Tick. Tock. Time seems to fly when you're not staring at the clock. That go-go-go mentality is all too easy to get sucked up in, which makes organization and efficiency all the more important. At least that's the philosophy of Spencer Johnson and Ken Blanchard. Their book The New One Minute Manager guides management teams on balancing their focus between employee success and business results in an efficient yet compassionate way, which easily makes this one of the top project management books we've covered. Take a minute (or two) to read this book review.
Summary and Book Review of The New One Minute Manager
The New One Minute Manager is an adaptation to what many consider one of best books about project management: The One Minute Manager. The original was published in the 1980s, and this latest version updates the practices with modern advice while holding true to the same methodology.
The book's symbol really says it all. On the front cover, you'll see what appears to be the face of a digital clock replacing the O in the word One of the title. It serves to remind readers to take a minute out of their day to focus on what really matters in business: the employees.
That theme carries throughout the book, with lessons on how even short moments can yield big results. The book is, after all, only slightly over 100 pages, and the narrative flow makes it an easy read. It's written as a story, following a young man who is out to find the most effective manager. He stumbles upon the One Minute Manager, who reveals insight on why efficiency must be among a manager's strengths.
Every sentence packs a major punch, either moving the narrative forward or delivering hard-hitting advice. Just consider these One Minute Manager quotes:
"If you can't tell me what you'd like to be happening, you don't have a problem yet. You're just complaining."
"Help people reach their full potential. Catch them doing something right."
Both of these excerpts discuss the point we want you to take away from this book review: be proactive about facilitating success among employees. It may only take small steps and a few minutes to achieve these results.
Key Takeaways from The New One Minute Manager
The New One Minute Manager is packed with great tips, as Ken Blanchard and Spencer Johnson maximize every word in their short book. However it's the three "secrets" that place this work among some of the best project management books:
- One minute goals: The One Minute Manager has employees write down goals that are no longer than 250 words. It's a quick, efficient way to set up expectations and benchmarks. And writing them down makes you more likely to accomplish them. Don't stop at just setting these goals, though. Employees should take a minute to reread them and evaluate progress.
- One minute praise: Sometimes, an employee just needs a small pat on the back to feel reassured, and it only takes a minute to give praise. Plus, it provides clear feedback on whether the individual is on the right track. This doesn't need to be some grand endeavor. Just be genuine and specific.
- One minute reprimands: Just as a book review requires highlighting success and room for improvement, managers must strike a balance when providing feedback. When it comes to reprimanding employees, the two most important parts involve explaining what exactly went wrong and how the individual can fix it. As with giving praise, this should take only a minute.
Implement Efficiency in Every Facet of Management
Beyond the tips described in the book, there are tools for leaders to improve team efficiency. Take our Project Management Software for example. Even with multiple projects going on, managers can set goals in Wrike, delegate responsibilities and provide feedback through Wrike's single system. Robust features also limit the need for meetings because project status information is available for all stakeholders to see and use.
Sources: Amazon.com, NewOneMinuteManager.com, Forbes.com, Inc.com, Rutgers.edu
