Book Description

Learn to communicate simply, but effectively, with Spanish-speaking patients and customers.It’s easier than you think – no grammar, no alphabet to memorize, no rules to study.Workplace Spanish® for Pharmacists has been created to enable you to communicate in Spanish without learning "the entire language".

Organized by topic, our easy-to-use manual and audio CD contain more than 500 key terms and phrases for pharmaceutical professionals.You’ll master Spanish pronunciation and be able to engage in short conversations focusing on greeting customers, time and timing, store directions, as well as pharmaceutical terminology including customer and insurance information, Rx and OTC medicines, dosage instructions, symptoms and illnesses, body parts and other important terms.

The manual also features a quiz section called "Drills for Skills", a 9-page alphabetical keyword list for fast lookup, and a series of real-world practice conversations.

The one-hour audio CD contains all phrases covered in the book, plus pronunciation tips and suggestions on how to learn more quickly.The CD features both a native Spanish speaker and a non-fluent, yet accurate English speaker repeating the terms and phrases.Newcomers to Spanish find this a great advantage over traditional language tapes. ... Read more

Book Description

Intercultural Communication in the Global Workplace continues to be a vital reference for global business professionals. This new edition features updated discussions on the impact of globalization and technology in business communication, expanded treatment of ethics issues, increased discussion of world religions (particularly the role of Islam), and more short cases for improved ease of reading and comprehension.

Reviews (3)

More than an academic perspective
I'm an American based in Japan and working all over Asia. I found this book to be an outstanding analysis of the relationships between Americans and their foreign colleagues or customers.

It's written from a business perspective more so than an academic perspective. Although the style is a bit heavy, I still found many of the anecdotes entertaining.

real-life examples of diversity in globalized business
In the past four years, I have used Intercultural Communication in the Global Workplace with over 500 community college students interested in cultural differences from a business perspective.This book provides auseful structure for thinking and talking about both the theoreticalfoundations of global diversity as well as the practical implications ofworking cross culturally - -whether from a desk in the USA or travelingand working abroad. The book is well-organized and includes thoughtfullyselected, real-life examples of cultural differences (which I, as anoverseas expatriate of 20 years can verify). The real value of the book isin these multiple examples which give readers a sense of the rich diversityof our globalized world and the importance of encountering business peoplefrom other cultures (both within the USA and abroad) with an awareness of,and sensitivity to, cultural priorities. The case study in the chapter onnegotiations with other cultures is particularly well-conceived and useful.

real-life examples of diversity in globalized business
In the past four years, I have used Intercultural Communication in the Global Workplace with over 500 community college students interested in cultural differences from a business perspective.This book provides auseful structure for thinking and talking about both the theoreticalfoundations of global diversity as well as the practical implications ofworking cross culturally - -whether from a desk in the USA or travelingand working abroad. The book is well-organized and includes thoughtfullyselected, real-life examples of cultural differences (which I, as anoverseas expatriate of 20 years can verify). The real value of the book isin these multiple examples which give readers a sense of the rich diversityof our globalized world and the importance of encountering business peoplefrom other cultures (both within the USA and abroad) with an awareness of,and sensitivity to, their cultural priorities. The case study in thechapter on negotiations with other cultures is particularly well-conceivedand useful. ... Read more

Book Description

The move to virtual work is growing exponentially.New economy businesses have pioneered telecommuting and global work teams. While the collaborative technology is understood, what managers and team leaders lack is a clear guide to the human skills for bonding individuals into cohesive, high-performance teams across distances and differences.

This book explains what's needed in terms of both organizational and individual development--and shows how the technological tools support and expand the options for collaboration.

It answers such critical questions as "What makes working virtually work?""How do we start?" "How do you develop new leaders in a virtual environment?" "What skills do virtual managers and team members need?"How do you determine how ready they are?""Which technologies are most appropriate for your purposes?""What's the impact on existing systems and structures?"

Through work charts, vivid "composite" examples, definitions and actual cases, she explains how to reframe the organization without losing the culture, how to manage the group dynamics of change, and create trust by expanding emotional bandwidth.She sets out the criteria for selecting technologies to adapt and guide communication and work flow processes to a virtual environment, discusses new team roles, and how to select virtual team candidates.She covers training, communication, and management.

As someone who began developing, and working in, virtual teams in 1984, Trina Hoefling's experience is arguably the most extensive in the field.This book will be an indispensable practical guide and reference for virtual team leaders, human resource managers, CEO's and trainers.It will also be suitable for professional certification and business courses in organizational development. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent, clearly written and positive instructional
Trina Hoefling is the founder of Consult One Group, Denver, Colorado, and a professional whose years experience in virtual working included developing one of the first remote training programs. Hoefling draws upon her considerable experience and expertise in Working Virtually: Managing People For Successful Virtual Teams And Organizations to presents examples, definitions, anecdotes, advice, and seasoned wisdom for making the most of telecommunication, teleconferencing, and enabling the team bonding process despite the separation of distance in the modern-day workplace. An excellent, clearly written and positive instructional guide to both personal and technological concerns, Working Virtually is especially commended reading for virtual team leaders, Human Resource managers, CEO's, and corporate trainers. ... Read more

