BUSINESS & ECONOMICS & Leadership

The Leadership Solution- Say It Do It

5 stars (The Leadership Solution) - Jim Shaffer's book, The Leadership Solution, is a MUST READING both for all corporate communications executives and staff and CEOs. Nobody does a better job in the age of "High Tech" to remind us to use the "High Touch." If we take the points that Jim cites, then we will find that attrition will be decreased. Jim reminds us throughout that employee communications and touch will make the difference in performance and thus, stock price and a competitive and "best in class" company. Shaffer lays out clearly the VISION aand STRATEGY. We all need to follow his course of what he states. "A vision is a target, a picture of the future. A strategy is a roadmap, how you're going to achieve the vision." Tools are excellent. Follow the Readiness questionnaire to improving performance. See if we can all master the 6 course process to connect people or employees or associates to the business strategy. Shaffer identifies the 20 things to generate commitment. He cites the "3 people principles" that guide Best Practices and the Best Performance. With all the focus on Mergers and Acquisitions, we find that Shaffer's 9 Guildelines for negotiating through the M&A are excellent. Shaffer's examples of CEOs help build the case. His messages will help any communications chief help your CEO. Shaffer demonstrates vividly how and why the communication function is being reinvented. The last chapter embodies the message strongly. It means what we all learn that communications much be align to assist the company's strategic goals. Shaffer does it. Read and underline; share with your colleagues. 5 stars (The Leadership Solution) - For over twenty years, I have been an advisor to management in the field of rewards and compensation. Traditionally, discussions of rewards at work focus on cash compensation, benefits, and, more recently, stock deals. These monetary and wealth-building vehicles help one have great experiences in life outs...
McGraw-Hill :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Training :: Management - General :: Leadership In Business :: Leadership :: Entrepreneurship :: Employee Training And Develop :: The Leadership Solution- Say It Do It

Thinking for a Change- 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work

4 stars (Insightful!) - Anyone can apply the principles in John C. Maxwell's book, in any business, in any circumstance, in any stage of life. Great thinkers have an unlimited capacity to achieve, and Maxwell tells you how to become one. While books of this nature are typically geared toward entrepreneurs or those in leadership roles, we recommend this book to any person who is committed to ongoing personal development and living life with purpose. You will benefit from learning more about the different specific thinking skills that have an impact on your daily decisions. Maxwell teaches an unusual skill: how to make conscious choices that shape your thoughts, your actions and, ultimately, your success. Think about it. 5 stars (You're thinking right now...right?) - Several years ago, one of the best leaders I know, someone who managed to rise to the top of every organization he was ever in --including the one he currently works for, told me the secret to his success. "Think like a leader," he said. I've often meditated on his words. I've discovered that they are absolutely true... In his book, Maxwell explains how you can leverage the power of your thoughts to acheive unthinkable success: He gives you all the different ways leaders think and then shows you how to do it yourself. Just like my friend said: "Think like a leader." Order this book and find out how. 4 stars (You may not use all of it....) - You may not use ALL of the ideas in this book BUT if you find just one that helps you - then it is worth the investment. I believe each one of John Maxwell's types of thinking that are identified and briefly explained could be individual books all by themselves. The thing I appreciated most about "Thinking For a Change" was that it gave me "just enough" of what I was looking for. My suggestion is to read "Thinking.. " then pick the area you most need work on and delve deeper with other resources. Reading this book, gave me one key concept on strategic thinking wh...
Center Street :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Success in business :: Success :: Personal Growth - Success :: Leadership :: Executive Management :: Creative thinking :: Busin :: Thinking for a Change- 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work

