Coaching for Improved Work Performance, Revised Edition
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A valuable reference on an important skill
  • Great Handbook for New Managers
  • Best business book EVER
  • One of the most useful management books yet
  • Most Disappointing
Coaching for Improved Work Performance, Revised Edition
Ferdinand F. Fournies
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071352937

Book Description

Managing employees in today’s rapidly evolving workplace can sometimes feel like negotiating a minefield. Such recent new trends as flextime, telecommting, 360-degree feedback, the flattening of hierarchies, and the increased use of temps and contract workers present tough new challenges for supervisors in every field. This timely, completely revised and updated edition of Ferdinand Fournies’s classic management coaching "bible" shows you proven ways to get workers to perform at the highest level while eliminating the self-destructive kinds of behaviors that have become increasingly prevalent in recent years.
In this book, you’ll be taught specific face-to-face interventions you can use to enhance performance in every kind of workplace situation--from sales to creative brainstorming. There are also interventions uniquely suited to resolving problems ranging from low productivity to absenteeism to conflicts between individuals. You’ll learn precisely what to say and do so that each person you supervise will want to give you his or her best work--even when that person was previously thought to be a "problem employee." Packed with brand-new case studies from Fournies’s latest research into the dynamics of the modern workplace, this classic guide takes all the guesswork out of becoming the kind of inspired, "hands-on" manager that every company today is looking for!

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A valuable reference on an important skill.......2007-09-02

This is an excellent book on coaching. You will read other views here to the contrary, but that is largely due to the many interpretations of the word "coaching." My primary focus is coaching managers and salespeople in a highly demanding, very technical field. There are many useful and effective tools presented in Fournies' work. Not everything will be applicable in every situation, but this book will give you many ideas for respectful, empathic coaching. If you are a "life coach" or a "mentor" you may prefer other techniques, but you'll still find some good advice here. Looking for achievement and opportunities to provide reinforcement can hardly be considered bad advice. Many managers simply don't know how to make the transition from technical expert or great performer to someone responsible for the performance of others. Fournies gives some valuable tips on doing so.

My recommendation is to read several books on coaching, beginning with John Whitmore's 3rd edition of Coaching for Performance. If you coach salespeople, also read Managing Major Sales by Rackham and Ruff. And if you are coaching others, read Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman; coaching others requires, first and foremost, self-awareness, self-regulation, and empathy. Goleman's book will raise awareness of the importance of these qualities in business and in life.

5 out of 5 stars Great Handbook for New Managers.......2007-04-03

I have been a sales manager for 10 years. In that time I have read close to 100 books on management and leadership. this is one of my favorites. It is an easy read, it makes solid points and it provides clear direction on what a manager needs to do to help get the most out of their people. I highly recommend this book.

5 out of 5 stars Best business book EVER.......2006-11-10

This is a must have for anyone in a supervisory or managerial role. Simple concepts, easy read...with actual dialogues to help you practice the coaching techniques discussed. And best of all, IT WORKS.

5 out of 5 stars One of the most useful management books yet.......2006-11-06

I wish I had found this book when I started managing people 20 years ago, it would have saved me a lot of painful trial and error. It is a remarkably practical guide that addresses the main problem that many managers face: how to confront performance issues in a way that will yeild a positive outcome, while not crushing or otherwise demotivating the employee. It includes examples of realistic conversations (including the extended silences that often happen, and the brush-off responses, the stalemates). It is also a book that can be constructively shared with your entire team - including those with performance issues - as it helps defuse all emotion and keeps the conversations on the actual and observable behaviors that are getting in the way of the business.

2 out of 5 stars Most Disappointing.......2006-08-24

Having worked in the mental health community for sometime, I was already familiar with this technique and have been using it already. I felt the book was really droll and somewhat condescending in tone. I wouldn't purchase it again. His companion book "Why Employees Don't Do What They're Supposed to Do and What to Do about It" is a more practical read and enjoyable too--I would recommend that one.
Riding The Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Outstanding research results in clear & useful guide
  • Essential reading for executives - and politicians
  • For Business Poeple and Managers
  • A Great Introduction to Intercultural Understanding
  • Riding the Waves of Culture
Riding The Waves of Culture: Understanding Diversity in Global Business
Charles Hampden-Turner , and Fons Trompenaars
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0786311258

Book Description

As U.S. organizations continue to explore overseas business opportunities, they will be challenged to adapt to the new market's local characteristics, legislation, fiscal regime, sociopolitical environment and cultural system. Riding the Waves of Culture shows international managers how to build the skills, sensitivity, and cultural awareness needed to establish and sustain management effectiveness across cultural borders. This revised edition is updated with new research and statistics.

