Resources
Books, articles and other resources that we’ve found to be valuable. Please give us your input.
Books
Excellent and readable book about the transformation of an old-guard company into a nimble, adaptable enterprise. Yes, the company was unionized. No, it did not produce high-tech, fashion-forward products. To my knowledge, the company is still the single most desirable workplace in South America.
First, Break All the Rules by Buckingham and Coffman
Indispensable for the manager at any level of an organization. The Gallup Organization compiled data from over 80,000 managers into a 12-question inventory that reveals the strength of a workplace in attracting and retaining high-performing employees. The factors may surprise you. And the results correlate strongly with profitability, stock value and other “hard” measures.
Getting Things Done: The art of stress-free productivity by David Allen
Not your usual “how-to-be-efficient” handbook, GTD (as it’s referred to by its adherents) takes a flexible yet seriously effective approach to corralling and accomplishing all your tasks. It has spawned a movement of gurus and scores of tools and tips. Don’t be deflected by the bells and whistles. Buy the book and read it more than once.
Articles
It’s What’s On the Outside That Counts
Time, 9/3/07
Researchers find that, though internal team dynamics are important, the team’s ability to function well externally is just as important. “. . . Inner dynamics are best understood as they relate to the team’s efforts to reach outward. That means shared timelines, transparent decision making and frequent meetings to integrate knowledge and efforts.”
Workplace Conflict Resolution: People Management Tips
About.com
Reasonably good perspective on handling conflict from the supervisor’s perspective. Reluctance to address conflict in the organization is a widespread and destructive failing of many managers. Don’t be among them.
Make Your Goals Inspirational, Not Delusional
Inc.com
“Effective goal setting is a little bit like common sense. It should be easy and obvious, but just like with common sense, it isn’t very common. With the rise of the Law of Attraction/positive thinking movement and the pressure to set high, difficult to reach goals, leaders can easily set targets that are based on little more than blind hope.”
