Book Review | First, Break All the Rules

Book Title: First, Break All the Rules

Author: Marcus Buckingham

Employee engagement surveys provides the key pulse about the employees perception to the organisations. Every organisation believes that its the employees that are the key resources which enables the organisation to achieve its vision. The book is a product of 25 years of research by the Gallup Organization, of which Buckingham and Coffman are a part where in the research is summarized in seven chapters. The books ignites the mind to enable greater managerial skills to identify, retain and develop talents.

The key summary are

1. Measurement is important

In the employee engagement survey typically has 12 Questions; understanding Q12 with employee is very important. Q1 and Q2 help an employee to understand basic work expectations & offerings. Q3 to Q6 address the self-esteem and individual performance and recognition. Q7 to Q10 describes right fit for the job and Q11 & Q12 indicates career progression

2. Wisdom is required

Hiring needs to be based on talent, skill and abilities and not simply on experience. While developing someone, it should be based on right role rather than position in organisation chart.

3. Select Right Talent:

identify the Striving Talent, thinking talent and relating talent. Use these talents to motivate.

4. Define the deliverable:

Allow the person to find his own route to achieve the deliverable. Assign the deliverable based on persons strength aligned to organisation strategy & objectives.

5. Focus on Strengths:

Great managers have the ability to describe in details, the unique talent of their people and use the three dimensions of thinking such Striving, Thinking and Relating to build relationship. The best manager treat each person as he would like to be treated. Great managers spend their majority of time with their best and productive people. Excellent teams are built on individual excellence.

6. Right Fit

Great managers scrutinize roles and people to yield right fits. Great managers provide feedback through dialogues.

7. Interview skills:

The purpose of interview to identify the strength and behaviour to match the job.

Bottom-line:

Talent is the multiplier. The more energy and attention you invest in it, the greater the yield. The time you spend with your best is, quite simply, your most productive time.