More than an encyclopedia of cultures and customs, this essential guide:

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Outstanding research results in clear & useful guide.......2007-09-19

I was surprised to have my horizons expanded greatly though I had initially expressed skepticism at another book on diversity. On the contrary, this one contains real, practical, appropriate cultural nuances and advice on particulars for many national and cultural traditions. I heartily suggest it as a cornerstone of a modern cultural analysis of the factors that can contribute to enhancing diversity. Even though a bit dated, their research still is valuable. I cannot wait for the next edition!

4 out of 5 stars Essential reading for executives - and politicians.......2006-02-26

This book is deservedly already an international management classic, and should be required reading for anybody who needs to interact with other nationalities and cultures. Hofstede got there first with his classifications of cultural dimensions, but Hampden-Turner & Trompenaars' are arguably more compelling, and - more importantly - the book is both highly readable and replete with case studies. It gives American and Northern European business people insights into why their assumptions about what motivates people from other parts of the world are wrong, and why so many US-centered initiatives founder on the rocks of unrecognized cultural differences. Send a copy to the White House!

5 out of 5 stars For Business Poeple and Managers.......2005-06-30

This is a shorter, and more condensed version of the authors' earlier book 'Building Cross Cultural Competence'. In this book, the authors' target managers and business people who are looking to understand cultural differences and how to deal with them in a variety of circumstances and situations. Each chapter begins with am introduction to one of the dimensions, a discussion of how the differences manifest themselves and concludes with 'tips' on how to deal, and how to do business, with the different culture explored in that chapter.

The authors use the same six dimensions of culture introduced in their earlier work (universalism vs. particularism; individualism vs communitarism; specificity vs. diffusion; achieved status vs. ascribed status; inner direction vs. outer direction; and sequential time vs. synchronous time), but they present these dimensions in a much more accessible and simple manner with more emphasis on what each dimension actually means for business people and how it affects business-related situations.

This book has become the reference for business people and managers in the area of culture. Simple and very well written without losing credibility; this is a book that will enlighten and guide any manager in dealing with people from other cultures. While in some ways it is a 'western-centric' book (targeted to Western - especially US - managers), it remains very useful for managers from other cultures since the authors have attempted to keep the examples and discussion culturally neutral.

5 out of 5 stars A Great Introduction to Intercultural Understanding.......2004-05-03

At last from Europe, a clear, concise, readable explanation of the critical dimensions of international management. It places culture in a perspective that allows for applications internationally and within the diversity of single nations.

David C. Wigglesworth, Ph.D. is an international/intercultural human resource, management, and organization consultant and president of D.C.W Research Associates International in Kingwood, Texas, USA. He can be reached at dcwigg@earthlink.net

5 out of 5 stars Riding the Waves of Culture.......2003-10-02

An excellent overview of culture and cultural differences. For a more specific look at Americans, read Working with Americans (Stewart-Allen/Denslow)
Personnel Economics for Managers
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Great Book
Personnel Economics for Managers
Edward P. Lazear
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471594660

Book Description

* How do you recruit the best employees?
* How does a firm go about downsizing?
* How important is money relative to other factors?
* How and when should evaluations be conducted?
* How should stock options be structured to maximize incentives? How are training and turnover linked?
* Should you reward good performance or penalize bad performance?
In this new book, Personnel Economics for Managers, Professor Lazear answers these and many other personnel management questions. His unique approach, using economics to explore human resource topics, builds human resource systems as an entire structure with no one department independent of another. After reading this book, you will finally have a detailed analysis in a field that has traditionally lacked the resources to back up theories and statements.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Great Book.......2003-05-15

I'm currently a student at UCSD working towards his Economics degree. There are a ton of boring Econ classes at our school but I must say that this class, Human Resources, was very interesting, thanks to this book (and our dear professor Julian Betts)!