The Leadership Challenge- 3rd Edition

5 stars (Great Leadership Guide) - This is an excellent read for any executive in any discipline. From software to pharma, this book has great hands on information on how to lead your organization to its greatest potential. 5 stars (Good book) - Very thorough book - goes through the practices and commitments thoroughly and provides good examples. 5 stars (An inspirational and practical handbook) - There are dozens of outstanding books on leadership and this is one of the best. With clarity and insight, Kouzes and Posner zero in on the basics: five fundamental practices of leadership, ten commitments these practices embody, and the day-to-day action steps each commitment entails. The book also includes dozens of case studies that illuminate these concepts in real world action. "...probably the best book I've ever seen on leadership. The authors do a great job at differentiating leaders and managers. I highly recommend it to people who are interested in becoming leaders!!!..." "....For leaders who have been in that vocation for some time, this book serves as a refresher...." ...
Jossey-Bass :: Management & management techniques :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Leadership In Business :: Leadership :: Entrepreneurship :: Business&Economics :: Busin :: The Leadership Challenge- 3rd Edition

Leadership in Organizations 5th Edition

5 stars (Good Amazoner!) - Didn't respond to email but did send the book and I'm very happy with the book! I would definitely recommend! Thank you! 4 stars (weLEAD Book Review ...) - Yukl uses his expertise and credibility to write an outstanding book focusing on managerial leadership rather than social or parliamentary leadership. He attempts to include information on both the theory and practice of leadership in modern organizations. This valuable text also includes many recommendations and guidelines for improving the effectiveness of managers and leaders. The book includes a number of cases in an attempt to help the reader understand real world organizational problems and applications. This is a book that is primarily written and mostly reads like a college text book and is indeed used by a number of universities in their managerial or leadership programs. However, it is easy to read and does an excellent job of including the most informative and relative literature, studies and theories available today. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the study of organizational leadership, leading teams, leading change or studying follower-based approaches toward leadership. 5 stars (Marc! Au Contrare!) - Not worth curling up to a fire with? ... For me, after a year or more I still read some portion or another of this book nearly every week for the rich survey of ideas and theories it provides, often finding something that fits what I'm concerned about, and then springboarding into buying another book or digging out original research articles and papers to dig deeper. If you want to be widely informed about the full continuum of theory and research in leadership and organizations, this book will become a familiar resource, and a top choice for curling up to a fire one evening when alone and just paging through and finding something new or old you just have to read and think about some more. Okay, perhaps Marc is more of a fun guy than me, but everything about lead...
Prentice Hall :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Skills :: Organization :: Leadership :: Entrepreneurship :: Decision making :: Business&Economics :: Business & Economics & Fin :: Leadership in Organizations (5th Edition)

Management of Organizational Behavior- Leading Human Resources 8th Edition

2 stars (Management of Organizational Behavior) - Not too bad as these books go but a tremendous amount of verbiage explaining the obvious. Excellent example of turning simple concepts in complex charts and definitions. I would imagine that people in the field love this hyperbole but it's BS to me and pretty much a waste of time to drudge though all of it. 5 stars (Management of Organizational Behavior: Leading Human Resourc) - Used by over 1 million students worldwide, this book provides a comprehensive examination of the applied behavioural sciences, and focuses on fundamental ideas which have stood the test of years of application in different environments. 5 stars (Goes where few texts dare to go: the real-world) - I recommend this to managers as much as students. Sure, the price seems like a lot of cash to shell out at first. But trust me, it is worth it. I had to read it for a Management class, and it started of like a typical OB text, illustrating the history of management studies (Taylor to Maslow to Mayo to Likert to ...). Good stuff, but pretty dull. Then, Hersey et al went where most scholars, even the supposedly worldly MBA types, fear to tread: real-world application! The text covers all of the material covered Blanchard's "One Minute Manager," "Putting the One Minute Manager to Work," and a shelf load of other books. It also does a great job introducing Blanchard and Hersey's Situational Leadership, where the manager matches leadership behavior to a report's ability level and motivation. This replaces "Leadership and the One Minute Manager," and delves much deeper into the topic. Hersey et al also cover: - Behavioral shaping, and positive and negative reinforcement quite nicely - Communications skills necessary to lead reports - Power building, and using effective power bases ... - The list literally goes on and on. I use the concepts I was first exposed to here day in and day out. They work. My OB professor told us that, if he would be limited to just...
Prentice Hall :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Organizational Behavior :: Management :: Leadership :: Human Resources & Personnel Management :: Human Relations In Busines :: Management of Organizational Behavior- Leading Human Resources (8th Edition)