Book Description

Collaboration is an everyday practice that many people find to be a frustrating, even exhausting, experience. How to Make Collaboration Work provides a remedy: five principles of collaboration that have been tested and refined in organizations throughout the world. Author David Straus shows that these methods can help any group make better decisions and function more effectively. The five principles are: Involve the Relevant Stakeholders, Build Consensus Phase by Phase, Design a Process Map, Designate a Process Facilitator, and Harness the Power of Group Memory. Each principle addresses the specific challenges people face when trying to work collaboratively, and each can be applied to any problem-solving scenario. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Terrific Book from a National Leader in Group Empowerment
Just plain terrific. David Straus's second book is useful for anyone involved in groups, whether at work, at home, or in the community-- and isn't that all of us? He covers it all-- from very basic details such as how to arrange the furniture in your meeting room, to how to effect the most sophisticated interchanges between participants at the highest levels of authority. Whether you're in business, education, government,or consulting, you'll learn from Straus. He has worked with a wide range of clients, from Ford Motors and the E.P.A. to the City of Denver and the Boston public schools. Throughout the book, his warm personality, absolute candor, and wealth of anecdotes make his principles easy to understand and absorb. A really valuable book from a national leader in group empowerment. ... Read more

Book Description

Becoming skilled at doing more with others may be the single most important thing you can do to ensure that you remain employed in the emerging knowledge economy. Teamwork Is an Individual Skilloffers best practices, tips, and developmental activities for taking personal responsibility for the success of teams and other relationships at work. It equips you with a set of individual mental skills and behaviors that will help you create highly responsible and productive relationships. No longer will you find yourself complaining, "I got assigned to a bad team." Instead, you’ll know what to do to make teamwork work for you. This book aims to remove the ambiguity that exists around teambuilding by focusing on five abilities: (1) personal responsibility for productive relationships, (2) creating powerful partnerships, (3) aligning individuals around a shared purpose, (4) trusting just right, and (5) developing your collaborative mindset. Most importantly, Teamwork Is an Individual Skill shows that teamwork is an individual responsibility and skill set, not a group process, and shows how a person can be powerful when sharing responsibility to get things done. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The first sentence floored me
The book entitled "Teamwork is an Individual Skill" is quite interesting. I work at a large semi-conductor manufacturer as a non-exempt fab technician on a self managed team on night shift.

I am the most experienced and capable person on my team, yet with all of my background I have come to realize how relatively little influence I often have on team performance, and on my ability to push the team in the direction I think it should go. The very first sentence in your book on page 1, "Do you share responsibility with others to get work done but don't have authority over them (and they don't have authority over you)?" absolutely floored me, 'cause that is me to the tee.

I had only gotten to page 8 of your book when I was thoroughly blown away by the directness with which the differences between flat and hierarchical structures were addressed. At my company there is no mention of this approach; even once when I mentioned the term "semi-autonomous team" to the most qualified tech (who happened to be on day shift--arguably a more hierarchical environment due to the presence of many exempt employees) he did not know what the term meant. The company has this structure in place almost as an unwritten agenda.

Your comment on page 5, "Many individuals--especially smart, high achievers--can experience great angst if asked to serve in teams." is in retrospect a great source of comfort to help me understand my angst during my three years with this company. In all of the areas I have worked in during that time I am sure that I had (at least on paper) more qualifications than any one other person (B.S. deg, two A.A.S. degs, 12+ prior years of technical experience, and a whole host of other skills that my teammates do not exhibit.) Plus add to that, that my experience has almost exclusively come from a strongly tilted hierarchical background in retrospect is why I struggled with teams, as you describe them.

Every page of your book is quite thought-provoking, causing me to pause and reflect on how your observations compare to my situation.

Take Responsibility for Team Success
For years, I have resisted the popular notion of "there is no 'I' in "teamwork" because teams are a collection of individuals working toward a common goal. Each of us brings our own values and skill sets to the table. It is our choice to work together (or not) as a team.
Christopher M. Avery has captured this idea and more in his latest book, Teamwork is an Individual Skill: Getting Work Done When Sharing Responsibility. Chris suggests that individuals take responsibility for team success versus blame others He challenges the reader to be proactive and work through team issues rather than avoid or accommodate others.
This is a perfect book for team members who have been on teams before. It will validate good team behaviors and point out areas to upgrade...in a gentle and non-threatening way. The book is easy to read with lots of stories and examples to highlight the key points.

I use it in my MB A class
I have assigned this book as required reading for my MBA level course in managing individuals an teams. It has been a big hit. I have used other books in the past, but this is the first that really addresses the concerns that students have. I, and they, like the emphasis on the "individual" skills involved in
teamwork.

Teamwork is an Individual Skill
Exceptional book! This book will give you real life examples as well as opportunities to practice theories as an individual or with you team. Too many books and theories focus on the team as a whole. Mr. Avery makes people realize that it is an individual's choice that makes a team successful. Depending on your level of commitment and taking responsibility, everyone can be on a productive and inspiring team. I would highly recommend the book as well as Partnerwerks seminar, "Being Powerful in Any Team".

Whose fault is it when teams don¿t work?
Whose fault is it when teams don't work?

I was leery of the new book Teamwork Is an Individual Skill, by Christopher M. Avery, but got hooked halfway through the first chapter. If you work with people - as a manager, employee, business owner - even as a family member - you're likely to find valuable advice for building cooperative relationships and achieving common goals.

This is not a book about getting along with those you work with, or even about being nice to them. It's about helping them help you succeed. According to Avery, if you do your part (by taking responsibility for the team's performance), they'll do theirs. The team will achieve its goals, and everyone will be able to take the credit.

Following are a few of the book's suggestions:

· Realize that teams are defined not by the people on them but by what the team must do. To win individually, the members must win first as a team.

· Take responsibility for and act on troublesome situations, rather than waiting for those "in charge" to do so.

· Don't go along with something you are strongly opposed to. Without blaming, "push back," knowing that your silence would be equivalent to consent.

