New business and management books are introduced nearly daily, claiming a new trend, a new technique, a new paradigm for success. But it's rare that these books strike a cord in their simplicity, universality and practicality, and stand the test of time (and the next trendy book to come along).The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard and Spencer Johnson is one of these rare books.
First published in 1981, The One Minute Manager spent over three years on the New York Times Bestseller List. It has become a classic, read by business students and young managers, and shared by those who have become One Minute Managers themselves. If you haven't read this book, I encourage you to pick up a copy. And pick up copies for your managers and aspiring managers, too. If you have already read the book, read through it again.
The book is short (about 100 brief pages) and tells the story of a young man searching for what it takes to be a good manager. Kenneth Blanchard wrote:
"The credo of the one-minute manager rests on the implementation of three ideas, namely: the need to establish clear-cut goals, the need to praise good performance, and the need to reprimand people when their performance fails to contribute to the attainment of commonly agreed goals. These three basic ideas are known as the three secrets of the one-minute manager, namely: one-minute goals, one-minute praisings and one-minute reprimands."
The principles are simple and practical, yet profound. Perhaps they will inspire you to make some changes in the way you manage your business and your life.
We've provided a copy of the 10-point test we ask our managers to complete after reading the book as part of a management development program. It's simple, and will allow you to practice the secrets of being a One Minute Manager. You can purchase The One Minute Manager online, new and used, through Amazon.com.
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