Winning With People - Discover the People Principles that Work for You Every Time

4 stars (Another Winner!) - First of all I want to confess that I am John Maxwell junkie. I not only thoroughly enjoy his books but they help me in becoming a better person. This book is written where every chapter is golden and yet able to stand alone. You can simply open the book to any chapter and it will enrich you. Even though the chapters are segmented into 5 logical sections. I especially liked the chapter entitled, "The Pain Principle: Hurting people hurt people and are easily hurt by them". This chapter increased my empathy and sensitivity for hurting people. It just makes sense that those that lash out are really hurting people. I gave this book 4 stars simply because his best work by far was, "21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership". As helpful as this book was I simply tried to read a chapter each evening before going to sleep. Like a nutritious light snack that won't keep you up all night. 4 stars (Impressed with reservations) - This is the second book I've read from John Maxwell. Overall, I found the book to be well written, personal, and filled with principles, explanations, and anecdotes. Each principle is explained in a manner that should strike a cord in many people. He supports the concept embodied by the principle with anecdotes, both personal and historical. If you are looking for a book to help with interpersonal relationships, this is a good book to to start with. John covers a lot of ground in this book. That would be my major criticism of the book. There are many, many strategies and approaches, and keeping track can get confusing. They are well organized. This will have to be a book that you refer back to as issues in your life come up and you are looking for help. I think Covey's work is more managable and priciple system oriented, but that shouldn't detract from John's work. There is an unlying system, but John's approach appears to be more of set of tools to help you, with each dealing with a specific type of problem. 5 stars (...
Nelson Business :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Religious aspects :: Leadership :: Interpersonal relations :: Interpersonal communication :: Christianity :: Business&Economi :: Winning With People - Discover the People Principles that Work for You Every Time

Developing The Leader Within You

5 stars (Insight at a legible level) - I have found John Maxwells work to provide a great deal of useful thoughts, hints, and guidance, and all done without needing a masters degree in linguistics to decipher his language. He provides a good base for moving ones self into a thought process like a leader, with plenty of usable applications and steps. Very useable, and very inspiring. Something I am sure that will help everyone. 4 stars (Developing leadership qualities ) - Developing the leader within you gives basic instructions for developing leadership skills. John C Maxwell, author of this book believes that being a leader is not necessarily an in born skill but rather can and should be developed. This book stresses that even natural leaders need to learn appropriate skills in leadership in order to utilize their skills to the maximum. Basically his book is telling us that being a leader and being a manager are not the same. Managers are short term oriented. They are concerned with the day to day operations and are adept at controlling organizing and monitoring resources. Leaders have a shared goal with their team, they process the skills to motivate the team and inspire as well as energize the team toward a shared goal. John Maxwell's book also focuses on priorities. He fells priorities never stay the same and are constantly changing. John Maxwell's book also focuses on priorities. He fells priorities never stay the same and are constantly changing. A good leader possesses the skills to create positive change. Followers don't like change. Resistance to change is universal. Change disrupts routing and creates a fear of unknown. After reading this book, I felt that it was very informative, and helpful. It was a easy to read book, to help anyone become a better leader. By the end of reading this book I knew that I already was a better leader. The book also increased the awareness in feeling and thought to help the leader develop an effective team. T...
Nelson Business :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Leadership :: Business&Economics :: Business & Economics & Finance :: Business & Economics :: John C Maxwell :: :: Developing The Leader Within You

