Book Description

Here is detailed and practical advice on interpreting the body language of fellow workers, superiors, and clients in various settings relating to business, management, and sales. A person's often unconscious gestures, facial expression, and body posture are frequent indicators of sincerity, uncertainty about details, evasiveness, and other things that aren't expressed verbally. Understanding body language is vital in influencing business associates, closing sales, and virtually all other activities related to business. Barron's Business Success Series offer career-minded men and women practical methods for success along with sound advice that applies to all levels of management in the business and corporate world. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The best adventure-based education book ever published!
Teamwork & Teamplay by Jim Cain and Barry Jolliff is one of the most complete texts I have ever read on the subject of adventure-based activities. The activities illustrated in Chapter 4 are numerous, and most were new to me. Chapter 5 shows how to construct each prop required for the activities, and the bibliography in Chapters 1 and 8 are without a doubt the most complete of any published to date. The writing style is easy to follow, and the graphics, photographs and illustrations make reading the book a joy. Every time I pick up this book I find more ideas for experiential activities. I would highly recommend this book for anyone wishing to increase their knowledge of the experiential training world.

Wow, what a book!
I try to keep up on new books, especially in the field of teambuilding and cooperative games. I picked up a copy of Teamwork & Teamplay about 3 weeks ago, and I am still finding wonderful ideas, activities and information throughout the book. I needed some new activities for my youth group, there were many in this book. I needed to find some ideas for other books on group games, and I found an extensive bibliography (just as promised). I decided to construct a few of the props myself, and found a well illustrated chapter on making your own equipment. I then tried to find a supplier of some specialty climbing webbing, and sure enough, right there in Chapter 8, I found dozens of places to buy equipment. Holy Cow, Jim Cain and Barry Jolliff, I've never seen a more complete manual in my 15 years of working in this field. Great Job, and if this program allowed more than 5 stars, I would easily suggest 10 for this effort. I'm going to empty off my teambuilding bookshelf, and just keep Teamwork & Teamplay up there.

WOW!!!
I've worked with high school groups and some corporate groups in outdoor adventure education for more than 12 years and this book would have been most helpful earlier in my career. This is a MUST BUY for anyone who in involved in training or education. The vaule of the book is so much higher than the acutal price. Once again. This is a MUST BUY for your personal or business libaray.

Useful and Useable
Possibly a top five choice for those beginning an experiential-adventure education, resource book library.

Very good written and visual descriptions. In addition,the authors focused a great deal on assisting the reader in identifying and locating the resources and tools necessary for each activity and initiative. The detailed information is useful for both purchasing and creating additions to your equipment bag of tricks. This feature alone has been very attractive to those browsing through the book at our introductory level, facilitator workshops.

The book features a good blend of low prop, portable activities along with less-portable intiatives. Also, helpful variations of activities such as the spider web and bull ring are provided.

You may find less expensive, activity books, but this remains an excellent value as a quality resource book.

For those looking to begin a library - this is one of my top five recommendations. If you are an experienced facilitator, you will likely find good information, but you may not find the book as valuable as a less experienced facilitator.

The best single volume
I have worked on challenge courses for nearly ten years and used much of what I do there in my other life as a middle school teacher. This is the best single volume I've seen. I was thrilled to read up on some truly new ideas as well as most of the tried and true stalwarts. Too often I've bought a book only to find that it is a repackaging of ideas that have been around a while. There is some of this, but plenty of innovation. The descriptions are clear and Caine has provided step-by-step instructions for making all of the equipment described in the book. They also comprehensively list other books, equipment vendors, organizations, etc.

If you know someone who's budget allows only one book, this is a great place to start. ... Read more

Book Description

In The Secret Handshake, top corporate consultant and USC management professor Kathleen Reardon explores and reveals the hidden rules on the ins and outs of corporate politics that you won’t find outlined in any employee handbook.
Based on hundreds of candid interviews with executives at Fortune 500 companies who have achieved their goals and joined the inner circle, The Secret Handshake lays bare the unstated conventions that govern and shape corporate hierarchies. Taking readers inside boardrooms to learn firsthand how the top decision-makers view and assess the employees under them, it offers invaluable advice on such career-building tactics and skills as getting noticed, networking, persuading others, knowing which battles to fight, and mastering the art of the quid pro quo. For all those who aspire to be part of the decision-making body of their organization, The Secret Handshake is the ultimate intelligence report on whom to trust and whom to watch out for, how to manage the inevitable conflicts that will arise, and how to read between the corporate lines.
... Read more

Reviews (19)

Good Book. Nasty Subject
I've noticed a wide variation of reviews, with most of the negative reviewers unable to separate the book and the subject. Office politics IS a distasteful activity...it wastes time and prevents many skilled workers from getting the rewards they deserve.

But--as the author herself notes, it is here to stay, so either arm yourself or be robbed.

I have read a number of office politics/OB books. What sets Reardon's book apart from the others is the following:

--Self-evaluation tests...of your workplace and your personal style. Knowing yourself is the first step to optomizing yourself.
--Relevant anecdotes...Reardon is an academic, and academic politics is really the second worst out there (the military is the worst). Furthermore, her experience as a consultant means she sees more politics in a year than most of us will see in a career.
--She covers all aspects of the game. When to fight, when to give in, how to make up, how to build bridges, how to recognize barriers.

This is a good overview of a nasty, brutish subject. Was it useful? Ask me in five years, when I'll have either made it or not.

Practical, emperically based and thoughtful.
There are several negative reviews posted for this book with which I would beg to differ.

I found the book to be well written - it's an easy and quick read - with a good balance of analysis and allegory.