This book covers some interesting topics. They include:

1) Whether a firm should pay it's workers a commission or piece rates.
2) Whether a firm should screen it's job applicants and when would it be best to do so.
3) How to deal with turnover rates to maximize firm profits.

I'm sure there are many books that cover these topics but this book makes reading so effortless and fun because the author explains these concepts so clearly! I highly recommend this book!!!
Strategic Human Resources: Frameworks for General Managers
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • The best book on strategic human resources I have ever read!
  • A major achievement in an underserved field
  • No-bull human resources
Strategic Human Resources: Frameworks for General Managers
James N. Baron , and David M. Kreps
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471072532

Book Description

Human Resources are the most important resource that a firm commands and should be regarded as capital, a factor of production in which managers invest today in order to realize future profits. This book deals with the strategic implications of Human Resource Management as an important strategic asset and emphasizes its importance within the overall strategy of the firm. The book covers issues such as job design, evaluation, recruitment, training, career concern, and outsourcing and downsizing. The linkage between the various pieces of HRM policy are stressed and how the policies are related to management issues such as TQM, just-in-time manufacturing, and others. The book is aimed at the general manager, not the HRM practitioner and it stresses conceptual frameworks, not procedural methodology.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The best book on strategic human resources I have ever read!.......1999-09-20

Baron & Kreps write with wit & grace, pulling together a vast amount of literature to make their point that human resource management is critical to a firm's success. In every chapter, they get to the point quickly, writing for students in a way that faculty will appreciate. They retain the essence of the academic research on which their principles are based, while focusing on what it all means for managers. I highly recommend this book.

5 out of 5 stars A major achievement in an underserved field.......1999-06-13

Essential reading for both general managers and human resource executives, this book breaks new ground in several ways.

First, the authors present human resources as a critical part of a SYSTEM, integrated with the company's external environment, workforce, culture, strategy and production methods, rather than as an isolated or downstream activity.

Second, they bring insights from economics, sociology and social psychology to the topic, in a powerful way. The four appendices alone (transaction cost economics, game theory, agency theory and market signaling) are worth the price of the book.

Third, they avoid the trap of "best practice", where an author looks at a few successful firms (GE? PepsiCo? 3M?) and encourages others to imitate them. In contrast, this book offers clues to creating real and inimitable competitive advantage from a company's human resource management.

The entire treatment is readable and rich in cases.

5 out of 5 stars No-bull human resources.......1999-03-23

I had the fortune to have access to early versions of some chapters of this book, and it changed my opinion about human resources. They present the issues surrounding human resources management using frameworks that come from economics and organizational science, not from opinions and feelings...
Why Employees Don't Do What They're Supposed To Do and What To Do About It
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Why Employees Don't Do What They're Supposed to Do and What To Do About It
  • A common workplace question definitively answered.
  • Good Basics and Several Great Tips
  • Why Employees Don't Do What They're Supposed To Do and What To Do About It
  • Good Stuff
Why Employees Don't Do What They're Supposed To Do and What To Do About It
Ferdinand F. Fournies
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071342559

Book Description

Invaluable." --SUCCESS. "In simple, straightforward language, Fournies offers practical solutions to the problems of employee performance ... [This book] should be on the desk of anyone who manages others."--ENTREPENEUR. THE TOP 10 REASONS EMPLOYEES DON'T DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO:
10. They don't know why they should do it;
9. They don't know how to do it
8. They don't know what they are supposed to do
7. They think your way will not work
6. They think their way is better
5. They think something else is more important
5. They think they are doing it
4. They are punished for doing it
3. They are rewarded for not doing it
2. It's beyond their personal limits
1. No one could do it
This book tells you how to avoid or handle each situationÑand the 6 other reasons that comprise the total list of reasons employees don't do their jobs. Universally praised and a perennial best seller, this book made The New York Times business bestseller list in early 1998--10 years after it came out! Why? Competition to attract and keep good employees is fiercer than ever. Today's employers need the no-nonsense people-management skills this book teaches. Based on real experiences of 25,000 managers surveyed by a Columbia Graduate School of Business professor, this results-oriented guide--newly updated for todayÕs changing workplace--provides proven, straightforward methods that work on real jobs, in real businesses, in the real world. This updated edition also gives you new input from 5000 additional managers, plus more help with temp workers, service industries, flex time, computers, telecommuting, stress, and safety!