The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

5 stars (Top book for Top leaders) - Most of the time, we just don't know how to get to the next level of happiness and effectiveness. As a result, we flounder, hoping that some random act of character will propel us to the next level, and having no clue what that next level might be. And we stay right where we are. One author said that, "Lunacy is doing the same things repeatedly, expecting different results." and in those days, we exemplify that statement. Then along comes an idea or a series of ideas that changes the landscape. John Maxwell's book on leadership is one of those books. Here we find the ideas we need to hone our character and make our organizations more effective. In effect, while learning to lead others, we actually learn how to lead ourselves. This is true leadership and true influence, and you would be remiss not to take these ideas in and change your path. 3 stars (The book starts well, but quickly degenerates) - I have been in various professional and volunteer leadership positions for more than twenty years, but I am always looking for new ideas on how to become a more effective leader, so the 'Irrefutable' title of this book, plus the recommendation of others, caused me to plunk down a few dollars for the book. I was fairly impressed by the first couple of chapters, and felt that the Chapter where John makes the assertion that "Leadership = Influence" was VERY insightful. In fact this chapter alone was worth the purchase price of the book. So why do I only rate it with 3 stars(and almost rated it 2 stars)? Because of John's overemphasis in later chapters on the personality of the leader and his dismissal of 'difficult people'. Part of the extreme challenge of leadership (especially in volunteer organizations) is dealing effectively with the 'difficult people' in the organization. John blithely suggests to either 'co-op' them, replace them, or get them to quit. It should be so easy - but in reality, it is not. You cannot get peo...
Nelson Business :: Personal Growth :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Business :: Leadership :: Industrial management :: Christianity - Christian Life - Business :: Business&Ec :: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership

Servant Leader

3 stars (Good book but a bit bloated.) - The messages of this book are wonderful, however my problem with the book lies in it's production. The publisher data lists this book at ~128 pages. If you were to remove all the glossy, fluffy, and otherwise do-nothing-feel-good stuff (pictures, etc.)this book would be lucky to hit 25 pages. Knowing what I know now, would I have spent the $15 in the bookstore for this book? Probably not for 20-25 pages of solid message/ideas slicky inflated and packaged. Seriously, the authors could have put alot more work into to earn my $15. If you have any doubts about my comments run down to the bookstore and leaf through this book. 4 stars (Clear and Understandable) - Ken Blanchard is famous for making leadership easy to understand and he once again delivers in " Servant Leader ." The anecdotes weren't as wonderful as in Shar McBee's book "To Lead is to Empower" but he is clear and understandable. Definitely worth reading. 5 stars (Abolutely Awesome) - Dr. Blanchard not only tells us how to become more effective leaders, but how to put our professional life in harmony with the most sacred part of our personal life. This is an inspirational interpretation of the 2000 year old best seller on which it is based. ...
J Countryman :: Gift Books :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Business :: Religion :: Leadership :: Inspirational - General :: Criticism :: interpretation :: etc :: Christianity - :: Servant Leader

Attitude 101 - What Every Leader Needs to Know

5 stars (Attitude determines Altitude) - This is a great book. I am a big Maxwell fan, and I loved reading this book. It is a compilation of chapters from some of Maxwell's other bestsellers. This book serves as a great reminder of how important our attitude is in every area of life. 5 stars (90% attitude and 10% situation!) - There is NOTHING more important than attitude when it comes to success in leadership! No, I mean it. In general this is just an all around true point: success is 90% attitude and 10% situation. How you deal with things as a leader has a profound impact on those around you and once again, John has produced a wonderful work that conveys all kinds of fantastic points that will help you develop and grow as a leader. I highly recommend it. (...) 5 stars (I give it 5 because it serves a good purpose.) - It's a good book to read, I love it. Attitude is very important in life and I think its important that people around us understand it. I have friends who need to read this, because of their negative attitude; it's hard to be around them. Great price, and I'm thinking to buy one for some of my friends so they can understand the importance of an attitude. There can be written something more deeper on a subject. But I think this book serves a purpose. Getting people to notice their attitude. Its nice and short, easy to read. Buy it for your house, have your family read it. But it for your friends with a wrong attitude. Hes very to the point, uses stories to further illustrate his points. Easily understood and he doesn't make you read through some endless junk writers sometimes use to fill in the pages. ...
Nelson Business :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Business :: Success :: Psychological aspects :: Motivational & Inspirational :: Leadership :: Inspirational :: Business&Economi :: Attitude 101 - What Every Leader Needs to Know