This is a difficult subject that has been used and abused my many opportunists. It is very clear from the text that the author has plenty of experience in business politics - something that is rare. This is not just another trendy 'business communications' treatment of the topic. This is NOT a workbook - it is NOT a step-by-step book, it is NOT a 'list' book (7 habits?), it is NOT a 'success' book. This is a practical treatment of a complex topic by an expert in the field.

As I read this book I was able to relate my experiences and see them in a different light - I was able to understand how I could have handled situations differently and perhaps better - not just once, but throughout the book.

We've all heard of 'dysfunctional families', there are also 'dysfunctional offices' and this book will help you identify if you are part of one.

For me this was a very worthwhile book, I will read it again and recommend it to friends.
That's my take - loopster - Chicago, IL

disappointed
these methods are common sense-- it is a total waste of time and money.

A Chance To Enhance Airport Intelligence
Not slim pickings, Kathleen Reardon's book is not as simple a read as the airport reads that I call 'the food books'--books about cheese and fish that you can barrel through before you even take out your boarding pass. While these books are fast and entertaining and make you feel great while you are reading them, let's face it, few readers take the time to consider how to implement the principles into their own real-world challenges. Reardon's book provides a validated base of knowledge with field-tested strategies that can help you maneuver life's political communications, which, when it comes right down to it, includes just about every communication including navigating your way to and through the airport.

Kathleen Reardon is an expert who has translated reams of real-world data, along with her decades of expert knowledge regarding effective communication, into a readable, knowledge-packed book. Given that, it is amazing that it is not encyclopedic.

It does take more time to get through this one than the airport fast food books. Still this book is remarkably understandable and a relatively simple read given all of the knowledge upon which it rests. Rather than implying that reading the book is enough to go forward in the world to implement the principles and strategies, the book provides a framework that readers can apply, with thought and consideration, to their real world political communication challenges. In reality, that includes just about every communication challenge we face--even navigating our way out of the house and through airport lines.

While airport reads have provided us with the illusion that knowledge and inspiration can be attained in a nanosecond, this book confirms that it is a bit more complex and that with a valid knowledge base and the time to assimilate it into your own world challenges, you can inspire yourself to communicate effectively in any arena.

If enough frequent flyers and the people who work to help those frequent flyers navigate the airports read this book and turn it into action, we may see the emotional intelligence and intellectual smarts improve on all runways of life.

A Decent Book on a Very Critical Career Development Skill
Kathleen Kelly's book is extremely well written with practical advice on how to achieve recognition within business and political circles that matter. While some of the suggestions appear to be commonsensical, one will be amazed to learn that most of have failed to implement any of these suggestions for achieving the Secret Handshake. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Good Perspective
I read this book while pregnant with my first child and it was helpful.Larry Burkett gives a good perspective on the pros/cons of being a stay-at-home parent.Initially, I wondered why a man would write this book since most stay-at-home parents are women.But once I began reading, I realized that he includes many true family stories as examples.Stories about faith AND practicality make this book authentic.He also includes information about personalities, including a personality test for both Mom and Dad.The budget section is gives a good basis for evaluating finances as well.Overall, a great read for parents/soon-to-be parents who are considering staying at home.

I was inspired
I enjoyed this book very much. I am considering becoming a stay at home mom. I bought this book and a non-christian book. They were both helpful. I was most inspired by reading what I considered to be God inspired Bible based information. I also like it that his stories were real and not intended to sugar coat the experience. I am making plans to resign my job soon with Gods direction. A bonus of this book to me is the emphasis on Godly managed finances.

Truly the Best! ...
Opposed to others who view Larry Burkett in negative terms, I believe he has a lot to offer those who are "teachable" and willing to learn.That his is the only solution is not the point, but he speaks from a biblical viewpoint, and it is worth listening to.

In this book, he observes how outside influences are wreaking havoc on family values, and now is the time for mothers to find a way to spend more time with their children.Two-income families outweight single-income families, he says, three to one, although it might be higher at this writing.Home-based business are becoming the trend, and even so much more now, and Burkett gives insightful, practical counsel on how to survive the cutback from two incomes to one.This is "counsel," mind you, and if you are interested in counsel, this is the place to go.

Larry also discusses the four personality types, and whether or not you agree with this mode of character types, he explores how they relate to the home environment and includes personality tests in the Appendix for both husbands and wives.

This is a valuable resource guide for women who have made the transition from the marketplace to home, and they share honest, personal accounts of victories, setbacks, fears, and joys.If it is your desire to be a stay-at-home mother, but fear financial disaster, this book will help guide you in the right direction.

My family has taken counsel from Larry Burkett, and my wife did make the transition from marketplace to a "stay-at-home Mom," and she is enjoying every minute of it.Yes, she did have some of the same issues he explores, but now with our children, she can spend her every moment with them, instead of listening to others tell her how our children are growing.

A great book, and highly recommended!...

Not the best out there
I frankly don't know what the best book on this subject is but this can't be it.I love Larry Burkett but this book did not excite me. Don't get me wrong there are several chapters with great advice and very helpful testimonies but overall I was not very impressed.Sorry...

