACL@listserv.albany.edu, which, as far as I know, is the largest online discussion forum for active, professional facilitators. Roger Schwartz's book, "The Skilled Facilitator" was by far the favorite choice of people in the profession. I am ordering my copy now! ... Read more

Book Description

* Updated to reflect the latest version of the Crystal Reports reporting tool
* Explains how to use Crystal Reports to quickly transform almost any data into interactive content
* Features a jump-start chapter on creating a simple report
* Covers basic and advanced reporting features, such as retrieving data from databases; sorting, grouping, and totaling result sets; using report templates; making correlations with cross-tab reports; working with formulas; adding geographic detail with maps; publishing reports; and much more
* Includes a new section that explains how to use the new time-saving and data-sharing features available when Crystal Reports is integrated with the other components in the product suite: Crystal Enterprise and Crystal Analysis
* Companion Web site includes sample reports from the book ... Read more

Amazon.com

The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player is another in a long line of titles by John Maxwell aimed at helping people attain their personal and leadership potential in the workplace. The book is organized into short chapters, each devoted to one of the 17 qualities that Maxwell deems essential to a successful and harmonious workplace, qualities such as competence, discipline, adaptability, commitment, selflessness, and preparedness. Maxwell's prose reads like a series of sermons, peppered with inspirational stories and quotes from personalities as diverse as Vince Lombardi ("The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender") and Henry Ford ("Before everything else, getting ready is the secret of success"). The book is for Maxwell fans and anyone looking for a sensible and formulaic approach to improving their lot, both at work and in life. --Harry C. Edwards ... Read more

Reviews (13)

THE QUALITIES OF A STRONG TEAM PLAYER.
I enjoyed this book for the wisdom it contained. Whether one is part of an office team, a charitable organization or on a sports team, it is not always as easy as one might think to develop strong teamwork. There are those who can never master the feat of being a team player and those, if you are fortunate to find them, who excel both as a team player and independent worker. The author has demonstrated the 17 essential qualities of a strong team player. Learning specific skills can be much easier than learning new habits or changing negative personal qualities which have often developed over a lifetime. Employers should remember to take that fact into consideration during the hiring process; you need to match an individual's qualities to the job to achieve the desired result. Not everyone possesses the essential qualities to be a team player. To the book's credit, it contains accurate and proven theories on creating a strong team. The author bases his theories on such factors as self-descipline, competence and being prepared to adapt and change your ideas and actions.

The minor downside of the book is the various quotes by well-known successful people. They are interesting but they have appeared in print so many times before that they come across as "classic cliches". Also, the book is relatively short and it would have been twice as interesting if the author had expanded on his words of advice in more detail. Overall, the positives far outweigh the negatives. The book is well worth reading, and the reader will likely find the stories quite inspirational.

Maxwell hits the bullseye again!
John Maxwell has written an easy-to-read, easy-to-apply book on teamwork. Anyone beginning a new team or taking the leadership of a team already in progress is sure to find information from this book helpful and applicable. Beware, however, that Maxwell is beginning to repeat the same stories and lessons from his previous books. These stories and lessons can be good reminders although it may be time for Mr. Maxwell to research other people and companies in the leadership field.

Thought provoking yet very easy to read
I thought that the book was very easy to read and it's shorter length makes it very accessible to those with very busy lives.

I really enjoyed the little stories and the descriptions of the elements that compose the 17 qualities were very well written. The main thing I enjoyed about the book was not that it taught me a lot of things I didn't know, but that it put those things together in a more coherent picture and made me ask myself some hard questions about how I can be a better team player and whether or not I've neglected some areas.

I find I perform at a much higher level when I keep these sorts of ideas in mind as I plan my tasks. This book is small enough to travel well and profound enough to keep pushing me to higher levels.

Love this book recommend highly
Recieved the book and i amenjoying it very much so far it has been very helpful to me would highly recommend to church team players in leadership spots

Excellent Teamwork Resource for Organizations
I purchased this book as a resource for my graduate students in a university course on school leadership. I was disappointed to learn that the website cited in this book did not work. After a search on the internet I did locate the site under a different URL title -- http://www.lawsofteamwork.com/

John Maxwell has many valuable insights into organizational leadership and principles of teamwork that many of my graduate students enjoy. This book relates several good stories about the importance of teamwork, including one about former MLB player Reggie Jackson and Baltimore Orioles manager Earl Weaver. The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player is a great resource and a fast read for those interested in learning more about leadership and teamwork. ... Read more

Book Description

As companies shift from hierarchical management into teamwork, managing is not nearly as important as coaching. Here is the first book on the coaching process written exclusively for sales managers--a brief, easy-to-digest primer on making the transition from a traditional boss to a sales coach. Created by an author/instructor who teaches sales management as the prestigious Wharton Executive Development Center, this guide shows sales managers how to: understand the nuances and payoffs of coaching: conduct coaching sessions and improve key skills such as listening and giving feedback; deal with problems such as discipline and reluctant behavior within the sales team; and coach and peers on oneself. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sales Coaching is practical, applicable, and long overdue.
I often say to Sales Managers, "Show me a great Sales Manager with lousy salespeople and I will show you a lousy Sales Manager." Then I tell them to read 'Sales Coaching.'

