Diversity MBA Magazine - Fall 2008 - (Page 13)

It’s Our Ship: The No-Nonsense Guide to Leadership By Captain D. Michael Abrashoff Business Plus, $23.99, 196 pages In one of his previous books, It’s Your Ship: Management Techniques from the Best Damn Ship in the Navy, the retired naval captain-turned-business consultant focused on the captains of the enterprise. This time around, he’s looking at the team. Abrashoff dives back into his service experience, plus examples from his consultancy, to show that leadership is not a solo act, noting that dropping the Y from “Your” makes all the difference in the world. Abrashoff never met a nautical metaphor he didn’t like; there are countless references to “your crew” and chapter titles like “All Hands on Deck.” Practical advice on building a great team is sprinkled throughout the book; while many of his points are consistent with basic management research, he rolls up his sleeves when talking about minimizing office politics, dealing with hard decisions, and making teachable moments out of adverse outcomes. The Breakthrough Company: How Everyday Companies Become Extraordinary Performers By Keith McFarland Crown Business, $27.50, 271 pages How do little companies become big businesses? McFarland’s curiosity about that led him to research 7,000 fast-growing businesses, analyze thousands of articles, interview 1,500 industry leaders, and conduct in-depth studies of 52 companies. That led him to nine companies, including Chico’s, Intuit, Paychex, SAS and The Staubach Company, which exemplify the difference between average and topof-the-line enterprises. McFarland found that those enterprises aim for steady growth instead of dramatic surges, put the company’s goals above the leadership’s goals, draw in expertise from the outside when needed, and create a climate “where ordinary people can do extraordinary things.” He distills his voluminous research into easily understood points. Managers of any business will likely learn some new tricks, but this book will be especially helpful for entrepreneurs at the early stage of pursuing their aspirations. Executive Warfare: 10 Rules of Engagement for Winning Your War of Success By David D’Alessandro McGraw-Hill, $24.95, 265 pages Actually, there are way more than 10 rules in D’Alessandro’s current volume (following Brand Warfare: 10 Rules for Building the Killer Brand and Career Warfare: 10 Rules for Building Your Successful Brand on the Business Battlefield). There’s a pull quote on virtually every page encapsulating an idea or concept. Despite the allusions to aggression, his writing is more snarky than militaristic, as he offers up plain-spoken advice on how to navigate the twists and turns of relating with people in leadership capacities. D’Alessandro cleverly holds court on bosses (“your goal here is to wind up as the most trusted person in the boss’ stable”), peers (“you will have enemies and they will all be underhanded”), and rivals (“ if you can’t resist a show of aggression, make sure it’s lethal”). Veteran corporate warriors will chuckle when they recognize examples from their own careers in D’Alessandro’s anecdotes. However, this book may be most valuable for people just beginning to climb their company’s ladder, with its numerous signs to watch for when someone has sawed off a rung. Love ‘em or Lose ‘em: Getting Good People to Stay (4th Edition) By Beverly Kay and Sharon Jordan-Evans Berrett-Koehler, $24.95, 306 pages The latest edition of this nine-year-old franchise pivots on two basic points: companies need the best people to choose to work for them, and managers have the power and influence to create the appropriate climate. The authors put forth 26 A-to-Z strategies for creating such an atmosphere. A is for Ask (your people how they feel), B is for Buck (as in “stops here”), C is for supporting people’s hopes for their Careers, and so on. The premise may be a little tongue-in-cheek, but the advice is solid, and each point includes strategies and to-do lists to help enact it. The authors also include feedback from the community that has emerged around the series, and additional points that didn’t quite fit into the alphabetical conceit. This can be a useful resource for managers learning how to translate basic people skills into effective business tactics. 13 June 2008 Top 1 0 0 Unde r 5 0 D i ve rse Le ade rs

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Diversity MBA Magazine - Fall 2008

Diversity MBA Magazine - Fall 2008 Contents Letters to the Editor In Your Own Hands Editor's View Business Briefs Off the Shelf Diversity MBA 2008 Awards Gala and Leadership Forum "Diversity Next Practices" Illusion of Inclusion Good Is Not Enough Revisiting Your Personal Brand Discover Your Power Voice Authentic Leadership In An Ever-Changing Marketplace Stopping the Brain Drain: How Companies Can Keep Talented People of Color Corporate Succession Planning - How Do You Fit In? How To Manage Virtual Teams Beyond Demographics Recruit, Recognize, Retain, Reinvest – Winning the Talent Acquisition Game Leave Ego at the Door Modernizing Supplier Diversity Taking the Leadership High Road… When You Can Find It Think Boardroom Bound; It’s Happening Who's Who In Diversity Fail to Succeed 4-Star Start-Up, Chris Ward: Character Above All Get Them at Hello – Tips to Improve Your Marketing Kit Sonny Vu, Entrepreneur A World at Your Fingertips Big Brother Wants Your Bank Account Stepping Off The Corporate Ladder HR Focus with Monica Ross A Unique New England Vacation Bold Caballeros y Noble Bandidas Women of Color and Cancer: The Chicago Phenomenon Being Single Isn't Easy International MBAs Flock To U.S. Schools Smart Strategy Gadgets+Gizmos Advertiser's Index

Diversity MBA Magazine - Fall 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.