Excellent and eye-opening
This book helped us join the millions of other families who realized that Mom at home could not only be good for the family, but econommically viable. The worksheets really helped us see the costs of working (travel, car, clothing, daycare) which can be added back to the budget, which adds balance to the obvious loss of income. We've never been happier. The book also helps you focus your priorities. What IS important to you?Highly recommended. ST, JT ... Read more

Book Description

Praised for its writing style, research base, and range of topics covered, this book develops issues of diversity, ethics, technology and the organizational use of groups and teams within a systems theory framework. Clearly organized and logically presented, this book provides the opportunity for outstanding discussions of critical issues. Harris and Sherblom effectively integrate real world examples, hypothetical situations, social science theories, and scholarly research into a unified discussion of small group and team communication. Extensive examples, case studies, and exercises engage readers and help them to move from theoretical discussions into application and experience of the concepts presented. For anyone interested in the dynamics of small group communication. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Favorable Review
This book, Small Group and Team Communication, is a descriptive hands-on guide to success in a group setting. The authors intend to highlight the methods by which groups can achieve success, the problems which groups may encounter, and factors which enable groups to complete their tasks. Besides small group and team communication, various other methods of communication are discussed; nonverbal communication, the use of language, diversity in groups, the norms and behaviors of groups, the roles which certain people play in a group, and the characteristics that are necessary for success.
This book is readable and easy to understand; it has scenarios and discussion questions at the end of each chapter which solidify the material for the reader. These activities aid in the comprehension of the text. It may be necessary to have some prior knowledge of communications before reading this book; it would serve as a backdrop for further appreciation of the ideas represented. This book could very easily be used as a textbook for a communication course; it covers a great deal of ground on the topic of communication. The chapters are organized according to facets of group communication, such as decision making and problem solving, listening and feedback, creativity in small groups, diversity, four phases of group development, norms and roles, and conflict management, to name a few.
This book uses a great deal of references and ideas which are discussed in most communication texts. It brings together the various approaches and ideas that are in circulation about group communication and ties them together in a comprehensive and inclusive manner. There is a glossary, index, and it even includes popular testing methods to determine a person's skill and role as a group member.
I would recommend this book to professors for use in the classroom, and also as a resource for a research paper on group communication. ... Read more

Book Description

It is common knowledge that CEOs declare their direct reports as a "team at the top." Yet with a culture of individual accountability and self-reliance prevading executive suites, few management groups ever function as real teams. Now, in a natural follow-up to his bestselling The Wisdom of Teams, John Katzenbach moves his focus farther up the organizational ladder to offer practical guidelines for increasing leadership capacity at the highest executive levels. In Terms at the Top, he shows how even the strongest and most successful CEO can improve a company's performance by turning the senior executive group into a real team-without sacrificing each member's individual leadership capabilities. Teams at the Top explains how to recognize when a team effort at the management level is preferable and when a work group under single leadership will do. Then, the book shows how to develop the capability to shift into whichever mode is appropriate. With stories and examples from well-known companies including Enron, Ben & Jerry's, Champion, Citicorp, and Mobile, as well as lessons that are applicable for management groups anywhere in the organization, Teams at the Top will help companies of all sizes and in all industries maximize the full potential of their leadership. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A Delicate but Essential Balance
In one of his several brilliant studies of leadership, Organizing Genius, Warren Bennis examines high-performance teams such as those associated with the Disney studios (which created the first full-length animation film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), the Manhattan Project, Xerox's PARC, and Lockheed's "Skunk Works." But if your own organization has few (if any) geniuses, what are the best strategies for unleashing the potential of both collaborative teamwork and individual leadership? Katzenbach is himself the author or co-author of a number of brilliantly conceived and executed studies, notably The Wisdom of Teams and Real Change Leaders. In this book, his central thesis is that "an integrated balance of real team, individual, and single-leader working group performance is both possible and desirable at the top -- not that one mode is intrinsically better than the other." The key phrase is "integrated balance." Whatever the size and nature of your organization, Katzenbach offers "three major messages":

1. The best senior leadership groups are rarely a true team at the top -- although they can and do function as real teams when major, unexpected events prompt that behavior.

2. Most of the team members can optimize their performance as a group by consciously working to obtain a better balance between their team and non-team efforts -- rather than by trying to become an ongoing single team.

3. The secret to better balance lies in learning to integrate the discipline required for team performance with the discipline of executive (single-leader) behavior -- not in replacing one with the other.

This third "message" is especially relevant to smaller companies, probably privately-owned, in which the CEO (the archetypical single-leader) is either the founder or related to the founder. In such companies, the need for an "integrated balance" may be even greater than it is for much larger organizations. Katzenbach organizes his material within nine chapters. Rather than list their titles, I have selected a few key passages which, hopefully, will suggest the potential value of this book to you and your own organization's specific needs and interests.

Executive Leadership Discipline requires an individual to "create and maintain urgency, resolve the critical strategic issues, enforce individual accountability, leverage executive time, make the tough decisions individually, pick the best individuals for the key jobs, and periodically raise the bar." (Chapter One)

"The notion of 'leadership capacity' implies a system of leadership, if you will, that can extract leadership wisdom, insight, and behaviors from many more individuals. [This is obviously essential to concensus-building.] Thus it fuels the continuing search for different kinds of leadership approaches, both individual and joint, at all levels of the organization." (Chapter Three)

Team Leadership Discipline requires members to "create a meaningful purpose, commit to a team performance goals, be mutually accountable (no member can fail... only the team fails), commit to real work, share decision among members, strive for the right skill mix, and establish the height of the bar." (Chapter Four)

"Integrating real team performance with executive leadership performance requires both a sharp understanding of the differences between the two two disciplines required and a relentless determination to integrate the two. It is hard work, counterintuitive, and outside the comfort zone of most senior executives. Nevertheless, it is well worth the effort." (Chapter Nine)

In Appendix B, Katzenbach offers this definition of a real team: "A small number of people with complementary skills who are committed to a common purpose, performance goals, and approach for which they hold themselves mutually accountable." My own opinion is that unless an organization has the two disciplines (both executive leadership and team leadership) in appropriate balance, it will probably have neither. Hopefully, this brief commentary will encourage you to read and then re-read this important book. Also, to check out the other books authored or co-authored by Katzenbach.

