First, Break All The Rules

What The World’s Greatest Managers Do Differently

Book by Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman

Book Review by Herb Rubenstein

Introduction

One factor in determining how long an employee is willing to stay with an organization is the quality of the management to whom the employee reports. Contrary to popular belief the more talented the employee, the more (better) management that employee requires to reach his or her potential. These and other valuable lessons are published in this book summarizing interviews with over 80,000 managers in over 400 companies performed by the Gallup organization.

Key Concepts in the Book

1. Great managers “individualize.” They do not try to create one set of rules that applies to each employee, each customer or each situation. Great managers are “judgment based” not “rules based” decision makers.

2. Each manager must develop and perfect his or her own style and apply it consistently.

3. Managers and great employees must be brilliant at anticipating.

4. Managers must make each employee comfortable with the way they are, not insecure and not be so demanding on the employee that the employee constantly lives outside his or her comfort zone, always insecure and fearful.

5. Managers must listen to employees and be interested in them as human beings, not just tools to achieve quarterly goals.

6. If one is going to fire someone, do it fast.

7. If a manager gives an order, it must be supported 100% backed up by the manager. Saying “Corporate made me do it,” poisons the well.

8. Managers should make few promises and must keep all of them.

9. Goal of management –turn talent into performance.

10. Profits and a successful business begin by building a work environment that attracts, focuses and keeps talented employees (citing The Service Profit Chain by Heskett, Sasser & Schlesinger.

11. Today, there is no simple and accurate measuring stick to tell how well a manager is doing.

12. Pay for performance systems are vital to high productivity.

13. Workers need 1) to know what is expected of them, 2) have the right materials, 3) must be acknowledged regularly, 4) be listened to, and 5) be able to learn and grow on the job.

14. Great managers do not try to change people. They hire people that fit into what they need. Then they maximize the potential of employees.

15. Self-managed teams are usually a disaster. Every team needs a manager, a leader.

16. The distinction between great managers and great leaders is one of focus. Great managers focus inward, getting the best out of what they’ve got. Great leaders look outward, toward the future, seeking alternatives, patterns, connections and pursuing a vision that only a few can see.

17. The four basic roles of managers are 1) select people; 2) set expectations; 3) motivate people;

4) develop people.

18. Behavior is generally recurring, forming a pattern. The manager must discern behavior pattern very quickly. Behaviors, once formed into patterns, are very difficult to change in the work context without extraordinary interventions and investments.

19. Managers must know and be able to measure the range of performance outcomes that are reasonable to expect in each person and in each job. Managers must know the minimum, the maximum and the average expected performance level and must set expectations as to what is acceptable, not acceptable and what is to be considered outstanding performance. This is the setting of standards.

20. Managers must assist workers in learning, knowing what new things they need to know, widening their perspective and focusing them on where they need to excel.

21. Many jobs require precision. Generally, either a person loves precision or does not consider it important. Either way, it is difficult to change an adult’s view in this area.

22. The three basic categories of talent are: 1) striving; 2) thinking; and 3) relating.

23. Attitudes and “drive” form key parts of a person’s recurring patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Attitudes and drive of workers are very difficult for managers to help employees change.

24. Every job requires a special set of talents and each manager must know what talents are required for each job.

25. Managers are always “on the stage.” Employees must also act like they are always on the stage.

26. A list of well-recognized talents.

• empathy, warmth

• discipline, accountability

• precision, accuracy

• on-time, on budget

• desire/ability to learn

• creativity

• joyful, happiness

• realism

• organization

• coachable

• memory

• sincerity

• motivation

• visionary

• leadership

• planning, strategic thinking

• thinking, insight, focus, analytical

• physical and emotional strength and resilience

• independence

• trustful

• role player

• gregarious

• thrifty

• discernment

• exciting

• assertiveness

• ethical, honesty

• long term focus

• short, middle and long term focus

• confrontative and collaborative

• cooperative

• calm

• flexibility

• respectful

• confidence

• responsibility, dependability

• listening, understanding, observing

• drive, achievement focus,

• goal-oriented

• courage, ability to perform in the face of fear

• communication (writing, speaking)

27. Managers must recognize those patterns of behavior that lead to success and failure and demand that patterns that lead to success be strengthened and those that lead to failure be eliminated.

28. When creating steps for a company to follow, or “plays” for a sports team to follow, always go from the players to the plays and not vice versa.

29. A manager can describe in great detail the unique talents and strengths of each employee.

30. A manager’s job is to “cast” their employees properly, showcasing their strengths.

31. Managers treat each employee as that employee should be treated, not “like the manager would like to be treated.” Good-bye Golden Rule.

32. Managers should ask employees how each wants to be treated, managed.

33. Managers should spend the most time with their best, most productive people. Time = investment.

34. Each employee should be given a unique set of expectations by each manager, often after hearing the employee’s point of view on what should be expected of them.

35. Managers notice and deal with “non-performance” immediately.

36. Managers notice and acknowledge/reward excellent/outstanding performance immediately.

37. Managers should encourage workers to form partnerships with other workers.

38. Managers create “heroes,” by creating and articulating levels of achievement and creating the “hero category.”

39. The key to a healthy, successful career is “self-discovery” - - discovery of what you do/like best and then doing it better and better over time through growth and learning. Self-discovery is a great source of energy and enthusiasm.

40. Feedback for employees should be constant and should focus primarily on the future. I call this “feed-forward.”

41. Great managers ask “why” when standards are not met and then decide on a course of action.

42. Managers should create performance systems where employees keep track of their own performance.

43. Managers must not micromanage their employees. Managers must decide the right, sought-after outcomes. Employees must develop the best road for them to achieve these outcomes.

Conclusion

These 43 “rules” are the new rules of running a business, a non-profit or educational organization. We hope you find them useful in your organization.