Play Your Best Hand: How to Manage the Four Types of Knowledge Workers--and Stack the Odds for Maximum Success

By Faith Ralston

The number of knowledge workers has doubled in the last decade. Unlike yesterday's workers their value is not measured in hours logged, but in how much quality and innovation they create for your... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1593376855
• ISBN13: 9781593376857
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: Adams Media
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.5" x 0.6" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

A wonderful book!

Faith Ralston's new book "Play Your Best Hand," expertly tells on how leaders, managers, and career professionals everywhere can maximize the use of their own talents and the talents of the people they supervise. It's a nifty, slightly undersized book designed to resemble a guide to playing poker. If you ever wanted to understand how to make it in the is world, here is the ultimate playbook!

Be Your Own Talent Scout!

Play Your Best Hand is a tremendous resource whether you're planning your first career, climbing the corporate ladder, leading a team, or growing your entrepreneurial business. If you have lost track of your talent or maybe never quite knew it in the first place, you'll be back on track within a few pages, ready to turn your strengths into productive and fulfilling action! Faith Ralston has put together a book that I'll go back to many times.

This Book is the Real Deal!

Play Your Best Hand is a breakthrough book for anyone who leads a team of knowledge workers. The author clearly articulates what these new breed of workers want and don't want from their leaders. This knowledge alone is invaluable. Ralston also shatters old management paradigms focused on improving weaknesses. Instead she gives compelling advice and practical guidance to leaders on how they can best leverage their teams' and employees' natural talents. According to Ralston, there are four basic talent types: - Diamonds are the innovators who challenge the status quo and see opportunities. - Hearts are the motivators who gain commitment, build trust & resolve conflicts. - Clubs are the activators who get things going, set up systems and initiate change. - Spades are the implementors who manage/improve processes and handle the details. Other key points covered in Play Your Best Hand include: 1) Each talent has its "flip side" when overused. 2) There are natural conflicts inherent between certain talent types and 3) Organizations need ALL talent types to be successful. This book is filled with ideas on how to maximize your employees' strengths, deal with talent differences, address performance issues and create a winning team. Best of all, Ralston knows she's writing for busy leaders so she nets it out in her very easy-to-read, conversational style. Jill Konrath, author of Selling to Big Companies