Misses the Point
I was hugely disappointed with this book. It held such promise of addressing one of the most important barriers to building collaborative behavior in organizations---the behavior of the senior people.

Throughout the book the author seemed to defend the hierarchical behavior of senior executives and diminish team benefits. And it completely missed the essence of teams which is collaboration. Phrases such as "amorphous groups with overlapping responsibilities," "disrupt the natural order of things," "seldom the best way to get normal work accomplished or routine problems solved," "seldom the fastest way for a group with an experienced, capable leader to get where they are going," "time-consuming 'forming, norming, and storming' stuff," had me wondering if the author really understands collaboration.

This book may do more to maintain the traditional topdown, hierarchical decision making model than to foster real collaboration and teamwork. ... Read more

Book Description

Of all the challenges faced by organizations today, team-buildingranks as one of the biggest--and most critical. With organizations increasinglydependent on high-performance teams for virtually every imaginable activity,teamwork has become a major business strategy--and getting teams to work anabsolute necessity.

THE TEAM-BUILDING WORKSHOP was written specifically to help readers design andlead a two-day team-building workshop that achieves measurable results. Usingthe six-step team-building process and wealth of ready-to-use trainingmaterials, readers will be able to:

* Recognize when team building is the right solution * Generate true commitment to team building * Handle resistance to team building * Accurately assess the team's needs * Cure dysfunctional teams, resolve team conflict, and rebuild team trust * Use team building to improve productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Great HR Tool!
The "Team-Building Workshop"has proved to be a fantastic resource in our organization.This how-to book is a great tool that can be utilized by either Managers or HR Professionals, and is great for beginners in team building, as well as those that are more experienced. This book has provided our HR organization with the strategies and techniques to conduct team building sessions in both proactive and reactive situations, large and small without having to outsource.I highly recommend this book.

Jam-Packed Resource for Anyone Interested in Workplace Teams
This book offers a terrific balance of "principles and practicals." I found the author's grasp of workplace teams and their purpose (as well as when not to use them) to be very "real-world." As a seasoned corporate trainer, I am always on the look out for impacting resources, and this definitely tops my list in the Team-Building category. If you are new to workplace teams, or a veteran team-builder, you will find real gems in this volume. Ms. Payne uses an easy-to-follow format for each chapter: introducing the idea, discussing its value, giving concrete examples, and, most important to me, providing a template to get you started using the idea in your workplace situation. She even includes an Appendix with all the major tools and ideas laid out for overheads. This book will be helpful to HR personnel who need to provide guidance to team leaders in their organization; trainers seeking fresh ideas and tools for their team-building offerings; and managers who are looking for the practical steps one must take to create and sustain a high-performance work team. In this era of workplace collaboration and cooperation, The Team-Building Workshop, is a welcome resource for anyone trying to achieve more with and through others!

The Team-Building Workshop
What a fabulous book!The author does a great job in providing helpful tools and tips for assessing needs and facilitating team building sessions and it's done in a way that is easy to understand.I highly recommend this book to supervisors and HR professionals, or anyone else that is interested in building high performance teams! ... Read more

Book Description

In Productive Workplaces Revisited, Marvin Weisbord takes the next step in exploring effective strategies for improving workplace productivity  through dignity, meaning, and community. Remarkably, in this new edition the author revisits the case studies from the first edition, Productive Workplaces, to show the long-term effects of OD interventions -- twenty-plus years after the fact and provides invaluable insights for practitioner and student alike. In five new chapters, Weisbord reinterprets his systems work in health care and steel-making, describes how “future search,” his method for “getting everybody improving whole systems,” has crossed cultures on five continents, and summarizes his learning from following up cases decades later. This edition also presents in-depth case studies of organizations that have used these techniques to increase output, cut costs, create strategic plans, manage conflict between functions, and more. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Excellent foundation of OD theory and practice.
Productive Workplaces by Marvin R. Weisbord is a classic text on the evolution or organization development and, in Weisbord's words, organizing and managing for dignity, meaning and community. Those familiar with Weisbord's style will enjoy reading his narrative of the individuals and events that led up to the field of organization development as we now know it. In Part One, Weisbord takes the reader through the history of Frederick Taylor, Lewin, McGregor, Trist, Emery, and others who contributed to the evolution of the productive workplaces in which many of us are now fortunate enough to dwell. In Part Two, Weisbord translates theory into practice as he describes methods by which the workplace might be transformed. Finally, in Part Three, Weisbord encourages the reader to explore new and evolving theories, thereby continuing the growth and evolution of the field. Productive Workplaces is a classic that should not be missed by anyone even slightly interested in the field of organization development or workplace effectiveness. I am currently using it as a textbook for a graduate-level OD course and finding it to be invaluable.

"Productive Workplaces" puts modern OD into context
Marvin's book not only provides a wonderful historical context to OD, it provides great clarity into what the focus of OD should be - bringing Dignity, Meaning & Community to our working lives. In the first part of the book, he looks back at the key pioneers, from Taylor to Trist & Emery, and demonstrates how each added to dignity, meaning & community in their own way. It becomes very clear how "open systems" thinking evolved, and how the various philosophies therein should be applied. In the second part of the book, Marvin focuses in on practical applications of OD approaches and techniques, culminating with a very insightful, real-world case. Throughout, the themes were clear and consistent, and the messages powerful.

