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

By Bruce Tulgan

Book Overview

Bruce Tulgan shows bosses how to get things done by solving corporate America's huge problem with simple, effective management.

In this call-to-arms, consultant and speaker Bruce Tulgan puts his finger on biggest problem in corporate America: no one wants to be the boss. No one wants to take responsibility and tell their employees what to do and how to do it. More importantly, no one wants to follow up and make sure that assignments were done and done right.

Making a clear distinction between managers who interfere with the work at hand and managers who are simply afraid to take charge by setting clear goals and evaluating work, this practical management guide opens eyes to the undisciplined workplace that is frustrating workers at every level. Giving a clear 8-step path to becoming a strong manager, Tulgan provides the essential leadership skills to empower anyone to be the best bosses they can be.

This guide provides the proven, step-by-step framework for becoming the manager your employees need:

The Undermanagement Epidemic: Discover why the real crisis isn't micromanagement, but a popular hands-off approach that frustrates employees and costs organizations a fortune.Performance Coaching: Master the art of talking about the work--giving clear, direct instructions that build rapport and drive results, not resentment.Real Accountability: Learn how to tie concrete actions to real consequences, making accountability a fair and transparent process instead of a source of conflict.Proactive Problem Solving: Find out how to identify and solve small issues before they fester and grow, eliminating the need for dreaded, high-stakes confrontations.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0061121363
• ISBN13: 9780061121364
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Harper Business
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.7" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Finally, the antidote to "management by fad"

In my many years in the workforce, I've seen just about every half-baked management fad that's come down the pike. Most of them leave the manager confused and the "managee" feeling patronized or worse. Almost all get dumped sooner rather than later. Thanks to this book I can finally put my finger on what's wrong with these fads - they are simply elaborate excuses to avoid the actual hard work of management by wallowing in pop psychologoy or meaningless "metrics". There is no getting away from the fact that the manager's job is to set very definite expectations for his/her direct reports, communicate them clearly, track them diligently, and reward or discipline the worker accordingly. Tulgan makes it clear that good management takes effort but the rewards are great - a better and more honest relationship with your direct reports, better morale and better productivity. Read this book if you have anyone reporting to you. And if not, buy it for your boss!

A practical book for managers

I was attracted by the very direct title, and the book delivered. It is specific, detailed, and honest. I particularly appreciated Tulgan's warning that becoming a better manager is like starting a fitness program. I'd rather it wasn't hard, time consuming, and something that requires daily discipline, but I like that he's up front about it. And that his book has so many specific things to do, answers to objections, and reasons it's worth it.

Getting to the point to Manage better.

"It was a very different style (edgy and honest) that set itself apart from all of the other business books I've read over the years. There were many good points to validate what we see on a daily basis, plus 3 to 4 good takeaways that I could apply immediately."

Engaging and helpful - I'm a believer!

I've both read a number of his books (great hand-on advice) as well as having had an opportunity to see Tulgan speak a couple of times. I'm a believer and this new book is an excellent synthesis of the best ideas he's presented and written over the past few years. I've been employed in a couple of extremely demanding and highly service oriented sectors (financial services and real estate) and it's clear who's being managed effectively (the few) and those who are absolutely not. Tulgan nails it - the cost is staggering. He provides an effective approach to cutting-edge management in an understandable and concise, easy to read and easy to follow approach.

Help is on the way.

If you're like me, someone needing to get better at management but with little formal training, this book is definately for you. It really separates myths from reality and let's us know that what most of us think is "common business knowledge" quite often turns out to either flawed or just plain incorrect. I also like that Bruce is very upfront. He's tells the reader straight away that managing is not simple, not easy and improving at it won't happen overnight but that with effort and hard work we can improve.