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It's OK to Be the Boss: The Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming the Manager Your Employees Need

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Arrives Wednesday, May 22
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Item Weight : 11.4 ounces


Hardcover : 208 pages


ISBN-10 : 4


ISBN-13 : 64


Dimensions : 5.8 x 0.85 x 8.55 inches


Publisher : Collins; 1st edition (February 2, 2010)


Language: English


Best Sellers Rank: #77,875 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #894 in Business Management (Books) #1,218 in Leadership & Motivation


#894 in Business Management (Books):


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Top Amazon Reviews


  • It's OK to read this - but read the "27 Challenges" instead
This book is ok. But, if you are going to read a Tulgan book make it " "The 27 Challenges Managers Face." You see, Tulgan's recommendations focus on meeting regularly in one-on-ones with your employees. During these meetings, you establish goals and deadlines, make expectations clear, track performance, provide feedback etc. He calls these 'high structure, high substance' meetings. That is basically what 'It's OK to Be the Boss" says. Where you get more bang for your buck is the "27 Challenges" book. He adjusts the advice for different challenges, including going from peer to leader, coming from the outside, teaching problem solving to employees, managing attitudes etc. Thus, you get a broader perspective on the basic 'high structure-high substance meetings' idea. Also, his 'people list' and some other items in the "27 Challenges' book are good too. The "27 Challenges" book would be great for a new manager training course. I have appreciated and used the "27 Challenges" recommendations. My only knock on Tulgan's recommendations is that he seems to focus too much on the 'tell them what to do' or directive behavior for the manager, rather than developing people to 'tell you what they are going to do'. If you only do the 'tell' then you will not get self-managed people. Also, you will irritate those skilled and self-motivated people who are great assets in your workforce. I would like to see his recommendations move toward developing independently acting employees (e.g. moving from S1 to S4 in the Situational Leadership Model). ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2017 by T. Dahlstrom

  • Definitely worth the investment!
I LOVE this book! Extremely readable. I abhor dry & boring leadership books, but I couldn't put this one down! I was able to read the whole thing in a weekend. I started implementing the changes Bruce suggested and I immediately saw results. As matter of fact, over the past couple weeks, our stats have improved, and my boss has taken notice and told me yesterday that he thinks our office is running so much better now. Just what a new manager wants to hear! My employees are also blossoming in front of my eyes! One is responding EXTREMELY well to this method and is quickly becoming a top performer, and one is having some opposition, but I can tell she's realizing this is the right way to do things. It has been time consuming, but in the RIGHT way. I also have WAAAAY more time to focus on my actual Office Manager duties now than I did running around putting out fires all day because no one was following procedures. So if you are struggling as a new manager or your team needs help, I'd highly, highly, HIGHLY recommend this book! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 19, 2018 by Jennifer W.

  • Excellent book for managers
As a manager I've sometimes struggled with how approach employees regarding task I need done and providing feedback when employees miss the mark. I have even avoided conversations at times instead of providing the feedback instantly and letting the employee continue to be a problem. This book provides excellent strategy and examples of how to be more engaging and deal with problem employees as well as good employees. This is a must read for all managers. The undermanagement epidemic is real; this book shows you how to over come it and push outstnading results. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2017 by William

  • Some good parts but perhaps outdated
While there is some good management advice here I think there are better management books that have been written since. My main concern is that the author stresses micro managing employees rather than empowering them. The world had changed a lot in 10 years and I think an empowerment approach is a better style in these times. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020 by Jeremiah

  • Blue collar management
This book definitely has a big focus on simpler jobs with not very well trained employees that rotate often. The principles, thought, are worth reading about. I wouldn't implement all the practices in software engineering management, but some of them might be helpful. Take this book with a grain of salt. Some advice is too old-school. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2020 by Davin Nathan

  • Very useful and practical book for people like me
Very useful and practical book for people like me, a dentist who doesn't really want to manage anyone but must anyway. I have read several other similar management books that were basically useless. Highly recommended and probably relevant to many people.
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2017 by Roxanne C. Rudowicz

  • Great for new leaders
I purchased this book for four of my managers for Christmas. It is an easy read and has very relatable scenarios in the book. Each of them has started to read the book and has personally come to me to tell me how what they read relates to something they have going on right now. It was good eye opener for them and helped them to find solutions on how to manage individuals. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2019 by PAUL E KINCAID

  • Brilliant- exactly the book I needed
I have been a boss before but this new team has been a big struggle. I came in after a long absence of mgmt and the team was looking for a strong leader. My “we are all in this together” hands off approach was not serving me well. This book laid out some clear action and I am becoming a much better boss. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 3, 2019 by Amazon Customer

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