This book is an absolute "must read" for anyone interested in OD as a profession, as well as for anyone interested in dramatically improving workplace productivity through dignity, meaning & community (and avoiding draconian cost cutting).

a productive book on productive workplaces
as assigned reading in a HRD graduate course PW proves to be a great resource and an enjoyable read. mr. weisbord opens his tool box and lets you choose from a wide array of tools to apply directly to HRD situations. he also shares his triumphs and his tragedies allowing the reader a better understanding of how he arrived at the pinnacle of his profession. i'm not given to a great deal of emotion or "warm fuzziness" but mr. weisbord's writings and experiences are so powerful i found myself totally absorbed. best of all mr. weisbord cuts to the chase and presents his material in a concise manner. a rare find when compared to the techno-babble double-speak crap most business writers are churning out...

Great on basic principles and history
This book really puts together the evolution of theory on organizational change. Weisbord makes a compelling case for getting the system into one room to develop solutions that will be supported. Guidelines for actual interventions are not detailed how-tos. History and principles sections are excellent.

Useful, but a little out of date and laboured
Recommended to me by a change management consultant as the best book available on the subject.

The opening chapters deal with the historical leading lights of workplace efficiency and organisational design. This is interesting and informative.

Later chapters outline Weisbord's ideas on work design, organising a business, guidelines for ree-organising and generally shaking down an organisation. It can be a litle tedious to winkle out the ideas, but some of them are worthwhile.

Final chapters provide guidelines on consulting and helping people through a major change. Applied common sense proven in action makes this section the most worthwhile part of the book.

A book worth reading, but not essential. My expectations were perhaps a little too high. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The key to building a superior company, an increasing number of observers now agree, is the ongoing ability to recruit and retain superior personnel. In Topgrading, industrial psychologist and global consultant Bradford Smart expands upon this idea by examining in great detail exactly how today's premier organizations have assembled such top-level employees, and then showing precisely how others can do it, too. "Simply put, topgrading is the practice of packing the team with A players and clearing out the C players," Smart writes. "'A players' is defined as the top 10 percent of talent available at all salary levels--best of class. With this radical definition, you are not a topgrader until your team consists of all A players. Period." Essentially a best-practices manual for developing this outstanding personnel pool, the book is based on more than 4,000 interviews and case studies conducted by Smart at major corporations like General Electric as well as fast-growing high-tech companies and small family-owned firms. He further bolsters its effectiveness by including his extensive "Chronological In-Depth Structured Interview Guide," along with other assessment tools and hands-on strategies for assembling an ideal work team. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (32)

GREAT PROCESS AND REASONS TO HIRE THE BEST
Computers and equipment are wonderful tools, but people make the difference. TOPGRADING makes it clear just how valuable it is to hire and work with the best. The mistakes you will avoid make the investment very valuable. Early in our company's history, we did a statistical analysis of how many candidates we had to seriously consider before we could assume that we had seen an outstanding one. It was over 140. TOPGRADING provides you with a process that reduces that number a lot, but still ensures that you will be able to hire the best. I was very impressed with this book. I think it is one of the few books that goes beyond the current best practice to establish a new and higher standard. You would be very foolish if you did not read and apply the messages of this book. When the history of many companies is written in the future, a key turning point will be the day that TOPGRADING was first applied. I wish that I had had this book available 22 years ago when I established my consulting firm! I have recently discussed this book with a number of business executives, and they each found the book to be as valuable as I did. THIS BOOK WILL INCREASE THE CHANCES THAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES WILL BE BIGGER WINNERS THAN EVER BEFORE! Banish stalled thinking about hiring, and use this process.

An extremely useful book based on solid research.
Based on solid research, this book introduces the concept of topgrading-filling every position in the organization with a top candidate at the appropriate pay level. Topgrading is a process involving: seeking out, hiring and retaining top people; using the best assessment methods to make less than 10% mistakes in hiring and promoting; improving current staff through coaching; redeploying employees who are not performing at highest level to a position in which they can excel; and achieving inclusivity goals without lower performance standards. A chapter devoted to self development focuses on fifty management competencies and is of particular usefulness. Other guides and aids are presented for interviewing and self appraisal. This is an extremely useful volume.

Manage an Organization as Nature Would ...
... with the neither malice nor pity. That's the gist of this excellent book, and it's not offensive to the concept of human dignity. To the contrary, Dr. Smart notes that "A players" can (and should) exist at every level. Every CEO, every acountant, every sales rep, and every Wal-Mart greeter should be best in class -- and they should be required to stay competitive in their skills. That's not ruthless. That's natural. But this book goes one step farther, making the compelling case that -- left to their own devices -- the "C players" in any organization will destroy value over time, whether they intend to or not. Accordingly, Topgrading is essential.

Very interested, until...
After reading the reviews of this book, I wanted it...but there's one hesitation.

One company the marketers of the book hold up as an example of why the author's work is effective is GE. In my opinion, and in the opinion of many I've spoken with in my world, GE's products are not superior...so this makes me wonder

The Best Book on this Topic in 21 Years
I have been a professional recruiter for over 21 years. Topgrading is the best book that I have read on the topic of selecting impact performers. This book is a valuable read for both hiring managers and candidates. The appendix is worth the price of the book by itself.

I have recommended this book to my clients on my recruiting contracts because many have never been taught how to conduct a structured interview. Consequently, they tend to ask one set of questions to one candidate and another set of questions to another candidate for the same job. How will they be able to compare the two candidates? Brad Smart gives them a nice track to run on.