Linda Richardson has constructed the ultimate step-by-step guide in getting managers to reevaluate their priorities and focus their attention on improving the sales staff through effective developmental coaching. The book is easy to read and full of practical tips and coaching models that will make any sales team more productive.

Most importantly, unlike many sales management books, this work translates into practical application without the brain damage. Sales Managers should be able to apply these principles immediately. Read this with a highlighter in your hand - and be prepared to transform your sales management approach. ... Read more

Book Description

In a nation recovering from economic turmoil, today's business men and women need every advantage to keep precious jobs and get new and better jobs. In the CHIC SIMPLE DRESS SMART books, veteran style mavens Kim Johnson Gross and Jeff Stone walk readers through the basics of building a work-appropriate wardrobe that provides a look of confidence and competence, and expresses personal style. Whether its buying the right blazer for a middle management position, or assembling the most versatile pieces for someone just entering the workforce, these savvy and informative guides provide the straight answers to how people can put their most positive image forward at work. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

a must for any working woman
This book is a must-have for women who are in the workforce. I have used this book as a resource for how to dress and how to plan my wardrobe effectively. I also lend this book to the younger women in my company who often feel that they don't have the capital to wear a top-notch wardrobe.

The book is very up-to-date and gives very simple instructions on how to plan your wardrobe based on your office environment (corporate to casual) as well as by your stage in your career. Unlike many other books, Dress Smart does not insist that you have an ever-increasing wardrobe, but insists on smart choices that offer versatility as well as flexibility, while being polished and smart. The casual guidelines are great, as are the quotes from various industry leaders. The back gives you information on all the clothes highlighted, so you can go to those retailers (or ebay) as needed. Of particular interest is the importance placed on good tailoring. Many people do not understand the need to tailor your clothes, and that is the detail that can make an inexpensive suit go over the top.

If you work where anyone will ever see you, then I recommend this book.

Untitled
I really love the Chic Simple books ... I find the photographs, text and lay out to be really inspirational and compelling on a daily basis i.e. we all have to get dressed each day, and these books (especially "What Should I Wear?" - my real favourite) have made it more fun for me to wear, and buy, my clothes and accessories. There is one matter about this new book which has disappointed me in only a small way, and that is that the authors have chosen to use certain photos and text from older books in this, their new book. I dislike paying for the same content twice. I also had very high hopes for this new book, the first new 'big' fashion/wardbrobe-planning book by these authors for some years now, and was a bit cheesed off to find the same images/text, apparently recycled. It's just a small thing, but it seems to me to be a little lazy on their part. That said, I'm still a fan of the book, and wish I'd had it years ago when I started my first job (I wear suits for work & this book really focuses on that look and how to 'polish' it or expand upon it). This would be a great book for a recent graduate, or for the library of a corporate employer looking for a simple yet thorough and elegant style guide for their staff.

Fabulous!
This book does an excellent job of getting you from nothing to wear to a closet of every possible wardrobe nessessity for the office. The organization is fantastic, going from one interview outfit and then starting a collection of business appropriate clothing based on four suits. Great book for someone getting a promotion, returning to work after a leave of absense, or a new college graduate.

Love the book
Although I do not work in a field that requires suits---I couldn't pass this book up. There may be a time I need to know how to dress for a business lunch, etc. The point is this book is a must have for all woman entering the work arena again or for young woman just getting out of college. The pictures are wonderful and the advice is perfect as in the other Chic books. I love this book..........

Great resource for work wardrobe
This book is broken down into three sections: the interview, succeeding in the job, and getting a better job. It fits anyone that works and give excellent advice. Of course, the pictures are a wonderful asset. This would make a great gift for any career woman. ... Read more

Book Description

Never before in the history of the workplace has the concept of teamwork been more important to the functioning of successful organizations. Ken Blanchard bestselling coauthor of Raving Fans, The One Minute Manager, and Gung Ho! teams up with Donald Carew and Eunice Parisi-Carew to explain how all groups move through four stages of development on their way to becoming high performance teams -- orientation, dissatisfaction, integration, and production. The authors then show how a manager can help any group to become fully effective quickly and with hardly any stress.