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Why Employees Don't Do What They're Supposed to Do and What To Do About It.......2006-08-30

Lot's of effective hands on things you can use immediately. Great use of your time & enjoyable to read as well.

5 out of 5 stars A common workplace question definitively answered........2006-05-02

The truth is that in this book, as in others expressing simple truth, the value may be in the reminder. Others who have reviewed this book seem to think that its content may be somewhat simplistic, or maybe just basic stuff. My observation is that yes, for me, much of the information in the book is basic, the ideas are not new to me, nor are the recommended responses. The fact remains that in too many work places productivity is less than optimum and is not what it might be because of the specific reasons offered in this little book.

Whether you have ever been expected to manage employees or not, you will relate to the content of this small volume. Those who manage others will gather hints on how to better understand their reports and will receive suggestions that if used will allow them to become better managers. All employees will gain a perspective from which they will be better able to communicate the frustrations they may be experiencing in their work situation.

This short book should be read by all who work.


4 out of 5 stars Good Basics and Several Great Tips.......2006-05-01

Talk about a super long title that clearly states what a book is about! When you pick up "Why Employees Don't Do What They're Supposed To Do and What To Do About It" by Ferdinand F. Fournies, there's no doubt what you think you are getting. The question is of course if you DO get that and how valuable the information is.

There are apparently 16 different reasons why an employee might not do what they should. These are: They don't know why, they don't know how, they don't know what, they think your way won't work, they think their way is better, they think something else is more important, there are no positive consequences, they think they ARE doing it, they are rewarded for NOT doing it, they are punished for doing it, they anticipate negative consequences, there are no negative consequences for NOT doing it, there are obstacles they can't fix, they have personal limits, they have personal problems, and the task is simply impossible. That's quite a lot of reasons for one "problem"! Just having that list can really be helpful. A manager who thinks "My employee is simply an idiot! I told him what to do!" might take a step back and realize there really IS a problem that can be fixed, once it is identified.

I realize that a lot of these items are common sense - but it's amazing how many times in the workplace that I've seen bad managers completely ignore the real problem and just yell at an employee. That rarely helps!

Now, while the basic list is good, I do have some issues with this book. The first is that the book opens telling you "Now a manager could be assaulted or killed by the employee [for not handling problems effectively]." Good God Almighty. Talk about a nasty way to sell a book - "read me or you could DIE!!!"

The book does a good job of laying out each type of problem in detail, and then giving specific solutions. You might say "they're common sense" but obviously if so many managers out there are NOT handling these situations well, they need a little kick in the behind. Maybe they're just too stressed and aren't actually thinking about the problem. Maybe this book will help give them that extra insight they need into using a good solution.

One thing that bothers me is that the book makes it seem that every problem CAN be solved by following these few easy steps. There's a small FAQ in the back that says in essence "Oh yeah, sometimes this fails and you'll have to demote or fire the person." It would have been more helpful if in each section there were the regular tips, but also "drastic steps" and then "when to give up". I suppose they want to be positive - but if they give you only a few things to try, and they aren't working, it would be good to have a progression of what to do next. To keep trying those same things becomes an exercise in futility and frustration. In fact, it's sort of funny, he says at one point that, if these tips don't work, go buy my next book to learn what to do then :)

Still, it's a good basic primer for the new manager of how to handle a variety of situations. I definitely have worked in many situations where managers did NOT know these things and the environment suffered because of it. If you feel like you already know these things, borrow the book at the library and skim through - you might pick up a tip or two. If you're a new manager, then I would suggest buying this. It's the sort of book that you read in the bathroom, going just over a single chapter, and focussing on how to handle that one specific issue. You're probably going to run into all of these issues over time, if you stay on a managerial path.

4 out of 5 stars Why Employees Don't Do What They're Supposed To Do and What To Do About It.......2005-09-03

This is a well written, easy to read, common sense guide for managers and supervisors of all levels of experience. You don't have to be an MBA to understand and use the information provided.