My only major difficulty with the book is the amount of time between the initial interview and the final interview a month later. In my experience as a professional recruiter, that is too long between interviews. In recruitment, time is your enemy. There are too many companies who are searching for A Players. You could lose an A Player easily within a month to another, more efficient company. As our economy moves from the Baby Boomers as the primary workforce to the Gen X'ers, we are about to experience a shortage of workers. If you wait too long to extend an offer, the Recruiterguy will get them!

On the other hand, Brad's reference checking information is so valuable that I have been teaching my clients to use it. I agree with him that it is important for the hiring manager to conduct the reference checks. It's simple psychology. If I call the manager of a candidate and identify myself as a recruiter, the former manager will give me some information about the candidate. However, their perception is that I am not their peer (unless they know me from a previous relationship). However, if the hiring manager calls the former manager, they are peers and the information given and received will be much more valuable.

The 50 manager competencies listed in the appendix are great tools for developing a structured interview and Job Description. They are also valuable for candidates who need to prepare for interviews by giving examples of their competencies.

Is Topgrading perfect for every interviewing situation? There probably isn't a perfect book. However, this one is easy to read. Take the valuable information that he offers on the interviewing process, the reference checks, and coaching (and protecting) A Players and you will be way ahead of most hiring managers.

If you are a candidate searching for your next job, Topgrading is a must read for you. He asks some tough questions. Some people may be offended. However, I agree with his points. Use the sample competencies in the appendix to strengthen your interviewing skills.

Pick up the book. You will benefit from reading it. ... Read more

Book Description

An accident has occurred on the floor of your plant. How do you determine what caused it so you can prevent it from happening again? Or what if there has been an error in the production line that has led to the manufacture of defective products? What do you do?

The answer is root cause analysis, a process that allows you to find the cause of single events/problems in the workplace. The Root Cause Analysis Handbook presents a walk-through example that illustrates the method and shows how to implement it.

Because poor initial problem definition can (and often does) undermine the problem-solving process, Ammerman places special emphasis on this area to build a solid foundation for effective analysis. He also provides guidance on preparing the final report.

The need for clear documentation on dealing with problems makes this book especially valuable for quality managers, engineers, safety managers, and teams implementing the ISO or QS standards.

Written in a simple, user-friendly style, you will grasp the core concepts quickly and begin applying them to your work. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Very good introduction to root cause analysis.
This book does an excellent job of quickly covering conventional root cause analysis. With an emphasis on documentation, the author takes you through a series of steps that include defining the problem, methods for collecting data and gathering information, analysis of the problem, and ultimately developing corrective action. This book moves very fast, reading more like a slide-show presentation than a book, yet the author is able to communicate a lot of good information using this minimalist approach. Rather than detailing numerous analysis methods, the author keeps it simple by sticking with a fixed path to problem solving. I found the "Pitfalls of ..." sections after each topic very insightful. In addition, the collection of forms, tables, and checklists included in the book (great appendix) are excellent. Don't look for case studies here, this is a straight forward how-to book

Unique approach to a traditionally reactive technique
My background is information systems service delivery. I stumbled across this gem when I was searching for resources on how to structure outage investigations for applications that did not meet service level objectives.

Prior to reading this book I viewed root cause analysis as a reactive tool to be used to investigate the causes of failures. The approach taken by the author is to also use this technique as a proactive tool in a manner similar to failure mode effects and criticality analysis (FMECA).

Here is a summary of what how this book approaches root cause analysis: it begins with a section on defining problems and collecting data. This approach allows you to take a proactive approach, especially if you are in an environment that uses statistical process controls to measure process performance. This is augmented by a chapters on task analysis and event and casual factor charting. This is where the author's approach begins to resemble FMECA techniques, which are proactive versus reactive methods of addressing problems and risks. This is followed by chapters on interviewing and reporting.

I particularily liked the chapter on interviewing techniques, which added a practical dimension root cause analysis. I also liked the way the author used hints throughout the book to reinforce methods.

The rest of the brief 135-page book is devoted to forms, worksheets and checklists that significantly add to the value or the book. I would have liked an accompanying diskette with this material in electronic format, but the lack of it does not detract from the book in any way.

If you want to use root cause analysis as a proactive tool in conntection with a continuous improvement initiative I recommend that you also consider Understanding Variation by Donald Wheeler. If you are seeking a more proactive approach to preventing problems in the first place you might consider augmenting Root Cause Analysis Handbook with Failure Mode and Effect Analysis by D. H. Stamatis.

Great book about a methodology I use and know works!
Provides a clear, step by step methodology, with techniques, for problem or error analysis and identifying a solution. This is an exceptionally practical work offering a methodology for problem solving that is attractive; one which I subscribe to and use. Recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Measuring human behavior in the workplace has long been a difficult task.Converting human behavior measures into dollars has generally been limited to rare and specialized studies.In this book best-selling author Dennis Kravetz shows how anyone, by gathering easily available information, can set up metrics to measure human capital.Once established, these metrics enable individuals to calculate the dollar value of planned or completed people management changes.

Measuring Human Capital is loaded with case studies that document the amount of money that can be gained by improving people management practices.Readers can see the dollar value, for example, of management coaching, reducing bureaucracy, and implementing better selection procedures.The dollars quickly get into the millions.

In this book readers are provided with easy-to-use equations that enable them to calculate the dollar value of any human capital changes that they care to assess.Dennis Kravetz presents studies done with 600+ organizations showing that many billions of dollars are waiting for the those organizations who manage people effectively.