· Begin a team relationship with a contribution: evidence of your talents, special information to which you have access ... tools, contacts, whatever you have that supports the team's mission.

· Practice "servant leadership," Buckminster Fuller's concept of winning by helping others win.

The book continues with ideas for using conflict constructively, distinguishing criticism from feedback, building consensus, calling others on broken agreements, and much more. Avery has included individual and team exercises, so you can use Teamwork Is an Individual Skill as an employee-training manual. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Dennis and Michelle Reina, principals in an organization-development firm, believe more productive and rewarding work environments will emerge if relationships that define them are truly built on trust. The problem they see is years of "downsizing, restructuring, and reengineering or of upsizing, mergers, and growth" that frequently result in minor misreadings of intention along with major breaches of promise--followed all too often by seriously diminished employee performance. The solution they propose in Trust & Betrayal in the Workplace is that leaders must develop a full understanding of the complex dynamics involved, and commit to practices that support building trust with employees. The book addresses the aspects of betrayal and trust, the bulk of it focused on "transactional trust" (which they define as "managing expectations, establishing boundaries, delegating appropriately, encouraging mutually serving intentions, keeping agreements, and being congruent in our behavior") and ways to build it among teams and groups as well as entire organizations. The authors conclude with a section on "transformational trust," the ultimate stage attained when trust within these levels "reaches a critical point and increases exponentially, becoming self-generating and synergistic." This is smart food for thought, supported by tools and techniques that can put it into practice. --Howard Rothman ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A Sensible and Sensitive Approach
In their Preface, the Reinas explain: "This book is about trust: the power when it exists, the problems when it doesn't, and the pain when it is betrayed. Our purpose in writing this book is to help people at all levels of the organization to create, support, and rebuild trust in themselves and within their organizations." Here is how their book is organized:

Part I Understanding Trust and Betrayal

Part II Transactional Trust (Three Types)

Part III Transformative Trust

The material consists of sharply-focused analysis, mini-case studies anchored in real-world experiences, a series of checklists, and then at the conclusion of each chapter a summary of key points followed by "Ideas in Action." Together, this combination of analysis and information helps to explain HOW to establish and then sustain trust throughout any organization. The authors also offer some practical advice on how to recover from betrayal, once experienced: Observe and acknowledge what has happened, allow your feelings to surface, get support, reframe the experience, forgive yourself and others, and finally let go and move on. Most of us have experienced betrayal in personal relationships and many of us have also experienced organizational betrayal. It can indeed be painful.

The authors assert that first you must trust yourself; if you don't, you probably cannot or will not trust another person. Next, give trust to others inorder to obtain it. Trust another's character. Years ago, Stan Smith lost a major tennis title to Arthur Ashe after a call against Smith which enraged the crowd. Later, Smith agreed that losing the point was the turning point in the match. He then added, "But if Arthur said my shot was out, that's good enough for me."

Trust another's competence. "I know you can do it. I have total confidence in your abilities." Most of the time (not always), the person told this will then do everything humanly possible to prove worthy of such trust.

Trust those with whom you work closely. Small concentrations of trust within a branch office, department or business unit can frequently develop a momentum which has much wider and deeper impact. That, in essence, is what "transformative trust" is all about. The Reinas explain this quite well in Part III.

The Reinas conclude their book with a series of questions which will help the reader to determine the nature and extent of trust within her orn his own organization, and, to determine what needs to be done to increase it effectively. There is no break-through thinking in this book...nor do the Reinas claim to offer any. Rather, as indicated, their book examines real-world situations which demonstrate either the potential benefits of trust or the destructive consequences of betrayal. For most of those interested in the subject, that should be sufficient.

Review of Trust & Betrayal in the Workplace
I am a team manager for the CVCAC Head Start program in Barre, Vermont. I have been managing a high functioning team consisting of 10 women for 4 years. Even though we are a well-established team I have found the practical advice that the Reinas provide extremely useful. Their definitions are clear. The stories they provide as examples add even more meaning to their teachings.

I will be taking on a new team later this month, one that has not had the foundational work done with them. Trust & Betrayal in the Workplace will provide us with the template we need in order to examine trust issues and to start building the relationship needed for staff to provide families with high quality services. I will be relying heavily on the Ideas in Action that concludes each chapter. These "ideas in action" include questions to consider and useful application exercises. These are the real tools of the trade! Thank you to the Reinas for providing managers with a practical guide to supervision and management.

Trust as the Foundation
The Reina's develop understandable definitions and offer a well researched and thought out framework for both the development and practice of trust. They also offer practical and accessible vignettes and case studies illustrating the 'trust behaviors' that are so crucial to effective organizations and relationships.

Probably the most powerful part of the book is the section on Betrayal. Betrayal is a huge factor in our lives and we rarely talk about it. This book offers a language, method, and solution for both talking about betrayal and beginning the process of healing from it.

This is an important book for people interested in getting to the root of systemic problems in institutions, families, and relationships.

I highly recommend it!

Best of its kind!
Blown away! A huge help to solving workplace problems..help that carries over into all parts of life. The Reinas
have a great thing going. I would like to take their course and meet them in person!