The valuable addition to The One Minute Manager® Library is essential for anyone who works with groups and wants to build a high performing team.

This valuable addition to The One Minute Manager. Library is essential for anyone who works with groups and wants to build a high performing team. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Simple, fun superficial read
Kenneth Blanchard turns his attention to small group dynamics and group performance in this, on of the stable of One Minute Manager books.

Academically, the two principal concepts that Blanchard and his co-authors use, are the stages of group development and Situational Leadership. The familiar stages of forming, storming, norming and performing are termed orientation, dissatisfaction, integration and production. Situational Leadership in this context refers to changing leadership styles according to the stage of the group, thereby filling in for process tasks that the group is unable to accomplish for itself.

Groups tend to start in a high-energy, high motivation but low skills and understanding mode of operation. In this stage, directive leadership provides the structure necessary to move forward. The second stage is one of dissatisfaction, questioning of leadership and clarification of roles. As unpleasant as this stage is, we are reminded that conflicts cannot be resolved if they are avoided. A resolving attitude on the part of the leader is exactly what is needed. As confidence and morale return to the group members, they pass hesitatingly into a third stage, termed integration. In this stage, commitment on goals, roles and tasks increases, as well as to the norms, values and processes of the group. A collaborating leadership style that allows control to be shared and facilitates the surfacing of disagreements is critical to the group's continued growth. Finally, the production stage is characterized by high levels of trust, morale, energy and empowerment. The team can pretty much function autonomously, without a leader whose primary purpose is to validate.

Blanchard's strength is his manner of presentation and clarity of relating ideas from disparate sources. The book is a quick read and yet it presents some fairly profound concepts, connecting the dots in a way that reading a collection of "Harvard Business Review" articles can never accomplish. Most of the book is a conversation between Dan Brockway, the director of training at a chemical company, and his mentor, The One Minute Manger. The coordinator of customer service programs, Maria Sanchez, disagrees with the presentation of material for The Essentials of Management course that Dan is coordinating.

Instead of helping Dan convince her that she is wrong, The One Minute Manger allows Dan to observe the functioning of four groups at different stages of development at his own company. The gradual, real-world exposition of the central issues of group dynamics leads into three-way discussions between Dan, Maria and the Manager about the practicalities, pitfalls and variations in group development. The goal is to produce what Blanchard and others have called "Highly-Effective Teams", effectively defined in the early pages.

The intent of the book is to teach and, with two educational doctorates as co-authors, the structure and style is simple to read and flows so logically that it is as easy to digest as Jello. A busy manager can read this book in a single New York commute and keep revisiting it as needed, while his teams evolve. Students can learn and integrate new concepts more fruitfully, as they learn how the pieces all fit together. Participants in teams can quickly get a sense of what they need to do to effectively contribute to the tasks at had, which inevitably include the processes that the group uses to get things done. Anyone reading this book is well advised to realize that this is a brief synopsis and oversimplification of group dynamics and leadership styles. Extended discussions of roles played by participants in dysfunctional groups and extensive elaboration of Situational leadership are found elsewhere and should be referenced when necessary. In the end, drawing on all our creativity and individual knowledge and experience is the path to generating value in a knowledge economy.

Wonderful book
I think this is a wonderful book. It belongs on the bookshelf over every manager and should be read by everyone who is or aspires to be a manager. We must learn to turn groups of individuals into teams. This book offers solid concepts and practical advice on how to do it.

Twenty Minute Bath
I read this while I was soaking in the bathtub last night. It reads a lot like The Tenth Insight series - easy to follow, pretty simplistic. I chose this book because I have been observing the group process in many different contexts and because I am currently struggling with managing a brand new membership committee at church, as well as a new team at work. This book provides a good hook on which to hang team-building concepts.
The team management principles are easy to apply to the church Membership Committee. I have a lot of autonomy in management at church. I can decide without going through the hierarchy (church board) how to conduct this committee. They are very happy for me to decide how leadership is provided and how group meetings will happen.
One Minute Manager's "Group Developmental Stage" concept includes the stages of Orientation, Dissatisfaction, Resolution and Production. These stages make sense to me and dovetail nicely with concepts of human developmental stages. The Membership Committee has only met once under my leadership and is obviously in the Orientation Stage. I wish I could jump over the next two stages and get right to the Production Stage. I am getting a lot of pressure from board members to produce all sorts of results. One Minute Manager has validated what I already knew about managing this team; we have to go through these stages, and I need to work on getting my style of leadership to match the team's developmental stage. It will take some time, and I will have to get some of the "production" done with little help from the team until this team growth happens.
However, management at work is a totally different situation. I am on several teams, but only have one leadership role so far. This is a newly organized group called the RAT (Rapid Assessment Team) charged with the initial emergency response at the District Public Health Level. I share responsibility for leadership of this group with my supervisor. So far we have had two organizational meetings and two training meetings. The One Minute Manager concepts will help me address a couple of issues I have been struggling with.
The first issue has to do with leadership of this group. In the Orientation Stage, a group needs clear messages from a clearly designated leader. I need to take responsibility for delivering these messages. I need to remember to observe the group interaction, including the content and process, so my leadership style can change with the group's changing needs.
I will also need to figure out how to balance my leadership style with my supervisor's leadership style. I tend to be more the "Low Supportive and Low Directive" type of leader. She tends to be a "High Supportive and Low Directive" type. In the Orientation Stage that this team is in, we need to provide High Directive and Low Supportive Behavior. Providing High Directive isn't a difficult change for me to make because as the trainer, I am responsible for teaching what and how to. As this group moves into the Dissatisfaction Stage, I need to encourage my supervisor to provide the High Supportive Behavior that she is good at. As we work together and make progress with this group, the One Minute Manager concepts will help us coordinate and balance our leadership.