Measuring Human Capital melds together the best of behavioral science, finance, and business pragmatics to show how to measure human capital in the workplace.This book tackles the "holy grail" of human capital measurement, converting workplace behavior into dollars.Readers are shown the limitations of current measurement programs, how to set up highly effective new metrics that are updated through performance appraisals and employee surveys, and how to turn changes on those metrics into dollars gained (or lost).Every manager, executive, human resources professional, training professional, consultant and student of human behavior or business will want to buy this book to see how they can implement breakthrough measurement practices. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Terrific new work
Every once in a while a book comes along that really impresses you and influence. Measuring Human Capital is just such a book. I really liked the science that the author brings to a warm and fuzzy area--measuring humans in the workplace. I never realized what can be done--imagine being able to use equations to see the exact dollar value of changing bureaucracy or having a more competent workforce. Even better yet the equations require only basic math to solve. Anyone can gather the data and easily do the calculations.

Most of the books that I have seen on human capital require that specialized studies be done to come up with any numbers. Or they apply only to evaluating training courses or other limited applications. Not Kravetz and this book. He shows you how you can set up metrics to be used for a determing the dollar value of many human capital issues--training, selection, management style, culture, just to name a few. And you can update the metrics every time you do a performance appraisal or an employee survey.

What I particularly like about this book are the case studies. They are from real corporations and are very easy to follow. At my company we are very rapidly moving ahead to apply the key metrics that are mentioned in this book. And we have managers from many disciplines (engineering, R&D, finance) who are using the metrics and loving it. They are saying only wonderful things about the metrics and the equations for calculating the dollar value of human performance. I never thought I would here these people say such words but they see how many dollars are at stake and are going for it.

The book is strong throughout, as I should have known from Kravetz' other writings. You can skip over some of the sections on developing the metrics if you just want to use the equations, however I would recommend reading this material because all users should be familiar with it. As the author points out, you have to develop the metrics only once but they must be done in a certain way to calculate the dollar value of human performance. You need to read these chapters to understand how to set up the metrics.

Kravetz is right--there is a gold mine underneath the board room table that senior managers are not using. If only we could get all managers to read this book and implement. They would see that there are millions of dollars to be made from better people management activities. This is a great book that is destined to be read and used by many people. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Teams have become an increasingly important part of business success. The creation of virtual teams with members geographically scattered but electronically connected has set many companies on fire. Yet for all their power and flexibility, virtual teams face greater obstacles than traditional teams do. Organizational networking experts Jessica Lipnack and Jeffrey Stamps provide the keys to successful virtual teams, showing how to harness their potential while avoiding their many potential pitfalls. The many case studies offered are particularly enlightening as the authors demonstrate the techniques, mechanics, and communications required to build the virtual teams that supercharge an enterprise. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A "must-have" for any consultant.
Whether we choose to embrace technology, it is here to stay. Those who harness and leverage its capabilities will discover exciting new ways to conduct commerce. From entrepreneurial startups to the mega corporations, "Virtual Teams" explores not only how these emerging technologies will affect our daily activities but how our workplaces and social interactions will metamorphose. I highly recommend this book; Lipnack and Stamps are visionaries in field of networking. -- L. Alan Schuetz, President, DVMS, Inc.

Simultaneously Fundamental and Visionary...
"Virtual Teams" was a real treat for both my academic and consulting sensibilities. I have never seen such a thorough work on this topic. It is both fundamental and visionary at the same time.

In discourse with a fellow business consultant we bantered about the topic of Lipnack and Stamps latest book (of which I had received an advance copy). He said: "Unfortunately, Lipnack and Stamps(L&S) have been 10 years ahead of the curve with their understanding of the importance of networking."

"But," I replied, "With the book 'Virtual Teams' they offer the world-wide-race-to-the-Internet a well needed moment of reflection-during which they offer PURPOSE to connecting and give virtual teaming DEFINITION and DIRECTION." And the banter continued but we both agreed and got tingles as our chat echoed the truth of their statement:

"Communication technologies and computer networks-in particular the Internet-are underwriting this moment of pregnant potential." (p 240)

"You know," I concluded, "It's a good thing they (L&S) were ahead of their time-otherwise we would not have the language to discuss our 'interdependence' symptoms, to test our 'distributed business' hypothesis', and to realize how much responsibilty it is to be 'pregnant' with potential! Really! The capabilities and expectations we have to manage in these Internet days... how exciting, how dangerous! After all, 'net potential, without 'net performance is just predisposed waste, don't you agree?"

"Yeah, yeah Paula,--yadda, yadda, yadda; 'net, 'net, 'net...enough philosophy-so, should I read the book or not?"

"Go for it." I replied. "This book is not just an electronic blip about the latest fad of virtual teams- it is a study on careful communication, on planning and developing valuable distributed business relationships...a book to be savored and re-read over time."

(BTW --Mine is already all dog-eared and worn!)

Be prepared to THINK DEEP; when you read this book, SIP it SLOWLY and --ENJOY! ... Read more

Book Description

Team Secrets of the Navy SEALs is written especially for business professionals who want to make it in today's extremely aggressive business environment. No force or unit has ever had more success than the SEALs. Author Robert Needham uses the lessons he's learned as a Navy SEAL to guide the reader through the role of being or becoming a leader. "To some, leadership is exemplified by the blind obedience to orders. It is a misconception that to coerce another person to do your bidding makes you a 'leader.'"Navy SEALs are recognized around the world as being the best. From their start as Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDU) in WWII to the founding of the SEALs in 1962, only 8,000 men have been allowed to join this top-notch unit. Needham is still on active duty as a SEAL and knows how to achieve results. "The ruthless effectiveness and efficiency of the SEAL Teams stems from the fact that we always start from, perfect, and practice the basics. The Team is a dynamic that works toward success, not hindered by pride, preservation, and self-interest."Needham's principles define and illustrate the word "team," and they will motivate business people working toward that common goal. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Best Leadership Book EVER!
If you want the ultimate team: READ THIS BOOK! This is the best leadership book I have ever read: PERIOD! ... Read more

