Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Great recommendations based on great research
The research that went into this book is outstanding, and even more amazing are the outcomes of this reasearch. In a nutshell, great managers do some things very differently from average managers, and this book tells exactly what those things are. Are you a great manager? If so, then congratulations! Do you have things you need to improve... then I think that this book can really help you... it certainly has helped me and managers at my organization. Review by David Richards, ... OD Director for a Fortune 50 company.
Rating: - Within you and Without You!
I finished reading this book a few days ago and have been mulling over what I have learned from it. I think that this must be one of the best management books that I have read mainly because it seems to me that what the authors are telling us is that being yourself and learning from what is around us is the best way to become a great manager and/or a great leader. The insight that the researchers provide from their extensive interviews is that the personality of the individual and that person;s individual traits are the most crucial factors in determining success, however one may wish to define it.The other main conclusion I draw from the book is that there are certain qualities which any individual must develop and enhance if their relationships with subordinates are to be rewarding and productive. If we view management in the narrow sense of achieving through others, it is clear that this can be done through either coercion, persuasion or, if you like, enlightened self-interest. Coercion leads to exit and diminishing returns while persuasion involves bargaining and does not inspire true loyalty yet sows the seeds of unfairness and non-compliance. Enlightened self-interest potentially leads to the most satisfactory results, of high output, individual rewards such as self-esteem, possibly promotion, but greatest of all, customer loyalty. In my humble opinion, the success of any business depends on it's people. This is more true today than ever before particularly if you view the employment relationship as one which is built upon knowledge. Whether that knowledge is of processes, or the creation of ideas or the implementation of ideas or whether it is embodied in the sense of the genuinely warm, interested, employee who provides excellent customer service, knowledge in the post-modern economy is a key determinant. Human beings are a wonderful species for their capacity to create and discover new knowledge!. Getting back to this book, to me the authors have latched on to a few fundamental truths about management which the best managers have discovered for themselves over the years. Coaching and developing employees to be themselves and to give of their best is the ultimate key to development. Allowing people to try and allowing them to make mistakes and learn from their mistakes must be one of the best ways of helping people to help themselves. Carl Menger discovered this fundamental insight as an integral part of economics over a century ago and indeed, the trial and error process is a basic building block of the market economy which is also a discovery process. There are many useful aspects to this book which are all very worthwhile in our search to be better managers or leaders. For me it has been crucial in turning my gaze inwards to answer these questions about myself before I look outwards to implement in my dealings with others. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in management and to teachers and in fact anyone looking for a self-help book.
Rating: - Building Better Relationships at Workplace!
Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman reveal their inner vision to focus on four keys to become excellent managers. Leaders are sometimes someone who yells, explodes, makes nearly impossible demands and rarely consider feelings of his subordinates in the changing scenario of Business challenges. In fact, Managers need the right feedback and know-how to deal with the employees and select them on the basis of talents & not only on skills and intellects. Managers need to pick the right choice, know the strength of the employee and define right results. Their role is to encourage and motivate the staff and the manager is totally responsible to build a team spirit says the Authors. Buckingham & coffman focus on hiring people on their talents rather than experience. The employee need to be appreciated and rewarded for the job done well. Some Managers zoom on in on the weakness of employee to create embarrassment and humiliation. First Break All the rules indeed Shows the Managers to be different and recognize the potentials in the staff. Any employee who is facing a management flaw is 'slogging' in an uneasy environment and the results too lead to a downward fall in longer run. The result is either the staff finds the Boss Crazy or leave the job for a better prospects. This book is a read for all Managers & Leaders who want to retain their Star employees and reward them for their expertise to grow mutually. Bosses who are control freaks, unreasonable and not practical fail to survive. HRD is one main branch of company that is important and this book is just a tip on the iceberg, the right guide to Managers & staff to work in harmony, knowing their respective roles. The employees need opportunity to grow, clear concepts of work assignments, be praised for their achievement, right environment & friendly approach, motivation and their voice be heard as regards to their work level opinions & suggestions. First Break All the Rules: What the world's Greatest Managers Do Differently is my one most lovable book and when I read this book, I feel this is the right choice of Gift to give to any Leader who wish to Break Rules for better interaction and involvement, building better work place relationships for fruitful results. Yep, a gift to Break Rules - self improve and training session of Effective Management for Boss too!
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