This book was a warm fuzzy hug, even as it sometimes stabbed me right in the chest and encouraged me to do better. A fast and engaging read, and I actThis book was a warm fuzzy hug, even as it sometimes stabbed me right in the chest and encouraged me to do better. A fast and engaging read, and I acted on some of the advice immediately, but I think primarily it will be useful as a reference on the shelf, when I am struggling with one of the topics the advice in this book is on. ...more
Another book on my quest to pick up management/leadership tips without going to a seminar. This book was fairly highly reviewed. As I read it, my opinAnother book on my quest to pick up management/leadership tips without going to a seminar. This book was fairly highly reviewed. As I read it, my opinion swung about wildly. The tone is very rah rah. The sentences are very short. The chapters are short. The anecdotes are short. The words are short. I often felt spoon-fed. Yet, at times it was effective. At times, inspirational. There were a few pieces of advice that made me hold the book at arm's length and pause to let them truly sink in. At least one of which I hope to actually put to action in my life.
I would like to preface this review by explaining that I am moving to a leadership position at work, and my manager asked me if I had ever had any forI would like to preface this review by explaining that I am moving to a leadership position at work, and my manager asked me if I had ever had any formal leadership or management training (I hadn't), and offered to send me to a seminar. As I would rather do just about anything than go to a business seminar (jargon-speak! icebreakers! introvert-torture!), I offered to read a bunch of leadership/management books on my own time and try to find a leadership mentor. This is the first attempt at part one.
The trouble with checking this book out at the library instead of buying a new copy is that mostly this book is a marketing package for the Strengthsfinder 2.0 profile. Which costs $9.99 without an unused code from the back of the book. Which I came very close to paying for. But then after reading the strengths descriptions at the back of this book, I came up with a list of strengths that I can almost guarantee would by my Top 5. (Belief, Consistency, Input, Learner, Relator). There were a few others that I felt drawn to, but mostly in the "I wish I were better at this" sense. But the majority were clearly not me.
Okay, I've already taken the VIA Signature Strengths survey, so I'm familiar with and appreciate the concept. (Of course those 34 strengths do not seem to have a 1:1 correspondence with Gallup's 34 strengths. (Seriously?! Then how did they both come up with 34?))
I don't know, this book did give me some things to think about as possible areas for future growth as a leader. And I suppose that's what I was looking for. But from the description, I was expecting more tips on assessing the strengths of your team, and what areas are missing, than the insinuation that you should pay to have them all take this test.
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