4 out of 5 stars Good Stuff.......2005-08-30

This is a basic book for all new managers. It tell you about all the things they don't teach you in school and gives you concrete action plans to take away the negative impact of the problem. The key areas are ranked as to their occurrence in the management environment. It is a quick read and an even faster process of applying the essentials. Great Book! I am recommending it to my students.
The Big Book of Humorous Training Games (Big Book of Business Games Series)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Well structured and effective
  • Great fun!
  • Well worth the money
  • Humorous Training Games
  • The Big Book of Humorous Training Games
The Big Book of Humorous Training Games (Big Book of Business Games Series)
Doni Tamblyn , and Sharyn Weiss
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0071357807

Book Description

To produce changes that last beyond the classroom, training games must engage restless audiences, keep them interested­­and make learning fun!

The Big Book of Humorous Training Games uses witty, engaging games to create memorable lessons in numerous basic training topics, including customer service, teambuilding, creative problem solving, time management, and more. Step-by-step instructions work with dozens of reproducible handouts and worksheets help trainers and speakers minimize preparation time­­and maximized training success.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Well structured and effective.......2007-07-13

I already used it with young people. And it's easy to use, has nice games, and I like the debriefing questions.

What I was looking for.

5 out of 5 stars Great fun!.......2007-06-08

A very valuable resource. It teaches while keeping people in a very good mood.

5 out of 5 stars Well worth the money.......2006-02-19

I especially like the section on Assertiveness which teaches assertiveness without fear and the section on Working with Difficult peers in the workplace. Very appropriate and hard hitting.

3 out of 5 stars Humorous Training Games.......2005-08-18

These games are helpful but not as "quality" as most trainers seek. Good for a springboard but not enough meat.

4 out of 5 stars The Big Book of Humorous Training Games.......2005-07-21

This is a good book in where the humor combined with the training technics help the consultant work many curriculums more easy and with more effectiveness.
The Distance Manager: A Hands On Guide to Managing Off-Site Employees and Virtual Teams
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Highly Recommended!
  • Ideas on Distance Management
The Distance Manager: A Hands On Guide to Managing Off-Site Employees and Virtual Teams
Kimball Fisher , and Mareen Fisher
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0071360654

Book Description

Global business demands and new technologies have created a virtual workplace for many companies, with employees and teams routinely collaborating from distant geographical locations on the road, from home, at client sites—even on the other side of the globe. The Distance Manager provides practical information and tools to help managers bridge the communication gaps created by geographical separation, and get peak performance from employees they rarely see. This handbook is perfect for sales managers, project team leaders, senior managers, and anyone who manages people at more than one location. Key topics include:
• Using e-mail, teleconferencing, and videoconferencing for maximum effectiveness
• Mastering the people skills required to manage from a distance
• Virtual team building, and strategies for managing multiple locations

Download Description

The Distance Manager provides practical information and tools to help managers bridge the communication gaps created by geographical separation, and get peak performance from employees they rarely see.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended!.......2001-09-18

Kimball Fisher and Mareen Duncan Fisher document the special skills needed for the new but increasingly common task of managing far-flung work groups. The approaches that they examine are becoming increasingly essential for all managers. Although they explore relevant technologies carefully, their human relations advice is probably more important. The Fishers emphasize the interpersonal and leadership skills that a manager needs to head a virtual team. If you read this book cover to cover, it can seem repetitive, since many of the rules and tips offered in one area overlap with those in other areas. However, the book is designed to allow you to review specific management challenges and technologies, and to ignore areas that are irrelevant to your situation. We [...] recommend this clear, practical work to anyone who leads virtual teams and to the telecommuters and freelance workers who report to them.

4 out of 5 stars Ideas on Distance Management.......2001-07-18

This book presents a new approach to managing people from distance. It also gives clear examples and cases. This book is a must for managers who control their team from distance, either nationwide or global-wide.
Quick Teambuilding Activities for Busy Managers: 50 Exercises That Get Results in Just 15 Minutes
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Impressive
  • Great for ice breakers and quick teambuilding
  • Excellent career resource
  • Superb resource book
  • Quick Teambuilding Activities
Quick Teambuilding Activities for Busy Managers: 50 Exercises That Get Results in Just 15 Minutes
Brian Cole Miller
Manufacturer: AMACOM/American Management Association
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 081447201X

