On Managing

by Mark H. McCormack

Recognizing that every manager must have a set of core beliefs, in this third installment of business pioneer Mark H. McCormack's remarkable new series the "inventor" of sports management shares the personal principles for success that he has developed after many years in the trenches.
Whether it is working harder than everyone else; staying calm in a crisis; not interfering in a situation unless you can add value; showing people once, then letting them do it on their own; or being ruthless about some things, but not everything, McCormack sets forth advice that will help readers quickly develop a set of management principles that work for them. Once those principles are set in motion, McCormack details some of the finer points that managers must master as they ascend the corporate pyramid, such as why slower decisions are better than quick ones, how to resist organizational pressures that constantly tempt you to decide quickly, how to spot talent, and how to hire, nurture, and promote that talent so that it pays off for you rather than the competition.

Genres: Business

292 pages, Hardcover

First published November 16, 1995

Reviews

[Krishna Kumar · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a book on managing as opposed to a book on leadership. Hence there is an emphasis on small details which comprise the daily grind of managers. The book contains several mini-prescriptions for handling work efficiently. The bigger picture is missing. For example, there is a great deal of talk about controlling and cutting expenses, but little about growth and expansion. There is much about "managing" employees, less about motivating them or getting them to do the right thing. One of the anecdotes in the book goes like this: The author tells a junior employee (who supposedly didn't know what he was talking about) to "listen this year and talk next year". That kind of suggestion will definitely go a long way in establishing open communication!!! In summary, it does contain some useful suggestions for managers, but each of them must be viewed through the larger context of good leadership principles.

[Mindful Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to work successfully with me, you should read this book. I listened to this book on audio and really enjoyed McCormack's straight-to-the-point style both vocally and organizationally in the material. I found myself saying "Exactly!" so many times and when I finished listening I started right back at the top and listened to the whole book again.

[Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice. The wisdom gets more complicated as the book continues, so it's great for beginners and for experts.

[Effendy Yahaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

A starting book on how to manage the 'expect the unexpected' on a brief way. Its comprises of personality, compensation, physiology, intellectual, and passion. Next to read on leadership.