April 23, 2008

Book Review - Becoming an Extraordinary Manager

Becoming an Extraordinary Manager: The 5 Essentials for Success
Len Sandler
HF 5549 .S144 2008

Everyone dreams of being that manager who inspires their team, listens to and supports their subordinates, and is able to get their very best work from them. This book explains not only the theories behind effective management, but offers suggestions for action that can bring these theories to life. Sandler begins with an introduction and discussion about why there aren't more exceptional managers around. He then dives into the five behaviors that he believes are key to extraordinary management. These include motivating the team, recruiting and retaining talented people, planning and organizing the performance of the team, managing performance, and developing the individuals and the team. Each section ends with a list of action items that managers can use as a checklist as they work on changing their management behaviors. This practical book will be useful to all managers and team leaders.