Just in time
This book has come to my aid at the most appropriate time. I am in the midst of an exercise, as a leader of an internal task force entrusted with the responsibility of recommending a solution in a short time. This group is heterogeneous, drawn from different departments with a common problem on hand.

The four stages of group behavior (orientation, dissatisfaction, integration, and production) as described in this book, and the different styles of leadership appropriate at each stage is very essential understanding for any manager. More than this it is important to diagnose the stage at which the group is in and what action the leader needs to take to lead the team quickly to the Production stage.

This is a must read for all managers who wish to understand group behavior - for achieving optimal output.

Solid principles and reminders, though a little overcooked
This book, like its predecessors, is written in a story format. The basic storyline is Dan Brockway's series of visits with the One Minute Manager, in which he learns about team building and the "situational leadership" that team building requires. The One Minute Manager has him visit a team in each of four stages: Orientation, Dissatisfaction, Production, and Integration. The visits provide information about the unique characteristics of each stage, and the book provides discussion of these characteristics by a series of dialogues between Dan and the One Minute Manager. After the visits have concluded, some discussion of how to lead a team depending on its stage occurs.

This book reinforces the important concepts and major characteristics of each stage by including charts and outlines for each stage of team development, as well as reiterating key points throughout the book. The section on situational leadership is valuable also, and the book seeks to answer potential questions from real readers by having the characters ask them during the course of the sessions with the One Minute Manager.

Overall, this book is very insightful, and its tenets are presented in a very creative, though occasionally corny, manner. (It contains frequent subliminal messages: "Let's make an appointment for next week to talk this over" said Dan. "No," said the One Minute Manager, "let's do it right now.") The charts and diagrams are the real treasures in the book, and in spite of its brevity, the book manages to be a fairly good primer on the subject. ... Read more

Book Description

"Establishing a System of Policies and Procedures" is the first book of a four-part series on policies and procedures. With an original printing date of 1998, this book has been updated to reflect current policy and procedure industry practices in 2002.

This first book focuses on setting up a foundation for a system of policy and procedure documents whether printed or electronic. This book leads you step-by-step to the development of a system of documents and/or company manuals. Each step in the development process is detailed including: Researching, Writing, Reviewing, Approving, Publishing, Distributing, Training, and Revising. Two new chapters have been added for converting printed policies and procedures to an electronic format.

A method of writing called the "Writing Format" is introduced in this book for both policy and procedure documents and it becomes the hallmark method of writing for each of the related three policy and procedure books. Examples for each section are provided. Sample policies and procedures using this format are also provided.

This book also covers many subjects not found in most books including: How to Hire a Procedures Writer, How Forms Management is closely integrated with Policies and Procedures, How to Develop a Writing Style, and how to Convert Printed Policy and Procedure Documents to either an Online Format or a Web Format.

The methods presented in this book are the result of a tried-and-proven system currently at multinational companies such as Eastman Kodak, Litton Industries, and Dataproducts. Thousands of companies worldwide have adopted these techniques over the past 5 years. Novice and experienced procedures writers will benefit from this book. Use this book to build a foundation for your policies and procedures and then use the other three policy and procedure books to enhance what you have learned in this book. Refer to the Author section for a listing of the other three books.