A Solid Effort!
Dennis S. Reina and Michelle L. Reina discuss the importance of having a strong sense of trust in the workplace. They advocate avoiding both the major and minor betrayals that undermine trust. Creating an environment that promotes trust contributes to effectiveness in the workplace, especially during times of rapid change. The book discusses the nature and effect of trust. It is enhanced with a variety of exercises that promote workplace dialogues and help people think through the issue of trust. Many of these exercises are especially suited for teams, work groups and divisions. The exercises facilitate discussing and resolving problems in a more trusting atmosphere. This well-written, easy-to-read book is directed to front-line supervisors and unit mangers, although it will also interest top management and company owners. We [...] recommend this book to team builders in organizations of all sizes.
... Read more

Book Description

Reflecting the dominate theme of workplace equality, the authors go beyond this general consensus to affirm that the fundamental purpose of laws prohibiting employment discrimination is to implement the national civil rights policy. Organized around an examination of the reach and limits of laws, the book scrutinizes the federal statutory protection against employment discrimination. Constitutional provisions and state laws are included where appropriate. In addition, this new edition extensively uses scholarship drawn from the work of critical race theorists and feminist legal scholars. It also has materials on the law and economics approach to employment discrimination. ... Read more

Book Description

First presented as an idea 30 years ago, servant leadership is based on selflessly serving one’s team, organization, or community rather than power, domination, or self-interest. The Serving Leader presents the simple truth of this idea in a fresh parable about a dying father reunited with his estranged son and only child. This second book in the Ken Blanchard series of short inspirational empowerment texts offers a practical "action approach" to servant leadership. The five lessons Mike learns from his father — upend the pyramid, raise the bar, blaze the trail, build on strength, and run to great purpose — can be applied equally to life and work. The Serving Leader’s moving story, memorable characters, and strong insights make it as exciting as it is educational. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Book for Business and Not for Profit Leaders
The Serving Leader, by Jennings and Stahl-Wert, is a great read for business and not for profit leaders. While it characterizes the stories of amazing serving leaders throughout the country, it also spells out the steps to becoming a servant leader. Professionals who are searching for a deeper meaning to life and work will find this book extremely rewarding. Epitomizing the attributes of serving leaders, it encourages you to continue your work by compiling the stories of others who have battled the same challenges. It is a small book, a quick read but the impact could be huge!

A Call To Action
In The Serving Leader, Jennings and Stahl-Wert strike a deep chord of resonance for readers who are quietly serving and leading in the trenches of public, private, and non-profit sectors. There's an instrinsic rallying call in this book to these persons to embrace their destinies as serving leaders, to seek out and team up with like-minded souls in their networks, and then to get on with the work of great purpose to which they are committed. A good read with potentially life-changing ramifications.

Getting It Right
What most impressed me about this book was that the authors got the order of things right. By that I mean, they let the story unfold in a way that meets most people's expectations about how things work -- so they meet people where they are, and that's one form of getting it right. And they build a model that makes it clear that those expectations are exactly what prevent us from getting our priorities straight. That model gets it EXACTLY right. For people who yearn for a different kind of leadership than the Peter Pan stuff we get every day, but don't want a lot of heavy theory, this is a great introduction to a better way.

Moving
Jennings and Stahl-Wert make this a very easy read. You learn by osmosis. Do not read it on the plane. It's embarrassing when you are brought to tears. I can't wait for the sequel.

They understand what they're talking about
The book reads beautifully, and the story moved me to tears. What I most appreciate is the fact that Dr. Jennings and Dr. Stahl-Wert are practitioners of what they preach. This book rings true from start to finish. These men know what they're talking about. I'm working to become more of the kind of serving leader in my work and at home this book so clearly teaches. They're working at it, too. All of this is very encouraging! ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Take Bhudda's wisdom to work!
I found this book in a little bookshop in Marin Co., CA. Why isn't it being publicized more? Even the authors say "getting promoted is a happy side-effect of excellent work," and this book is just such an excellent work in that it furnishes great exampoles of practical ways to handle ourselves in the ready-made workplace or to create a workplace where dilemmas can be faced with the guidance of Bhudda thinking. Thanks to the authors for this help and recommendations.

SPIRITUALITY FOSTERS GROWTH AND PROFITABILITY
This is one of the greatest books one will ever find on the basics on what helps a business achieve its full potential. First of all, you do not want to be just a good employer, you want to be the best employer you can possibly be. Then, you want happy, motivated, productive employees who WANT to help you succeed, as opposed to those who are just showing up because they need a paycheque. Employees need to work well both independently and as a team. You also want happy, satisifed customers who receive personal, respectful and efficient customer service and value for their dollar. If they find that in your business, they will be back time and time again. Many of the secrets that serve as the driving engine of successful businesses can be found in the age-old basic principles of Eastern Philosophies.

What would Buddha do in this situation? How would he handle it? This book will help provide the answers. Aside from adhering to strong basic management principles, if you run your business based on integrity and strong ethical values, the money will come - it is the end result of the fruits of your labour, the driving force behind your success. Strive to run your business with honesty, respect, compassion and organized thought. By providing a quality product/service that is in demand, at an affordable price, in a unique manner that your competitors are not providing, and staying within your budget, you have the makings of a successful business.

This book may seem like common sense to many but, as a counsellor and teacher in business management with thirty years of experience, I can assure you that many business owners/managers do not think common sense is of any great importance or simply choose not to follow it. They are eventually the ones who show up on the list of bankruptcies. After reading this book, sit down and make a list of how you would like to be treated as an employee. What would keep YOU happy, motivated and productive? Then, ask yourself if you are creating this type of work environment for your own employees. Sound knowledge of business management skills is a must for any entrepreneur, but there is a misconception out there that a successful entrepreneur must be some sort of "super, natural guru." You run a business with the same moral values and principles used in your personal life. The inner peace and contentment one finds in their own personal spirituality can also be applied to the workplace to achieve profitability while maintaining a nurturing, caring, positive, productive environment.

The 101 dilemmas presented here show how ancient wisdom can be used to solve many of our modern-day obstacles and challenges in the workplace. This book is highly recommended and certainly worth a five-star rating - even Buddha would be proud of this one!