Book Description

Every group can benefit from team-building exercises. But sometimes it's not practical to embark on a full-scale training initiative. Now, supervisors, managers, and team leaders have 50 team-building activities to choose from, all of which can be implemented with no special facilities, big expense, or previous training experience. Readers will find engaging exercises for:

* Building new teams and helping teams with new members * Dealing with change and its effects: anger, fear, frustration, and more * Recognizing individual efforts and team accomplishments * Finding creative ways to work together and solve problems * Increasing and improving communication * Leveraging diversity and individual differences to meet team goals * Keeping competition healthy and productive within the team

Instructions and tips for follow-up and variations are included for each activity, and an additional chapter provides valuable advice for working through unexpected difficulties in team-building.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Impressive.......2007-09-17

This book really gives good ideas for team building exercises. Not only does it gives you ideas, but also advises on how to manage the activity with an end in mind to get the most out the the exercise.

4 out of 5 stars Great for ice breakers and quick teambuilding.......2007-05-15

We found it easy to make these exercises fit into our industry, fairly well. We were looking for quick ways to get people to work together, from different departments and to respect the value in each other as well as understanding the big picture. Working individually can't happen in some of the exercises. Great job! Thanks for this book.

5 out of 5 stars Excellent career resource.......2007-05-07

We use this in my college library. The teachers and students love it.

5 out of 5 stars Superb resource book.......2007-05-03

I had this series of books before - loaned them out at work and never got them back (go figure!). Happy to have found them again here.

3 out of 5 stars Quick Teambuilding Activities.......2007-03-11

Lots of quick, easy to adapt, team building activities to use at your next meeting. I have already used several with minor adaptations and much success! Gets the team energized and ready to move!
Coaching Successfully (DK Essential Managers)
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Power Tips from two experts in the field...
Coaching Successfully (DK Essential Managers)
Robert Heller
Manufacturer: DK ADULT
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

CommunicationsCommunications | Skills | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0789471477

Amazon.com

If most coaching guides look as if you'd need a coach just to get through them, you'll love this itty-bitty guide, which zooms in on the most important aspects of organizational-workplace coaching, from selecting an effective personal coaching style and preparing and shaping a coaching session to followup steps, dealing with barriers to coaching, troubleshooting, and more advanced coaching, such as team coaching, long-distance coaching, coaching plus appraising, and assessing your own coaching skills. On every page, boxed "power tips," quickie case studies and self-tests, to-do checklists, and easy-to-follow flowcharts demystify the process. Granted, if you're looking for specific or in-depth guidance, you may find this book too general in its approach. But if you're looking for a thumbnail guide to the basics, it'll do just fine.

It's worth mentioning that the book is also part of reference publisher Dorling-Kindersley's Essential Managers series--20 itty-bitty books on business and career topics ranging from communication, leadership, and decision-making to the management of time, budgets, change, meetings, people, projects, and teams. Combining the For Dummies series' talent for breaking down a lot of information into bite-sized bits and sidebars with Dorling-Kindersley's signature, crisp graphics on a gleaming white backdrop, they don't represent the cutting edge of business thinking and they don't necessarily reflect any unique individual perspective.

Instead, it's as though someone collated the best general thinking on these 20 topics and rolled them out into 72 brightly designed and easy-to-read pages, studded along the way with boxed tips, color shots of a multiracial cast of "coworkers" animatedly hashing through the workplace issues of the day, and a self-test of one's skills in the topic at hand on the last few pages of each volume. Again, they're not for anyone looking for in-depth or focused help on any of the subjects they cover, but they're perfect as a quickie general-interest reference... and let's face it, they're so cute, and look so smart in a neat little stack or row, that you'll probably want to buy a whole bunch to give to your entire department or staff. --Timothy Murphy