This book is one of a 4-part SERIES on policies and procedures. The other three books are: (1) "7 Steps to Better Written Policies and Procedures" (ISBN 1929065248). This book turns Chapter 4 of this first book into an entire book. Using a real-life case study, it takes you through scenarios, exercises, and answers for writing more detailed, more logical, and consistent policies and procedures. (2) "Achieving 100% Compliance of Policies and Procedures" (ISBN 1929065493). This book focuses on writing policies and procedures that can be easily measured and improved based on the quantifiable measurements. What a novel idea! Otherwise, there is no way to really know if anyone is using the published policies and procedures. (3) "Best Practices in Policies and Procedures" (ISBN 1929065078). This book show you how to find content for policies and procedures and how to find the STARTING POINT for your policy and procedure efforts. Also, learn how to align policies and procedures to the vision, strategic plan, and core processes of your organization. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Solid, straightforward and effective
This is my third book by Mr. Page and it does not disappoint. I started with his Achieving 100% Compliance of Policies and Procedures, which is best suited for advanced policy and procedures developers in quality environments, and followed with his 7 Steps to Better Written Policies and Procedures. The latter book is better suited as a training manual or quick reference guide.

This book, however, is a straightforward "how to" book, and it gives procedures for writing policies and procedures that are effective and clear. What I like about this book is Mr. Page stays focused on the basics, and sorts out the key issues. If you've never written policies and/or procedures this book will step you through the process with no fluff. That doesn't mean the book is terse. On the contrary, the book explains in necessary detail how to develop policies and procedures that reflect best practices. Having read all of Mr. Page's books, and also having an extensive background in policy and procedure development, I can attest that the approach is mature and will assure success if followed.

As with other reviewers I've noticed a few typos and convoluted sentences. However, these did not detract from the book's value because they did not change the context of the book's content or make it difficult to follow. If you need to write policies and/or procedures and have never done it before get this book and follow it. You'll be impressed with the results using the approach, and you'll also benefit from Mr. Page's extensive knowledge of the subject by avoiding false starts, as well as producing documents that are solid and clearly written.

Quality Book about Writing Policies and Procedures
As a quality professional for 26 years, this was a great book and I was happy to see that the American Society of Quality gave it a great review on the author's web site. It has wonderful content such as research, writing format, communications, and information you don't find anywhere else.

I like the book because it is short and not full of fluff like a lot of authors write. You don't get bored and you stay focused. Thanks Steve.

I have read some of the other reviews, they are all positive except for one or two and it sure seems like they are bashing for no reason other than something to gain (like being an author of another book of similar content that isn't doing as well). I can't believe someone would do this.

Read the book and you will see why it is so good.

By the way, I believe he is writing a fourth book about how to ensure policies and procedures are effective and are cost effective. Sounds interesting to me.

Hal

Excellent Ideas, Excellent Thoughts
This book is a blessing to all us novice writers who don't understand how to set up a system of policies and procedures.

The reviewer that thought the book was too shallow obviously didn't read this book in any depth. In fact, he/she can't even spell. I wouldn't trust someone who would post a review to millions that has simple spelling mistakes.

The reviewer tries to point out that processes and policies don't go together. If this reviewer really read the book, he would have realized that processes and procedures go together. The author never mentioned anything about policies and processes. Or this was a blatant misinterpretation.

The reviewer had nothing practical to say, he jumped on simple points. This book is PACKED with information about writing format, style, teambuilding, review and approval cycles, publishing tips, communications, and training guidelines. Notice the reviewer never mentioned this, only picked at "shallow" points.

And to say that every policy is different, I agree with that except that this author stresses consistency as being key to the reader's understanding. If the format of a policy is different from one time to the next, then the reader becomes confused. My company used to write as the reviewer suggested and it got us into trouble. We changed to the writing format recommended in this book and our audience loves us now. Thanks go to this author.

So if you see a reviewer trashing this book, let him or her suggest a better one. No book is perfect. But this book comes close.

Too shallow to be helpful
If I were running a two-person business I would still find this book to shallw to have any value. The fact that the author claims that there is a set number of data elements that a policy needs to collect despite the situation is ridiculous. For someone looking to orgainze thousands of policies in a complex organization this book was completely useless.

There are some other philosophies that I believe are completely off base. Like the idea that policies are related to your processes? Huh? Policies are supposed to dictate behavior, not process. What process is associated with the policy forbidding employees to limit personal phone calls?

There are some other things in this book that are just plain funny. At the beginning of his book he lays out some conventions. He explains that throughout the book he will use "he" instead of "the more cumbersome he/she." Then in the same paragraph he states that he will use "President/CEO" to decsibe the head of the company. Why not just use CEO or President? Is it OK to alienate half the human race based upon sex, but not a handful of CEOs that don't want to be referred to as President?

