Book Review: The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson
There are many books that provide instructions for modern business workers and managers. The authors are elaborating their principles and rules for modern managers. The book One Minute Manager Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson belongs to the masterpieces of business literature. This is the story about a fussy manager who worked hard and long, but could not cope with all the work he had to do. When he learned to control the monkeys, he realized: one should not take the initiative from his employees so that they can take care of their monkeys and feed them. He has learned to cooperate more effectively with his superiors and meet the requirements of the organization as a whole. The performance of his department immediately improved, as did the prospects for his career growth. Critics and literature experts assert that in case one carries on a load of other people's problems, then this book is able to turn one’s life around.
The One Minute Manager: A Guide to Effective Project Management
Many readers consider that The One Minute Manager is one of the best books about the project management, since it contains details description of the methods and means of reaching success for the managers. The title of the book is metaphorical and means that managers can reach high goals and best results in the shortest possible time, in case they perform right actions. This theme is carefully carried throughout the book, emphasizing on how even short moments can provide high results. The book takes only 100 pages of easy and interesting content, so it will not take much time to read. The authors stumble upon the One Minute Manager and reveal insight on why effectiveness must be the first priority and major strengths of the managers.
Modern Management Principles
In the introduction to their book, authors Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson provide brief discussion between the worlds of business now and then and try to draw parallels between the methods of managerial work now and in the past. They are arguing that fast speed of the modern world of business require managers make fast decisions, respond faster to problems and use less resources, but yield high results. The authors are trying to provide replies to the questions about the application of management principles in modern world.
A Manual for Managers and Leaders
In general, the book can be considered the manual for managers and leaders, who strive for getting high results in the shortest time periods. The book has a set of rules and recommendations, which must be followed by managers. They include the following: setting one-minute aims, one-minute praising and one-minute reprimand (Blanchard and Spencer 21). All the three recommendation are explained in details and accompanied by examples. It is worth mentioning that each recommendation is not the call of duty for mangers, but rather consideration of possible ways of improvement. The book applies the 20/80 rule. In this case, in order to reduce the labor costs for description of goals to employees, it is suggested that 80% of the most important results are obtained when 20% of the goals are reached, therefore, authors offer concentrate on 20%, which are the most productive (Blanchard and Spencer 34). Appraisal and reprimands should also be fast, but constructive, focused on major things.
The Necessity for Collaboration and Feedback
The book contains a lot of interesting important information for mangers, leaders and simply employees, who want to make progress in their career and yield high results. However, the major and most important idea that authors present is the necessity to support collaboration and feedback between managers and subordinates. The authors assert that appraisals and feedback should be maintained all the time, in the process of work, but only by the end of report period, when employees address their managers to get consultation. People are not always ready to evaluate problems objectively and find appropriate ways out from difficult situations. Problems may accumulate into a huge problem, which finally will be difficult to solve. Therefore, the major idea of the book One Minute Manager is the necessity for the managers to find time for communication and discussions with their employees as often as possible. The authors are sure that proper and effective work depends on the effective and timely communication that must clearly set goals, evaluate work and praise for its effectiveness and reprimand in case mistakes have been made.
Recommendations for Effective Management
I agree with the author, because communication and ability of people to discuss the problems in the course of work and set collaboration is a pledge of effective work and future success. I firmly believe that employees should be afraid to set communication channels with their managers in all periods of work as well try to consult their leaders in case of any difficulty. However, it is necessary to admit that managers should not interfere into the work of their employees, giving the opportunity to work independently and demonstrate individuality in approaching to work and tasks. Their task is to control subordinates and stay close in order to be always ready to give advice and recommendation. As far as the necessity of reprimand in the communication process is concerned, it is also necessary, as it works as a kind of direction. Therefore, it should not be accepted by employees as personal offence, but as part of the managerial work and stage of the communication process.
Valuable Thoughts and Recommendations
In addition to the three main ideas listed in the book, there are several valuable thoughts and recommendations, related to the textbooks, discussed during the course of management. Thus, authors underline the necessity to work independently and prevent managers from interference. Employees are supposed to solve the problems themselves, as this is the only way to learn how to work independently. Once managers do this, they will be able to entrust some of their work to them in the future. Moreover, the book underlines the importance of quality above quantity as well as creation of positive atmosphere within the team, because people, who feel good, achieve good results. Finally, the information from the book contains some sort of psychological thoughts, underlying the necessity to look and watch employees in the process of work in order to understand them better. It should be noted that the methods described are universal and can be found in many similar books, for example, in the recommendations on the education of children.
Conclusion
Having given this book due consideration, I would recommend it for people, whose activity is related to management and working in team, in general. I must admit that recommendations and pieces of advice, given by the authors, are universal and can be related to anyone, who is working with people and whose work presupposes communication and collaboration. The thoughts of the authors are valuable, since they teach how to grow up an effective manager and leader, able to control, evaluate, recommend and praise while maintaining healthy working atmosphere, where individuality and personal efforts are highly appreciated.
Works Cited
Blanchard, Ken and Johnson, Spencer. The New One Minute Manager. NY: William Morrow. 2015