Insightful and Hilarious
We all are aware of the cliche "What Would Jesus Do?". In fact whenever I hear that question I groan and I know Jesus covers his ears and says "Get a new line".

I am not a Buddhist, but I think this book is very good and insightful. If you are Buddhist, buy this book, it will help guide you to Nirvana, or at least it will give you a lot to contemplate. If you aren't Buddhist, buy this book anyway, it will make you laugh and it is good lessons for life. ... Read more

Book Description

In this updated and revised edition of Jerks at Work, popular syndicated columnist Ken Lloyd returns to grapple once again with one of America’s most popular (or unpopular) workplace topics, and presents his practical, upbeat, and professionally sound as an antidote. Drawing on e-mails and letters from employees and employers across America, Dr. Lloyd presents numerous examples of some of the most outrageous classic and current workplace (mis)behaviors—past and present—along with the most powerful strategies that readers can use today to deal effectively with them.

There is no single, simple strategy that works on every Jerk. They come in many assorted flavors: your Jerk could be your boss, a coworker, your subordinate, a vendor, even customers. Just when you think you have read about the ultimate jerk at work, up pops another. Fortunately, a tailor-made strategy pops up alongside. Jerks at Work provides a wide array of strategies to deal with all the Jerks you come across. There are the time-tested, classical methods for the retro-jerks; the screamers, impractical jokers, egomaniacs, complainers, and non-stop talkers. Then there are new, state-of-the-art strategies to deal with a generation of cyber-jerks that includes bullies, jerks on cellphones, and jerks on line. Additionally, a new section, exclusive to this revised edition, covers some of the most outrageous workplace behaviors that one could ever encounter.

Inside, you'll also find these other helpful tips:

Getting insight into the causes of Jerk-like behavior;Step-by-step programs to deal with Jerks of every persuasion;Coping with the most outrageous Jerk behaviors ever documented;The best ways to avoid becoming a Jerk yourself;And much, much more!

Dr. Ken Lloyd is a nationally-recognized consultant, speaker, author, educator, and newspaper columnist. With specialties in organizational behavior, management development, and communication. Dr. Lloyd has consulted for companies across the U.S. and Canada, and he has spoken before numerous organizations and associations. His workplace advice column (New York Times Syndicate) appears in newspapers across the U.S., and he often teaches in the M.B.A. Program at the Anderson School of Management at U.C.L.A. He is a frequent talk-radio guest, and he had made many televised guest appearances, including workplace segments on Good Morning America, CNN, KABC, and FOX Morning News. ... Read more

Book Description

Written by a team of experts in the field of workplace diversity, The Global Diversity Desk Reference offers a strategic approach for international organizations that want to succeed in the worldwide marketplace by maximizing the potential of all their employees. You'll discover how to increase effectiveness in managing diversity at three levels--the individual, interpersonal, and organizational. You'll also get the practical tools, concrete suggestions, and pragmatic methods you need to successfully manage a global workforce and create and align organizational systems, policies, and practices with the requirements of an international workforce.

Included with the book is a free CD-ROM containing customizable tools and templates! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Must Have!
Gardenswartz, Rowe, Martin, and Dingh hit it well with this one. All of these powerful writers and trainers bring their energy and experience to the page with this must-have for interculturalists and diversity trainers, domestic or international. With a strong goal of helping trainers tap personal, interpersonal, and organizational aspects of diversity and change, this book is a wonderful tool filled with powerful and practical exercises and tools for training and working with groups.

Written very practically and conversationally, it is as if the authors are sitting with you as they discuss their tools. And included with the book is a CD ROM with activities from each chapter in multiple formats for your use. I highly recommend this book and am pleased to have it on my desk. ... Read more

Book Description

Learn to communicate simply, but effectively, with Spanish-speaking citizens in emergency situations!It’s easier than you think – no grammar, no alphabet to memorize, no rules to study.Just learn key phrases and terms specifically for firefighters and paramedics.

Workplace Spanish® for Firefighters and EMS Personnel has been created from actual training classes conducted for firefighters and EMS technicians.Firefighters & EMT’s in Chandler & Gilbert, AZ; Alpharetta, GA; Gaffney, SC and other communities have used our manual and CD to build or improve their Spanish skills.

Organized by topic, the quick-reference manual contains more than 450 key terms and phrases for emergency medical & fire-related situations. You’ll master Spanish pronunciation and be able to engage in short conversations focusing on greeting and identifying people, pain & medical assessment, giving instructions, firefighter orders, rescue and safety terminology.

The book also features a "Drills for Skills" quiz section, a 9-page alphabetical keyword list for fast lookup, and a series of practice conversations to simulate real-world emergencies.

The one-hour audio CD contains all phrases covered in the book, plus pronunciation tips and suggestions on how to learn more quickly.The CD features both a native Spanish speaker and a non-fluent, yet accurate English speaker repeating the terms and phrases.Newcomers to Spanish find this to be a great advantage over traditional language tapes. ... Read more

Book Description

"Roland S. Barth's warm and wise book deserves to be kept close at hand. Witty, entertaining, instructive, and poignant, Barth's stories will get you thinking, and the 'working rules' salted throughout the book will help you navigate the deceptive shoals and powerful tides we all have to deal with at work."
Lee G. Bolman, Marion Bloch/Missouri Chair in Leadership
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Author of Leading With Soul and Reframing the Path to School Leadership