Excellent book - a must have
I bought this book when it first came out as the "Policies and Procedures Handbook" from Prentice-Hall. Since then the author has rewritten the book and has included several chapters on converting policies and procedures to network or website manuals. I have found that the author has a true command of the printed manual and he has really SIMPLIFIED things by adding the two chapters on online manuals. He stresses the importance of developing a solid printed company manuals system BEFORE building a network or web manual system. He makes that transition very smooth and easy to understand. I have followed his thoughts to the letter and our customers love our new website manuals. I have to thank the author for his wisdom about developing the printed system of policies and procedures AHEAD of a website manual system. ... Read more

Book Description

What is facilitation? Ironically, it's a difficult word that means "to make easy." When applied to businesses and organizations, facilitation means helping people work together in groups and teams to achieve their goals.

But wait, you're probably thinking there's nothing easy about that--and until now you've been right. Most existing texts on facilitation (and there are lots of them) are theoretical, have too many complicated models, and lead to unnecessary confusion. The Facilitator's Fieldbook was written to break through the theory, clear up the confusion--and make facilitation itself easy.

Comprehensive in scope, yet extremely practical and to the point, The Fieldbook is perfect for both novice and experienced facilitators. Those new to the art of facilitation will find clear guidance on basic how-to information. More experienced facilitators will discover advanced methods for use in more challenging facilitation situations and simple models for facilitating both large and small groups.

Best of all, The Facilitator's Fieldbook contains a wealth of resources such as checklists, samples, templates, guidelines, and step-by-step procedures. It will enable you to perform all the skills of facilitation, including: * establishing ground rules for groups * planing meetings and agendas * building the group database * brainstorming * decision making * conflict resolution, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Facilitation course members love this book
I teach a master's level course in facilitation and team dynamics. Justice and Jamieson is by far the most useful and popular book in that course. Students use it heavily in designing facilitation processes during the course, and I hear them recommending to others that they KEEP their J&J handy because they'll continue to use it. Especially helpful: the quick overviews of group dynamics, overt/covert issues, team member roles, leadership processes. It helps to provide this background knowledge for the students. The options and explanations list many more choices and rationales than usually seen in a book like this. Examples: multiple approaches to brainstorming, agenda development, session evaluation, interventions to manage conflict, etc. J&J's second edition (if there is one) could be a little slicker, but you wouldn't have to change much content except perhaps to have an added section on virtual facilitation. Enjoy!

covers it all
Most comprehensive book on the topic I've seen. Very practical info. I interned with a small consulting firm that did excellent facilitation work, but their only training strategy for facilitation was "watch what I do and then do it" -- no real framework for a beginner. I wish I had known about this book; it put it all into logical structure and process, and allowed me to make sense of what I had seen a few times as a beginner. I've used its many practical checklists to become a respected facilitator, and still improving thanks to this manual.

Great Resource
This books is a "manual" on facilitation that prepares you very quickly. Great examples, good checklists, good index - well worth the price. My only quibble is a small one: charge a few dollars more and improve the paper and printing quality.

Best "how to" book on facilitation with groups and teams.
This book is an encyclopedia of practical guides and scripts for all levels of facilitators. I was able to immediately implement the carefully scripted process techniques in my University teaching and consulting work with other organizations. A real must for practitioners who are serious about making groups work! ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Lessons from King Arthur for the 21rst Century
This is a wonderful book that lays out effective tools, techniques, and strategies for working with geographically diverse teams. This book is so appropriate for our virutal organization that my entire management team will have copies soon!

So wonderful, we use it as a sales & team training tool
We loved this book so much that we have all our team members read it AND we give it away as sales gifts to potential clients.

This book was so helpful and easy to read. It was unique because of the fabulous story it told (with a really cool twist of an ending) ... a how-to storybook for today's virtual world.

I couldn't put it down, read it in one sitting and have benefitted from it every day since. It really helped me straighten out my virtual leadership nightmare. Thanks so very much!

Virtual teaming for the 21st century!
First of all, I enjoy "instructional fiction" as conveyed in business quick-reads like "Virtual Leadership." This type of business novel is fun to read! Also, this contemporary business text covers an important topic in the age of virtual organizations and e-businesses -- how to establish and manage virtual teams. Enjoy!

A compelling story and quick read, -full of useful lessons.
I just finished reading this book today, and strongly recommend it to managers and project leaders who are struggling with the human side of how to make geographically distributed teams work. The lessons in this book are equally valid for achieving results with team members whether they are two floors or two time zones away.

