Click Here To Purchase What to Do When You Become the Boss: How New Managers Become Successful Managers

Author:  Bob Selden

ISBN: 10: 1432714287: 13:978-1432714284 

Management is rather a difficult subject to try to instruct other people in because of the enormous and growing diversity of situations in which managers are obliged to work. It is possible, as Bob Selden has done in his eminently sensible new book, to divide management tasks into component areas (i.e., leadership, management/administration and operations) but there is still the danger of being vague or platitudinous. One means of combating this possible problem is to develop a wide range of skills and competencies in the manager – specifically the new managers at which this book is aimed – and an appreciation of how to develop personal and professional networks to find solutions to troublesome questions.

There is little in this book about reading or finding information from libraries – this is considered anathema in most management texts, which are so determined to prove themselves to be practical and aimed definitely at the working manager; instead, great attention is paid to dividing the text into easy-to-read and understand sections, with bullet points, tables, practical self-development exercises and even extensive efforts to ensure that individuals are helped to follow in the particular way they find it easiest to learn.

A technique from Peter Honey and Alan Mumford is used to divide readers into (broadly speaking) activists, pragmatists, theorists and reflectors. Once readers understand their own personal learning style, they can follow individualized instructions as to how to use the book to their own best advantage. The personal touch is always a good idea in business.

Subsequent chapters deal with issues of managing down, managing up and managing sideways. In the last, some interesting issues of communication are raised concerning how to influence other people through communication skill where there is no power or compulsion available. Developing such skills is very difficult from a textbook but Selden provides various means of establishing a long-term plan and process by which improvements may be sequentially made by the new manager.

Throughout, the text has the benefit of being clear and being illustrated by a variety of exemplary situations which might have been drawn from real life. It is easy to imagine all or at least nearly all members of the target audience obtaining real benefit from putting into action the lessons contained here. On the other hand, within the great diversity noted above, it is possible for some advice to appear contradictory. That is an occupational hazard.

On the whole, this is a well-organized and carefully set out series of plans, tips and means of help for the new manager, who would be likely to benefit considerably from going through it in their own style. Sometimes the most useful form of help is just to know that someone else has been through the same kind of situation and can explain how, if at all, problems were approached.

Click Here To Purchase What to Do When You Become the Boss: How New Managers Become Successful Managers

The above review was contributed by: John Walsh PhD:  Professor at Shinawatra International University CLICK TO VIEW John Walsh's Reviews