First, Break All The Rules (by the Gallup Group)
 

Has anyone read this book or the follow up Now, Discover Your Strengths? This is a management type topic and I couldn't figure out a better place to put it. Just wanted tp open a little conversation on managers....

Wow! I see after a day and 33 views that I've posted a tough question!

Haven't read the book so didn't reply....I have been a manager for 15 years though. people management is by far the most trying aspect.

I've not read the book, but it sounds interesting so I might pick it up. Though if it is as the title suggests, it goes contrary to my philosphy, "follow the rules until you know well enough which ones need breaking."

I'm not a fan of management, but rule breaking is another matter. Tell me more?

Can you give us a brief synopsis of what "breaking the rules" means in the book? Without reading the book and knowing what that means it's hard to have an opinion.

First, Break All The Rules is about the thousands of surveys Gallup has done over the years. From this, they've figured out what makes the best managers.

These managers don't do the typical things. For example, they don't focus on people's weaknesses and they don't spend equal time with everyone. They work to help develop the natural strengths of people and spend more time with the better employees. Both of these things lead to a much better ROI on time.

One key element is the "12 Questions." You survey your work group on these simple tenets. Questions like do I know what is expected of me at work, do I have the tools and resources to do my job, do I get to do what I do best every day, does someone at work care about my development?

My management team, which I lead, has developed our entire strategic plan around developing a culture based on innitiatives from the 12 questions.

Now, Discover Your Strengths helps you determine your own individual natural talents and understand their dynamics.

I could write on forever so I'll just say that this is powerful stufff.

I've read the book. I've put some of the items into practice. Each of the 15 people that I managed needed something different and I provided that for them, I did not try to cookie cutter them with just a blanket. I gave thought to each individual's needs from a personal and professional level.

Cynthetiq....

Have you gotten into Now, Discover Your Strengths? Also, there is another called Follow This Path, which really brings things full circle.

I have not read the follow up book. I would love to read it but it's not on my radar for books at the moment. Its on the list, so I will get to it.

That's cool.... Care to share what some of the books are that you do have on your list at the moment? I'm always on the hunt for good books. I actually read too much and have to be selective sometimes. Too much fiction and management development but I just love to read!

I read those same subjects.

on my permanent reading list:

Who Moved My Cheese.

If Life is a Game These are the Rules.
sometimes this book is not further than my coat pocket.

Chicken Soup for America

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I recommend:
What Color is Your Parachute

and

Die Broke

I've got to get Die Broke and If Life Is A Game.... they both sound pretty good.

I'm sorry to go off-topic but I was wondering if you all might offer some insight.

My Computer Science 4 (high school) class is designed to be a volunteer service. We have a team of programmers, and we're working on project requests from local businesses and organizations. The teams have broken down into smaller groups and are working on their respective projects. The problem is that we have until June, and there's really no motivation to do work. There are also a few people that are having difficulty in this unstructured environment.
There is one person in charge of management; his duties include diplomacy of sorts with the companies and asking everyone for status reports. So it hasn't been very effective... This is class made up of high school seniors, less than 10 in total. Our teacher is taking a hands-off approach to this, but I think his intent was to get this as close to a real life situation as possible.

Any advice would be appreciated, or feel free to ignore this if it's too off-topic.

Well, there is a pretty good book called The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Small book that tells a story, kind of like Who Moved My Cheese, only a real life-type story (fictional, of course). One of the dysfunctions is team members holding each other accountable.

Good luck!

definetly a good book. I also reccomend this.