Lessons Learned is an insightful, funny, moving look at commonalties between life at sea and life in the schoolhouse. More than any other Barth book, this one exposes Roland for what he really is—an avid sailor, loyal friend, life-long learner, and compassionate leader."
Milli Pierce, Director
The Principals’ Center, Harvard Graduate School of Education

"This charming, humorous, and wise book teaches important lessons about relationships at work and at play. Once again, Barth has written a useful and invaluable book for teachers and principals alike."
Thomas J. Sergiovanni, Lillian Radford Professor of Education
Trinity University
Author of The Lifeworld of Leadership

"Barth's Lessons Learned is a powerful guide for defining the types of interpersonal relationships needed to bring about success."
Karen M. Dyer, Manager
Education Sector, Center for Creative Leadership
Author of The Intuitive Principal

In Lessons Learned, Roland S. Barth shares his often whimsical, but always thoughtful, reflections on relationships at sea and in the workplace. Drawing on his 40 years of experience on deck and in the schoolhouse, Barth shows us that these two worlds have more in common than we might expect—and that there is much to be learned about getting along with one another from both.

Our day-to-day exchanges with others are central to how we experience and perform in the workplace. Everyone wants to be a member of a high-performing team, be an effective leader, and work in an enlightened and empowering culture. Barth’s seemingly simple stories of interactions among colleagues and companions provide rich, humorous, and often poignant insights into the subtlety and complexity of human relationships that shape teams and leaders. The resulting "rules" provide a practical and delightfully conversational guide to cultivating and fortifying working relationships.

Some lessons learned are obvious, others less so. Most of all, Barth provides a backdrop that invites us to reflect on our own stories so that we may better understand our own "lessons learned."

Reviews (1)

Sail into effective leadership with this book!
This book is a must read for all educational or business leaders. Barth's wit and stories make this book an enjoyable quick read. Personable and telling, his timeless wisdom and experience combine to create a book you'll want to consult time and again.

In an age when educational success is measured solely by "high-stakes testing", Roland Barth helps leaders keep centered on what really matters-people. Written primarily for educational leaders, business leaders will find this book helpful too.

This is a book about transforming and maintaining a nurturing and productive workplace, be it the classroom or boardroom. Much of the hype in leadership literature today hinges on acquiring new strategies or adopting new methodology. Lessons Learned is different. The advice offered to leaders in this book is practical and unchanging-focusing on developing quality relationships in the workplace.

Barth's use of anecdotes and his command of language is riveting. The book's twenty-four short chapters can easily be read in several hours, but you'll spend a lifetime practicing the wisdom offered by this sailor and educator. If you only read one book this year, make it this one! ... Read more

Book Description

In today's changing business world, leaders face more challenges than ever before, whether from increased competition, new ways of reaching customers, or motivating people.

Leadership by the Book is an exceptional new book, brimming with insights, ideas, tools, and tactics for becoming a successful leader. Written in the parable format of Ken Blanchard's bestselling The One Minute Manager. and Raving Fans, it tells the story of a professor and a minister who school a young professional in management skills and ethics. Citing Jesus as a source for practical lessons in effective leadership, the authors explore the concept of "servant leadership" and offer simple strategies for bringing vision and values to any organization. Individuals will learn how to:

• Achieve goals without sacrificing character or faith
• Inspire and sustain commitment and others to give their best
• Build teamwork and celebrate successes
• Find personal passion and meaning in work

Sure to be required reading for managers and employees, Leadership by the Book can also be applied in day-to-day life by parents, coaches, entrepreneurs, and community leaders everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Excellent Idea, Severe Omission
Blanchard and Hybels and Hodges team up for an excellent perspective on leadership from a Christian point of view. While reaching out to the secular marketplace with valid concepts for servant leadership, they put together an excellent framework for leadership. The summary checklist, given on pp. 171ff., offer a helpful concise summary of the book. The glaring omission, and one that I can't believe that Hybels would make, is to clearly point out that following Jesus' style of leadership is absolutely impossible apart from first having a personal relationship with Jesus, in other words, you can't lead like Jesus if you don't have him in your life to help you. I can't believe that there wasn't at least an appendix for those who would like to pursue that issue further. I believe that the authors are posturing too much to get the secular audience to read the book. But for the Christian, it is an excellent book.

An excellent primer for servant leadership
Ken Blanchard's allegorical style leads the reader through a case study as we learn about the leadership style of Jesus. The story helps us get beyond the typical studies, charts and graphs of many leadership books and allows us to touch on the spirit and heart of true leadership.

This book will appeal to those persons who are intuitive and feeling. Ken leaves out the data and speaks to the heart of leadership.

A significantly different Christian leadership book than those put forth by John Maxwell.

Very Slow Story!
I was absolutely bored to tears while reading this book. I think that a lot of the suggestions towards better leadership are very well intentioned and are good ideas, but it is very heavy in religion. If you are a strong believer in JC then this book might appeal to you. I was sick of the many religious references by page 30. The story was also poorly written. I found myself having to re-read portions of the book to understand the point. The only thing I will remember from this book is EGO (you'll get it once you've read it).

Another great Blanchard book
Leaderhsip By The Book is another in a great string of management books. While many books scratch the surface of management and other delve into the minute details, Blanchard and his co-writers deliver practical, useable ideas in a common-sense manner that will allow the brightest of managers see new insights and the newest of managers see the bigger picture of the challenges ahead of them.
The story is told in parable format, similar to Raving Fans and Gung Ho (two books referred to within LBTB), which allows Blanchard, et al. to tell the story of a hard-charging businessman who had built a solid foundation for his direction and effort and had lost his way getting caught up in the fever of big business and big EGO. I'm confident most managers can identify with some of the mistakes made by Michael, the good guy that gets turned around, has a heart attack and finds his way back. The heart attack is symbolic of what often confronts leaders that allows them to see the wrong choices they make that are casued by EGO or other motivators that are not aligned with the idea espoused in this book called servant leadership.
You have to read this book. I am leading a leadership program at work and this book is the capstone of the program. Buy it and get a copy for all your employees who are in the position of leadership, whether in management positions or line positions.