Essential Project Manager reading for a dispersed workforce
This book does well in choosing a fictional vehicle to deliver an important message to managers of remote teams. There is a tendancy within the technology industry, and management in general, to think that VOICEMAIL, EMAIL, and WEB SITES etc. are in themselves the solution to managing staff spread across various workplaces. By drawing the comparison between a modern day project and King Arthur's building of Camelot, this book goes a long way to teaching the human element in making teams cohesive across cultural and geographic divides. ... Read more

Book Description

A contemporary survival guide for future managers, this #1 “how-to” book on supervision explores the basic principles of management—planning, organizing, staffing, leading, and controlling people and operations—with a strong emphasis on their application to real on-the-job situations.Avoiding confusing jargon, it talks to learners one supervisor to another—discussing the specific tools of supervision in detail (explaining which tool is right for each task), and focusing on the development of strong interpersonal skills and on supervising a diverse workforce and teams. It comes completely updated with new examples and fresh insight into a variety of dynamic issues affecting management today. Examples are taken from well-known U.S. and international companies such as General Electric, Honda America, Harley-Davidson, Motorola, GM, Bell South, and Merrill Lynch.For anyone contemplating a career in management. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This authors clinical experstise is unrivaled.
As a front line supervisor with twenty years experiance under my belt I am very impressed with the authors ability to teach several new and effective people skills in every chapter. I have enjoyed several management texts in the past dozen years and found valuable tools in each and everyone. Whether it was "Reinventing the Warehouse" or "The Goal" these large scope versions of the self help books of the seventies all seem to fall victim to the same flaw as thier predacessors. While technically adept, they all start with the assumption the clay of human flesh with has no self determination. No sense of "Natural Law" that is searching for expression in a positive direction. When one of these very talented authors reaches outside of thier technical area and embraces a more holistic approach they will strike gold. Maybe Plunkett is just the guy to do it. in any case it was a superb effort, for what it was. ... Read more

Book Description

A perfect blend of theory and practice, Making the Team unites cutting-edge research on groups with practical management principles. The clear, step-by-step approaches offered in this book will prove especially useful for managers-in-training as well as seasoned executives.The book is organized into 3 primary tasks for the leader/manager: 1) Accurately assessing and improving team performance; 2) Managing the internal dynamics of teams (diversity, conflict, and creativity); and 3) Optimally leveraging the team within the larger organization.For Human Resource employees and trainers, consultants, and all levels of educators. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Worth the Price for "External Evironments"
Leigh Thompson has done it again. Like few others this Northwestern University scholar takes current research and puts it on the page like few other experts. I particularly found the sections on dealing with conflict within teams, creativity, and social capital (in the External Evironment section) worth reading. I keep this book with me when I am meeting with a team. I use the individual chapters as a guide for activities there. If you have an interest in teams, Leigh Thompson is the one expert you should include in your library.

Making the Team Makes the Grade!
Whether you work in teams, design them, or study them, you will find much of value in this book. Drawing on a wealth of social and behavioral science findings, Leigh Thompson shows the advantages, and the pitfalls, of getting things done through teamwork. Clearly written, with many case examples, Thompson builds on her research and consulting experiences to create a complex picture of what makes groups tick. I particularly liked her explanation of how to foster creativity in teams, as well as how to deal with the inevitable conflicts that arise. She notes that teams are not a panacea. However, under the right conditions, properly organized teams contribute substantially to their organizations. If you're dissatisfied with the way things are going in your organization, this book would make a great (anonymous?) gift for your boss! ... Read more

Book Description

As a sequel to the popular book "Team-Building Activities for Every Group" this book contains 107 more games and activities that promote team-building in an interactive and fun way. The games are new, different, experiential, exciting, easy to lead and require minimal resources.

With 61 "Team Up" activities and 46 activities to "Mix It Up," "Stir It Up" and "Open Up," there is something for every group, no matter where they are in the team-building process. The "Team Up" and "Open Up" games come with discussion prompts to help the leader facilitate a group discussion after each activity and increase the level of learning and insight. Each game in the book lists the objectives, materials needed, group size, and comes with an easy to read description. Many of the activities also include helpful variations to help tailor the game to fit any group no matter the size, age or skill level.

Whatever group you work with will find "More Team-Building Activities for Every Group" to be a valuable resource that will help turn any group into a team! ... Read more

Reviews (2)

This book DOES offer more!
I use the book "Team-Building Activities for Every Group" all the time and found this book is full of just as many new and great activities, if not more! This book seems to have more active games and a wider variety of new games! I use this book for my church group, soccer team and at the ropes course where I am a facilitator.

More Pleasant Surprises
The sequel to "Team Building Activities for Every Group" is another decent activity resource book by Alanna Jones. I was pleasantly surprised by the first and equally happy with this publication.

Some of the similarities are unfortunate. Like the first book, there are few diagrams and illustrations. Also, several of the activities might have been better served with more detailed descriptions. Finally, those with access to other experiential activity resource books will discover several renamed, recycled selections. For example, what you may know as "bull ring" becomes "ball ring" in this publication.