Book Description

This book offers a penetrating review of the morals and values that shape the Korean business personality; cultural "keys" thatturn Koreans on and off, and how best to communicate with them. Korean Business Etiquette will show what really makes Koreanworkers tick-and how to do business the Korean way. With its authoritative scholarship, practical insights, and guidelines for foreign workers,this book is truly a "must read" for anyone doing business in Korea now or in the future. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Scott Adams's latest work is not a collection of Dilbert cartoons (though recycled strips are liberally sprinkled throughout); it's a dialogue between the man and his fans disguised as a tongue-in-cheek guide to surviving the corporate life.There are chapters on "Office Pranks," "Surviving Meetings," and "Managing Your Co-Workers," with enough weird stories and practical jokes to make any middle manager nervous, especially as many of the tricks and tips come from e-mails sent to Adams by his fans (one tip: never let anyone else use your computer). If these messages are any indication, the creative tide has turned, and now the corporate world is following Dilbert's lead. In the office blocks of America, life is imitating art imitating life, creating a pleasantly postmodern working environment. The final chapter of The Joy of Work, "Handling Criticism," includes a response to Norman Solomon's The Trouble with Dilbert, which accuses Adams of selling out and supporting the corporate hierarchy that he claims to satirize. Adams's response is thorough and convincing, with just enough nastiness (jokes about Solomon's hair, for example) to demonstrate that although Dilbert may not have a mouth, he certainly has teeth. --Simon Leake ... Read more

Reviews (33)

Getting a little tired. Sigh.
I live my life according to the Dilbert concepts. In fact, when I was a manager (I escaped and now live in a cube) my guiding light was to try to do things that the pointy-haired boss wouldn't do. I still wasn't successful, but that's another story.

I owe much to Scott Adams. However, I didn't enjoy this latest book. I sense that he's now using these books to simply vent and that he is going over material covered in other books. While I snorted and projectile laughed several times during the reading of this book, there were very LONG gaps between each mirthful episode.

Mr. Adams writes well and is humorous. But I fear that, at least with regard to his non-comic strip books, he may be in need of more inspiration. Perhaps he needs to get his job back at Pac Bell?

By the way, I am a proud member of the DNRC.

Hilarious Book, Out Loud Laughter - From A New Dilbert Fan
This is one of the first Dilbert books I have read. I enjoyed the book and thought it was outright hilarious. It is a nice easy read to relax and you will be laughing out loud. I usually do not laugh out loud when I am reading books, but this book did it for me.

There were two sections of the book that stood out to me. I especially liked the section on office pranks written in by readers of Dilbert to Scott Adams. Also particularly amusing is the instance where Adams pretends to be a consultant at Logitech. Read the book to see what happens. Not too surprising, but funny.

Whether you are a longtime Dilbert fan or a newcomer to the Dilbert series, I would recommend this book for a quick and funny read. I have also read The Dilbert Principle, but I found this book much funnier.

Dot-com boom book still laugh-out-loud funny
Clearly written during the dot-com boom, this book is nevertheless enjoyable for its laugh-out-loud humor. It's written tongue-in-cheek as a guide to enjoy work - you're there most of the time, might as well have fun. Being devious is key. Some of the practical "jokes" that readers have sent to Scott Adams border more on cruelty than humor, but hey, you wouldn't take this advice seriously anyway. Reading it in the dot-bomb era is fun, too, as it shows the "take this job and shove it" attitude that the stock option days led to.

The latter part of the book is Scott Adams' musings on creativity and humor. He tries to keep the same tonality as in the rest of the book, but you can tell he's a bit more thoughtful about this. It, too, is a good read, albeit different than the first part of the book.

The Joy of Work: Dilbert's Guide to Finding Happiness at the
The Joy of Work: Dilbert's Guide to Finding Happiness at the Expense of Your Co-Workers by Scott Adams tells it as it is. There is nothing phony in this book. Everything he says is true. I worked for a library and belive my I have seen all the strange bosses that he describes in this funny book. 5/5.

Funny but philosophical
Dilbert has always captivated me right from the time i remember. I always loved Dilbert cartoons (i subscribe to the cartoon via email) and i've read a number of Dilbert books.

But this book doesn't just make the mark that Scott Adams is famous for. True, this book does make you laugh and think at the same time; but after reading "The Dilbert Principle" and "Dilbert Future" you would think the humour is probably a bit stale and crude (at times).

Sometimes, i find the emails that Scott Adams publishes hard to believe and it even makes me think if a good percentage of them maybe spoofs. If you've such an idea, then this book will reinforce the fact! Many emails seem made up for the book. I even emailed Scott and (wisely) he's made no comments (and yes, he has replied to me on previous ocassions).

Another thing sorely missing is the absence of new characters that generally make the entire Dilbert experience a joy to read.

If you've read the other Dilbert books, go ahead and pick this one up, but if you're relatively new to Dilbert, i suggest you read the other books (Scott is a terrific writer) and then come back to this.

All in all -- a must have for die-hard fans, a good read for other people! ... Read more

Book Description

This long-awaited sequel to the classic bestselling manual, Team Games for Trainers, is based on a sophisticated new understanding of team dynamics, gleaned from nearly a decade of experience with all sorts of workplace teams.Containing 90 easy-to-facilitate training games, this up-to-the-minute, cutting-edge collection addresses new team issues like "advanced team building," "why teams fail," and team learning.Use these games to align individual and team goals, make diversity work, unleash creativity, and much more. ... Read more