Let there be leaders
This is yet another parable by Ken Blanchard in his characteristic style for driving home powerful messages. This story is around Michael the executive and his friends the minister and the professor. It clearly brings out the pressures experienced by a high-flying executive in his pursuit of success, that soon he loses his links with friends and guidance from the Lord.

Business leaders tend to assume themselves as masters to get things done through lesser mortals to achieve business goals. Their egos start bloating, denying them the true unconditional love bestowed on us by the Lord. EGO is aptly described here as "Edging God out".

The leadership model as described in this book is based on Jesus and, in my opinion has not been discussed in most management books on the topic.

Let there be leaders....who lead as servants of the Lord.

Highly recommended for all men and women who would like to lead in leading. ... Read more

Book Description

Groups, teams, and other new ways of working together have become commonplace in today's organizations. In spite of all of these changes, one element remains the same: the basic building block of all work activities is the individual employee. Points of Influence helps coach managers, team leaders, and trainers to gain a better understanding of employee motivation and how they can influence behavior, increase their own personal self-awareness, and expand their managerial skills.

... Read more

Book Description

Do you feel like putting a bullet through your head every time your boss tells you to "quarterback this one for me, champ"? Do you find yourself resisting the urge to put a chokehold on colleagues who use the phrases "on the same page" or "no-brainer" or "going forward" in a sentence? Are you often tempted to tamper with the messages on the motivational signs HR posts around the office? Or to plant subliminal messages in the legal disclaimer that's attached to every e-mail you send? Well, then Officespeak is the book for you!

This hilarious, tongue-in-cheek guide to deciphering and manipulating the language of the workplace includes such helpful hints as:

• The best (and worst) answers to the question, "What's your biggest weakness?"
  
• Sprucing up your job title and personalizing your business cards
  
• Being "swamped" and other key phrases for diverting responsibility
  
• Making up verbs to convey power, decisiveness, and initiative in the boardroom
  
• Mastering the fine art of interrupting with such foolproof expressions as "good point" and "borrriiinnnggg"

AND MANY MORE!

Just remember, there's no "I" in team...
but there sure as hell is one in "You're hired!" ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Hysterical!
I was reading this on the bus and I laughed so hard people started staring. This is the perfect graduation present for college students heading out into the "real" world!

Like the office, only better.
I don't know why I like reading books about work life so much, but this one
was very articulate in its analysis of the air i breathe everyday, 9 to 5.
I wish i was swimming in a different pond, but for now its nice to have the parks and rec guide to the one I am in. Good book to keep around the office.

Hilarious!And, embarrassing how true the stuff really is..
It's embarrassing how dead on all the stuff on this book is!It made me cringe to remember all the times I've used the `Officespeak' sayings, like "here's a heads up," or "just touching base," or "team player."The office space is a sick, sick world & DW Martin captures it perfectly with absolutely hilarious writing!His voice is perfectly tongue-in-cheek and sarcastic--just enough so that you can give the book as a gift to your boss without him/her fully realizing just how much you're making fun of your job.I loved it!

I was there, and this is it. Dead on dictionary of the cube.
I have a feeling this D.W. martin guy has been lurking around our office.
a window into the dark, windowless world of our cubicle life, this book
hits the nail on the head quite hard- if you get my drift.
a must have for anyone stuck in the daily grind.

Guess you had to be there
I know, I know...this book is supposed to be funny, but after the umpteenth T&A joke it got pretty "booorrriiinnggg." ... Read more

Book Description

In their substantially revised Third Edition, McShane and Von Glinow continue the trailblazing innovations that made previous editions of Organizational Behavior recognized and adopted by the new generation of organizational behavior (OB) instructors. Acclaimed for its readability and presentation of current knowledge, this textbook's philosophy is that OB knowledge is for everyone, not just traditional managers. The new reality is that everyone -- sales representatives, production employees, physicians -- needs OB knowledge to successfully work in and around organizations. Organizational Behavior, 3rd Edition, is unparalleled in its ability to engage students by bringing cutting edge OB concepts closer to reality through the 'theory-practice link' approach. McShane and Von Glinow help readers connect OB theories to emerging workplace realities through hundreds of fascinating real-life stories from across the United States and around the world. McShane/Von Glinow's Organizational Behavior 3rd Edition also continues to be the source of the hottest topics, such as: workaholism, virtual teams, corporate social responsibility, Schwartz's values model, innate drives theory, workplace emotions, executive coaching, guanxi, appreciative inquiry, social identity theory, workplace bullying, workplace justice, and much, much, more. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

No Chapter on Offshoring...
To be fair, though, the book does have chapters on office politics.
In this book, Wen Ho Lee is innocent, and teams are the way to do things.This is a textbook for the masses who would be employees and not necessarily for persons who would be managers.It's already obsolete from the standpoints of absence-of-sense-in-corporate-governance and from the offshoring-all-the-jobs-not-nailed-down.Ingenuity is given short shrift and any idea-incubation process is turned into a team exercise (giving Edison as an example of teamwork - let's ask Tesla what HE thought).Missing: any chapter on having some semblance of cerebral cortex with regard to example-setting.Any such chapter could star object-lesson Jack Welch and the apparent gauge he must've been smoking to marry a corporate lawyer and then cheat on her (speaking volumes to his management tactics - which took no additional conscience - hollowing out the company, running up the stock price and then getting out before it imploded - however, with plenty to spend on alimony).
By the end of the course, either you'll be a good Stepford worker or you'll be a master at DiversitySpeak and will have the management job of your dreams.IN BANGALORE.