The good news? The book provides a number of decent, portable, no-props - low props, experiential activities. The majority of the 107 descriptions are clear and concise. Discussion prompts and activity variations are included whenever appropriate. Finally, when compared to other more costly publications or poor quality books, "More Team Building Activities" is a terrific value.

If you have experience facilitating groups you will almost certainly discover (or rediscover) activities to enhance your programs. I anticipate this selection becoming a frequently referenced book in our program's resource library. ... Read more

Book Description

Presented in a clear and visually appealing fashion, THE WRITER'S WORKPLACE breaks down the difficult writing concepts into easy to read, step-by-step explanations. All elements of writing, from grammar through the writing process, are covered in this text making it the most comprehensive yet easiest book on the market for the beginning writing student. ... Read more

Book Description

The concept to this book is a warm approach to the idea of: Only by working in a team will you fulfill your dreams. The focus of the book is on realizing one's dreams, achieving those goals by working in teams. Teams come in every shape and size--spouses in a marriage, colleagues at work, volunteers together for a good cause... It takes teamwork to make the dream work.

There are no lone rangers. It's a myth that one person can do something great. Strong leaders who changed our country dreamed big and were successful because they were always part of teams.

Like his previous three books, this one is filled with warm stories, mini-lessons in bullet form, Maxwell observations, and quotes.

Reviews (2)

Nothing new here.
The book is a compiliation of famous quotes, some short stories about influential people and Mr. Maxwell's contributons, where he uses catchy acronyms to imply some kind of motivational message to the reader.

This has all been done to death, and there is nothing memorable or noteworthy that you haven't either heard somewhere else or read before. The book is surrounded by colorful pictures and splashy graphics, but as far as literary content is concerned it is positively average, at best.

Excellent Advice from a Master Motivator!
Many of us owe much to the writings of John C. Maxwell. This volume is representative of his work as there's a lot of substance in this small book. Maxwell has the gift of presenting age-old truths in a unique way. As suggested by the title this book develops the theme of building and sustaining a team as a means of goal attainment. He gives advice on how to tap and maintain synergy between team members. In the early part of the book he makes the point that we are all involved in various teams just by the nature of our lives. A marriage, work unit, church or any other social system consisting of more than one individual is a team. Consequently he argues that the principles in this book have the potential for widespread use. As expected it is packed with quotes and illustrations from achievers, a large number of whom are sports figures. This is an easy, enjoyable read. ... Read more

Book Description

How does emotional intelligence as a competency go beyond the individual to become something a group or entire organization can build and utilize collectively? Written primarily by members of the Consortium for Research on Emotional Intelligence in Organizations, founded by recognized EI experts Daniel Goleman and Cary Cherniss, this groundbreaking compendium examines the conceptual and strategic issues involved in defining, measuring and promoting emotional intelligence in organizations. The book's contributing authors share fifteen models that have been field-tested and empirically validated in existing organizations. They also detail twenty-two guidelines for promoting emotional intelligence and outline a variety of measurement strategies for assessing emotional and social competence in organizations.

... Read more

Reviews (1)

Valid Scientific Writing - misses detailed "How To" answers
After being disappointed by Cary Cherniss' book on "promoting" emotional intelligence, I was rather reluctant to spend money on this one, so I ordered a used copy through Amazon (very satisfactory: the copy I got was as good as new). I must say that I find my money well spent. In fact, the only reason why this book doesn't get 5 stars is that it's too scientific for practical application.

For instance, chapter 5 is correct to point out that most tests don't measure emotional intelligence, BUT emotional competence, and then goes on to warn us that a test as Bar-on's EQi test certainly has disadvantages, given it is a self-administered test (In my experience, self-administration of EQ-like tests is particularly dangerous for recruiting and other forms of evaluation). Of course, then the question becomes: BUT I want to test EQ in the context of work, how can I do this in a reliable fashion? You'll find the answer halfway chapter 6, which indicates that Behavior Event Interviews will do the trick (I agree with this, since that's what I experienced as well). Unfortunately, you won't find what kind of questions to ask during such an interview, let alone examples of how to do it.

Also, I was glad that the author of chapter 8 pointed out the same pitfalls of hiring senior executives I have been warning companies for. The suggestions that were outline come close to what we have been doing for several customers, but again the real, practical how to's are missing.

The chapters on training emotional intelligence in part three of the book were more useful than the book "Promoting E.I.", so there is no need at all to buy that other book anymore. Once again, these 4 chapters contain many of the messages one should have when working to develop EQ.

My critique: Except the scientific parts, I found that many of the more practical things this