Average Rating: 
Rating:  - Simply a Classic! -- Required Reading for any Leader!
I finally ordered this book to see for myself if all the hype was true. After reading through the pages very quickly (it only took a couple of brief sittings), I was thoroughly impressed. Blanchard and Johnson truly have a classic here, a volume that fulfills its high expectations.The key to the success of this book is the combination of its simplicity and its practicality. Three lessons are given to managers: the one-minute goal, the one-minute praising, and the one-minute reprimand. The material is presented in a parable-like format, which makes the concepts even easier to grasp. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. For the small price paid and the short time required to read it from cover to cover, it is a superb investment. If you are any type of leader or manager, READ THIS BOOK!
Rating: - A Parable with Serious Staying Power
The One Minute Manager is a book that MUST be read by anyone on the payroll of a fortune 500 company -- especially since there are more than 7 million copies in print. But is it really worth five stars? Well, let's see...Published in 1980, the One Minute Manager is the story of a hypothetical manager and his hypothetical employees, being interviewed by a hypothetical interviewer who is out to learn how to become a better manager. Through the interviewing process, the interviewer uncovers that the One Minute Manager has developed a three legged process for managing *the behaviours* of working adults. Specifically, the three main components of the One Minute Manager process are:
1) One Minute Goal Setting
2) One Minute Praisings
3) One Minute Reprimands Throughout the book, the One Minute Manager and his employees frequently use metaphors to clarify the why's and wherefores of the One Minute Manager process and its value-add to an organization. Shockingly, most of the examples used to clarify the value of the process draw on behaviour modifcation techniques used on animals (in the book: a whale, a pigeon, and a puppy), recalcitrant children and even a terminally ill alcoholic. Not exactly the types of paragons I am trying to emulate in my professional life. The real problem with the One Minute Manager is that the authors, Blanchard and Johnson, evidently believe that a reasonable way to develop a process for managing people is to venture out to the extremes in finding test cases for how best to change behaviour. And in theory, this can work. But in the One Minute Manager the process breaks down in most real-world situations because the One Minute Manager process *requires* a binary world (i.e., black/white, off/on, correct/incorrect). Especially for the One Minute Praisings Praisings and Reprimands -- my experience in the complex world of modern business, is that there frequently does not exist one right way to do things and that good/bad, better/worse, and best/worst cases are often not uncovered or agreed upon for years (example: Time Warner & AOL merger). What is good about the book is that Blanchard and Johnson have marketed a process that neccesitates engaging both manager and employee in objective setting and driving the success of the business (very TQM/Deming of them). They also encourage folks to praise themselves -- something I have found that many do not do in the workplace. The most poignant part of the story uses the following joke very effectively (paraphrased): "If you don't blow your own horn sometimes, eventually someone will use it for a spit-toon". So given the above, why the five stars? Well, there are three reasons for this:
1) The One Minute Manager is unique in the business book genre in that it employees a parable (i.e., no new data or primary research) to put forward ideas/concepts for managing people -- somewhat strange that two *supposed* scientists would take this approach
2) I have personally been an employee of someone who, while I worked for her, became a One Minute Manager by reading the book (this manager overcame her mere average incompetence and quickly became ludicrously incompetent), so realize that in the wrong hands, this book can make the lives of employees a nightmare
3) Too many folks in business have bought the book for you not to Net/net: FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED. Read this and know what other corporate types know if you rely on your paycheck for shelter and food, and have even the slightest interest in being happy and succeeding in corporate America.
Rating: - Great book for anyone of any age group, any occupation...
Book written by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson, it has sold more than 7 million copies worldwide and that just says how successful this book is. It covers the three essential elements of being a high-speed and efficient manager. I also like the "business story" format. In today's world, many new supervisors are thrust into a "baptism by fire" management environment. I found this book to be an easy to read guide that arms newcomers to management with the basic tools for building worker relationships and getting the best out of their staff. Consequently, their efforts are guided into decisions that generate increasingly positive outcomes in uncomfortable situations. Self-confidence builds and leadership and management styles improve.
|
