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Summary: A uniquely insightful book for today's managers and leaders
Review: In today's glut of management and leadership books, "First Break All the Rules" really stands out! I was impressed by the authors' data-driven approach and the vast number of insights they unearthed from their study. The book is full of interesting case studies and practical tips for anyone who aspires to attract and retain the best people.
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Summary: A truly insightful and useful book on management
Review: Management theory has moved away from understanding the needs of people. Buckingham and Coffman provide a revolutionary view of what it takes to be a great manager, employee and person. Their thoughts on talent are insights anyone who has to hire a staff of 1 or 1000 should incorporate. I learned some incredibly practical tips on how I can manage my own company more effectively. It's a must read for anyone who wants to love their job.
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Summary: The manual to manage people by.
Review: Buckingham and Coffman have captured the essence of what every manager should know. It's not about theory, it's not about adopting the newest trend. The book details timeless and sound practices researched by The Gallup Organization, what more do you need to tell you that this will work. It gives you the straightforward specifics about taking care of the things that are important to the people that are depending on your leadership to be successful. It's written to give you the information you need to put this to work for you immediately. Any one who is a manager should clean off their bookshelfs and have this as their one and only guide to being an effective leader.
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Summary: Not so revolutionary
Review: In my view this book offered more of the same - trite generalizations. Granted they seem to have done their homework. But their insights can hardly be called revolutionary.
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Summary: Thought provoking and dynamic
Review: I may sound a little predjudice since I work at Gallup and know Mr Coffman, but I am glad to see what we have been doing at Gallup for a number of years is finally being written in book form. Hope more books will follow with the quality of this one.
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Summary: "Must" reading for anyone who manages people!
Review: This book is destined to become one of the top management books of the decade. Coffman and Buckingham offer keen insight into the "how-to's" of management in a post-modern world. Ideas like developing relationships with your employees, relying on intuition, building on a person's strengths rather than "fixing" weaknesses, valuing individuality and recognizing the uniqueness of talent "break all the rules" of conventional management wisdom, but are the bread and butter practices of the world's great managers. Written in an engaging style with great stories to illustrate the authors' findings, this book should be required reading for anyone who works with people.
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Summary: The best book I've read on management
Review: This book really explains what it takes to be a great manager. It provides insights into why we have gotten so far from how people (not just "corporate execs") want and need to be treated. I learned a great deal for myself as a manager, a president, and a person.
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Summary: Finding the right fit
Review: This book is has proven invaluable in my business. I recommend it to any manager who is having trouble motivating and keeping key employees in today's marketplace. Happy employees are more productive employees and this book can provide new insight on how to make the most of any team. I also recommend Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey. Companies, teams and employess committed to excellence will love its goal oriented approach to business motivation.
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Summary: Finding the right fit
Review: This book has become priceless to my business. I highly recommend it to any manager who is having trouble motivating and keeping key employees in today's business environment. Happy employees are productive employees and this book gave me ideas that I had never considered when it came down to placing and hiring the right employees . I also recommend Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey as a corporate gift to keep employees motivated throughout the year.
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Summary: Your job and sanity may depend on this book
Review: For the last 23 years I've been an executive coach working with mostly upper level managers and when this book first came out in 19999 one of my clients sent me a copy. Within two months I was using it as the basis for a class I've been teaching to companies ranging from logistics to manufacturing to entertainment to retail. It is simply the best management book ever written. Nothing before or since comes close. I recommend it to all of my clients and prospect and anyone else who will listen.
This book carefully details exactly what's needed to be a top level manager and how to get the maximum performance from all of your people on a consistent basis. You'll love the fact that you get to break all the rules to make your job work better for you and your people. Yes you can have favorites, yes you can treat people differently and yes you can even be grumpy sometimes. When your people trust you they will follow you even at a high cost to themselves.
If you're currently in a management position you can learn how to become far more effective in working with your people and what they need from you to excel and to enjoy their time at work.
If you'll soon to be a manager or desire to soon be one then this is the fastest way to make the transition to excellence.
If you're an employee here's your chance to retrain your boss/manager to become more effective and more fun to work with.
If you're the boss or owner you need to make sure everyone in your organization has a copy of this book AFTER you've read it and begin to implement the suggestions.
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