One star for the pictures, one star for the attractive cover.(Unfortunately, the tincture of ipecac was missing in my shrink-wrapped copy) ... Read more

Book Description

The most complete guide available to workplace laws, Your Rights in the Workplace is essential for every employee.

In plain English, the handbook covers your rights on the job, from hiring and getting paid through privacy and firing.

Learn everything you need to know about:
*illegal firings and layoffs
*challenging a job loss
*wages and hours, including overtime & leave
*privacy on your e-mail and voice mail
*family and medical leave
*on the job safety and health
*health insurance and retirement plans
*workplace testing
*sexual harassment
*sex, race and age discrimination
*discrimination against workers with disabilities
*unemployment, disability and workers' compensation insurance

The 6th edition of Your Rights in the Workplace has been completely updated to provide current state and federal laws and regulations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Employees' most valuable and complete guide: workplace laws
Even after working in Corporate America for several years as a manager, it wasn't until I started my own business that I started paying attention to employment laws. And then I was amazed at how little attention I had paid to my rights in the workplace when I was an employee! I now realize that I didn't know anything about my privacy rights, or when I was being illegally discriminated against or what to do if I got fired. Part of the reason was that I had been lucky enough to work for good employers (and especially great bosses) who were very fair and I never felt the need to understand my rights because they took care of protecting them proactively through their internal guidelines and implementation.

I realize now that everyone isn't as lucky when I started hearing the horror stories that some of my friends had to endure. If I had continued working for Corporate America (I started my own small business a few years back) I believe that eventually I would have encountered situations where I would need to know my workplace rights.

That's where this book comes in. It gives a fantastic overview of almost every law imaginable that could apply to you if you are an employee. It is a very detailed book with countless pages spent on comparing the laws as enforced in various states so you can find your own state law and see the details. A good example is the chapter on wages - there are tables comparing the rules for overtime, meal breaks, minimum wages, etc. for each state. In this chapter, I also found an interesting tidbit of information on meal and break periods. It describes the different situations under which your employer is required to pay for meal time!

The entire book is full of helpful and valuable information on your workplace rights. I personally believe that it is good to have this book handy even if you don't need it right now. It makes for interesting reading and you will feel more in control of your behavior at work and not as afraid of your lawful actions. Here's something else to think about - the book has information on the time period in which you can lodge a complaint against your employer after something unlawful has happened to you. Even if you decide not to do anything about something that has happened to you, at least you know the expiration date on your right to complain under the various circumstances!

This book also happens to be one of the more inexpensive books from Nolo. If you are new to Nolo books, you will quickly realize that they do a fantastic job of explaining the law in plain English. And they are very detailed. Enjoy!

A classic on workplace rights
Updated version of a comprehensive classic on workplace rights from hiring through firing ... Read more

Book Description

In Transforming Work, Boverie and Kroth draw from their original research and experience in the field to show executives and HR professionals how to create inspiring, employee-friendly work environments in order to recruit, develop, and retain talent. They also show employees how to discover and develop passion for their work, transforming themselves and the organization in the process. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Valuable insights into the congruency of passion and the wor
This book is one of a series on New Perspectives in Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change. The series is designed to showcase current theory and practice in human resources and organizational development. While there are practitioners on the editorial board, this looks like more of an academic series. I'd describe this publication as one for professionals, but a volume that individuals can benefit from, as well.

The focus of this book is passionate work. This concept will be difficult for many readers, since passion is emotion and emotion and work are usually considered incongruent. The authors point out, early in the book, that "Passion is at the root of creative genius, personal transformation, and notable events. Passion is emotional energy; it stimulates life and energizes individuals to work toward goals. ...New products, new ideas, creative ways to deliver services, inventions, an scientific discoveries are produced because someone or some organization is passionate."OK. Passion seems to be consistent with what we're striving to accomplish in employment organizations today.

How might we approach this? The authors explain that they've done some research that connects learning with passion. Put the concepts together and you get meaningfulness, and there are a lot of people looking for opportunities to feel a greater sense of meaning in what they do. Readers will be guided through an interesting study into passion, what it is, how it fits, and what to do with it. Individuals will gain, but trainers and organizational development professionals will find it most thought-provoking and stimulating.

The book is organized into eight chapters: Introduction to Passion and Work, The Foundations of Passionate Work, Passion Transformation Process and Cycle, Occupational Intimacy, The Discovering Process, The Designing Process, The Developing Process, and Transforming Work---the five keys to achieving trust, commitment, and passion in the workplace. An index will help you find your way back to those things you want to work with again. A number of exercises are included to stimulate your thinking and help you gain some sense of measurement in the emergence of passion in your personal and corporate life.

The book may seem a bit pricey for only a couple hundred pages, but there is a lot packed into those pages. The book is set mostly in 11 point type, so find a nice quiet place with good light to absorb all the authors have to share.

If you enjoy it can you call it work?
They say work is the hardest way to earn money. Michael Kroth and Patricia Boverie have zeroed in what we need to easy up the hard. "Transforming Work" for me hit the core of what is needed in all aspects of life --passion. This is not just a business book, I found myself connecting the dots with the rest of my life. While TW is a bit pricy try, living a life with unconnected dots.

Tom Payne
Author
A Company of One: The Power of Independence in the Workplace ... Read more