Book Description

Learn all you need to know about helping others to achieve their full potential. From defining performance targets to supporting staff as they progress, Coaching Successfully shows you how to motivate others to develop themselves, promoting initiative and self-responsibility. Find out how to adapt your coaching style to suit both teams and individuals, how to use delegation as a coaching tool, and how to overcome negative attitudes. Power tips help you to handle real-life situations and increase your effectiveness as a role model and confidant. The Essential Managers have sold more than 1.9 million copies worldwide! Experienced and novice managers alike can benefit from these compact guides that slip easily into a briefcase or a portfolio. The topics are relevant to every work environment, from large corporations to small businesses. Concise treatments of dozens of business techniques, skills, methods, and problems are presented with hundreds of photos, charts, and diagrams. It is the most exciting and accessible approach to business and self-improvement available.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Power Tips from two experts in the field..........2001-05-08

John Eaton holds a doctorate in psychology and is a senior partner of Coaching solutions. They provide coaching and cultural change programs for managers and directors. Roy Johnson has extensive senior management experience and runs Pace, an award-winning training company. Together they also have written Business Applications of NLP.

If you want to learn all you need to know about helping people to achieve their full potential, then you will enjoy Coaching Successfully. This book will show you how to motivate others, promote initiative and help others to take responsibility.

Your coaching style will need to be adapted when dealing with a group and you will also enjoy reading about how to overcome negativity. There are power tips throughout the book which help you to handle real-life situations and increase your effectiveness.

In today's business environment, e-mail can also be used for coaching, however they advise you not to use it for "personal" coaching. At the end of the book, you can evaluate your own coaching skills.

"Raise your expectations and ask people to live up to them." -pg. 62 "Allow people to learn from their own mistakes." -pg. 63 "Motivate staff by linking their personal goals to the company's aims." -pg. 20

These power tips are very useful and there are so many great ideas contained in this mini book. It won't take a long time to read, but you will be able to be a more positive influence on others and will know how to bring out the best in those you work with.
What Every Manager Should Know About Training: An Insider's Guide to Getting Your Money's Worth From Training.
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Childish
  • Good book. Typical Mager - easy to read, lots of good stuff
  • Get results, save money: apply this book.
What Every Manager Should Know About Training: An Insider's Guide to Getting Your Money's Worth From Training.
Robert F. Mager
Manufacturer: CEP Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

GeneralGeneral | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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TrainingTraining | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1879618192

Book Description

If you use training services, especially if you have to pay for them out of your own budget, this book will help you:

- Determine why your employees' performance isn't meeting your expectations, and what to do about it
- Ensure that your employees possess the job-relevant skills they need
- Get training done in the least amount of time and at the least cost, whether training is obtained internally or from vendors
- Leverage training as a true competitive advantage

Customer Reviews:

1 out of 5 stars Childish.......2006-01-10

I was expecting to learn stuff like the most effective way to train people, how to structure training programs, how people learn etc. Instead, this book covers stuff that's very elementary and anyone who's a manager and got a grain of sense should know. It has a condecending tone towards managers--as in, your people need training because you're a moron. For example, "there probably isn't one worker in a thousand who can clearly describe the results (or accomplishments) they are expected to achieve." or "It's not uncommon for people to be expected to do things that they haven't been given permission to do." I only got to about page 50 and the tone and quality were consistant with these quotes.

Look elsewhere if you have a brain.

4 out of 5 stars Good book. Typical Mager - easy to read, lots of good stuff.......1999-07-29

Valuable book, well worth the reading time. Good for Managers, Training Managers and developers.

5 out of 5 stars Get results, save money: apply this book........1999-06-15

In his typical clear, jargon-free style, Bob Mager explains what training is, and what it's not. "Training" won't fix a problem unless the problem stems from a lack of skill or knowledge.

Mager explains why you can't train your way out of badly designed jobs, or idiotic incentive systems, or a lack of resources. He also shows ways to deal with those barriers to accomplishment.

And that's the heart of the matter. In the world of training and development, we talk about performance improvement -- focusing first on the results you want to get, and then examining possible reasons why you're not getting those results. Mager's book demystifies that focus and that examination.

Skeptical? I've been in the training business for over 20 years. For people who want a quick, cogent, useful understanding of both training and performance improvement, there's no better place to start than with "What Every Manager Should Know."

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  3. Consider Your Options: Get the Most from Your Equity Compensation
  4. Consumed: How Markets Corrupt Children, Infantilize Adults, and Swallow Citizens Whole
  5. Contemporary Engineering Economics (3rd Edition)
  6. Cost Accounting (12th Edition) (Charles T Horngren Series in Accounting)
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