Managing

by Harold Geneen

This 53 minute Audio CD covers a discussion with Harold Geneen, the former CEO of ITT; the man who built ITT to one of America's largest and fastest growing companies, provides insights into his unique management style and priorities. Principles from one of America's master managers.

Genres: Business, Management, Leadership

289 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1984

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Managing
Managing is Harold Geneen's story, of how he rose through executive positions until he became CEO of ITT, making ITT the greatest conglomerate in the world and almost defining the term 'multi-national'. ITT had over 250 profit centres and employed half a million people in 4 continents. ITT also became known as the Geneen University for his consistent delivery of positive commercial results.

This was the first book I ever read on management while I was an electronic engineering student back in the early 1990s, and had no exposure to management. Nevertheless, the advice and insights have never left me and there were principles avowed in this book that I have committed most of my career to.

Mangement must manage
Management and Leadership are interlinked but very different
Executive egotism is the most dangerous force to the well-being of a company
If your desk isn't cluttered you're probably not working

The emotional attitude, responsibility, authority and leadership from the top executives of a company will drive the culture and ultimately its success. Throughout my career, I have seen CEOs and other C-level executives approach company culture as a, "do as I say not as I do" philosophy and I have never seen it work yet. As a C-level executive if you do not have passion, commitment, integrity, and confidence (NOT arrogance) then it is impossible to engender it in those that work for you. Geneen epitomised the culture at ITT.

If you judge a book by the impact it had on you, then for me this is an exceptional book that has shaped my behaviour and principles in business. Reading it today, it feels dated and it probably wouldn't have the same impact on readers nowadays, but it is still one of the great insights in a world-renowned and immensely successful business leader. Geneen was a prolific reader of books, which is another admirable trait.

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

I think that Geneen is a great manager if you're an investor and terrible for everyone else. He views factors like the economy and natural disasters are immaterial for failure and assumes unpaid overtime is the solution to everything. He speaks against family time and philanthropy in favor of more hours and output. Basically, he's the boss from hell.

While I respect his knowledge and accomplishments, I couldn't disagree with his style more. He pushes all the information and power up to the top, to key people, and then makes sure those key people are good and rides them (including himself). Works great until someone has an aneurysm or gets hit by a bus or goes to the competition, says I.

I think the best strategy is to move away from the imperial executive and go to a more distributed system, where everyone is valuable and having fun and contributing. I think that companies run like that have the best long term success. Human investments are worst when used as pump and dump - they mature exponentially as time goes on, snowballing wisdom and experience and growing ever more productive. The best system makes those people stay and reap as much of the tail end of the integral as possible. Mr. Geneen, I think, would not agree.

[William Alston · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book explains that the most effective leaders are those who lead by example and seek to serve the interests of their employees. Such leaders suppress their own egos, and encourage their employees to contribute ideas, express their opinions, and think creatively. As a result, the employees become more loyal, their energy rises, their contributions increase, and the organization thrives.

The ideas and strategies offered in this book are effective, logical, and proven, and the book itself is well written. However, few of the books principles are original. Hence the 4 star rating.

[Henry Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr Geneen, though tyrannical, is correct to a great extent. I've re-read this book many times, and, each time, I learn a little more that I realize is true.

I recommend it to anyone who wants a business career.

[Dean Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quirky but wonderful book on management.

[Andrew Ledet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good perspective on what management means. It’s an older text and is gendered in numerous ways. The core principals of managing are helpful reminders of where to focus my energy and time.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not everyone would agree...but I believe the lesson of this book is if you want to succeed in life, you just have to work harder than everyone else. Not a popular message today but the Geneen that comes through in the book is not concerned about popularity.

[JW van der Merwe · Rating 2 out of 5]

A tough man but good common sense mnagement and hard work Philosophy.

[Alex Bain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by a friend. Worth a read. Harold Geneen discusses some of the ways he managed his extremely successful company. "Managers must manage" being one of the most salient points.