Leadership 101- What Every Leader Needs to Know

4 stars (Leadership 101 by John Maxwell) - Many people attain positions of leadership in the organisations, community and other spheres of life but with no guidance of what good leadership entails. John Maxwell did a good job of writing a small book packed with useful guidance on how to be an effective leader. He divided the book into three parts. The first part describes how one can develop as a leader, whilst the second part explains the traits of a leader and the last part is on the impact that a leader can have on people. The need for a clear vision as a leader becomes very apparent after reading the book. As a leader one should be aiming at producing a lasting legacy, that is, one should be aiming at making a difference to the lives of others. Followers should be willing to follow you because of the positive influence that you have on people as a good leader. To be an effective leader, one needs to continually develop oneself. High quality leadership entails empowering others to exercise their huge potential for the benefit of the organisation or the team. Followers have to trust you as a leader and trust has to be earned from one's actions. One cannot hope to be an exceptional leader unless one is self-disciplined. Leadership starts with being able to lead yourself before one can lead others. The book is written in simple easy to follow style which makes it readable by anyone at leadership position in an organisation or other sphere of life. 5 stars (Vision) - A leader cant lead without vision. He/she cant reach that vision without people who are willing to follow and share that same vision. And in order for others to follow that leader has to show integrity, passion and earn respect in the process. He/she has to put the interest of the organization and its people above his/her own personal interests... then he/she can earn the title of a leader. 3 stars (A good entry level book into the world of leadership.) - John C. Maxwell has apparently spent the ...
Nelson Business :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Business :: Religion - Christian Living :: Leadership :: Christianity - Christian Life - Business :: Business&Economics :: Bu :: Leadership 101- What Every Leader Needs to Know

Wooden on Leadership

3 stars (Basketball - Yes! Business - No!) - Without question Coach Wooden is in a league by himself when it comes to major college basketball. He is also a very impressive and inspirational person. However, this book is another in a never-ending series of books trying to generalize non-business world (eg. sports, armed forces, girl scouts, religion, NASA, etc.) management techniques to the business world. Most, possibly all, are of little value because of major differences. 1)Members constituting the varying organizations are motivated differently, and face greatly significantly different situations. What does eg. a fighter pilot or basketball coach have in common with a pharmicist, nurse, professor, financial analyst, etc.? I have no idea. College basketball players generally are "in the game" for only part of the day for part of the year for a short part of their lives (about three years), and do not depend on it for their livelihood. That's much different than people working full-time at a career that they depend on for their livelihood. 2)Key success factors vary from one business to another. For Merck, it may be speed of developing new drugs, getting through FDA approval, and motivating physicians to use them. For Nucor Steel, it undoubtedly rests much more on low-cost production. Again, what does either have to do with college basketball - little, if anything. One is better off reading books from similar situations - eg. about Wal-Mart (if you are in retailing), about Allied-Signal or G.E. (if you are managing a conglomerate - I especially recommend Bossidy's "Execution"), and about New York Community School District #4, as managed by Sy Fliegel, if you are in public schools. 5 stars (What a pity) - You will not find a better, sounder book on leadership than this one and yet... it will not gain the wide readership it deserves. Wooden's emphasis on selflessness, self-control, making the team the star is an idea whose time has come and gone and sore...
McGraw-Hill :: Business & Economics & Leadership :: Motivational :: Management :: Leadership :: Business&Economics :: Business & Economics & Finance :: Business & Economics :: Bas :: Wooden on Leadership