Category: business

Author: Juliet Funt
Publisher: Harper Business
Genre: Business
ISBN: 978-0062970251
Pages: 288
Price: $29.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Is it possible to reclaim creativity, conquer busyness, and do your best work – at work? Sounds too good to be true? A Minute to Think can show you show.

First, we need to address the problem – what is really causing our busyness? Next, we take a stragetic pause, conquer the thieves of time, learn to simplify, and unhook from the culture of now. Finally, we need to overhaul our email practices, elevate communication and work together with our teammates.

Throughout this book, author Juliet Funk provides examples and strategies on how to put these practices in place, reminding us that we can be more effective in our work once we eliminate the minutiae that distracts us. With a little more space to think, we will find the creativity that makes us even better at our jobs.

I highly recommend A Minute to Think for all business people who feel like they can never meet all the demands of their busy jobs.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: John L. Gronski
Publisher: Fidelis Publishing
Genre: Business
ISBN: 978-1-7358-5636-0
Pages: 296
Price: $17.00

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

John L. Gronski is a U.S. Army Retired Major General. He has faced situations where his decisions were crucial for the preparation and survival of his team, and he knows how to lead effectively. In Iron-Sharpened Leadership, he shares his military experience and demonstrates how to use it in a civilian setting.

Gronski believes there are three things that define a leader – character, competence, and resilience. Focusing on his years in the military, he provides examples of how he handled situations and worked with the people around him. Leadership is critical when lives are at stake, but it’s just as important in the work force, and his advice would be helpful for any manager.

Iron-Sharpened Leadership is well-written and inspiring for anyone who wants to be a great leader. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Miles Anthony Smith, MBA
Publisher: Kompelling Publishing
Genre: Business
ISBN: 978-0-9884053-3-2
Pages: 188
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Those who cling to traditional employment models are struggling to survive in our current economic climate. Today’s generation doesn’t have the luxury of linking up with a solid employer and working up through the ranks over the next few decades until retirement. Instead, they may have to switch jobs every two or three years in order to generate a better income.

Becoming Generation Flux addresses the challenges faced in finding meaningful and financially rewarding employment. This guide tackles difficult topics such as whether or not to go to college, how to find and keep a job, and how to know when it’s time to leave. And it offers tips on how to handle living on a reduced income during those times of transition between jobs.

As the economy demands specific skills for open-ended positions, today’s worker will need to learn to adapt to those new needs or risk becoming obsolete. This book provides an interesting and informative overview of what to expect and how to cope in this new global workplace.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Janet Pucino
Publisher: Deep Canyon Media
Genre: Business
ISBN: 978-0-9859027-1-1
Pages: 171
Price: $24.99

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Some women have been able to break through the glass ceiling and rise to top management positions. But the majority face hurdles that men usually don’t have to deal with. “Club” behaviors favor men while excluding women. How does a woman recognize she’s dealing with The Club, and how can she learn to thrive anyway?

Janet Pucino has served as a top IT executive and has seen the effects of Club mentality on an organization. In Not in the Club, she addresses the problems women face and how to deal with them effectively. From acceptance to confrontation to simply leaving the company, women have choices in how they react to The Club.

Women have a disadvantage in climbing the corporate ladder. While not every woman wants to find herself in the corner office, she should have the same opportunity and respect for her skills that men have. Not in the Club addresses the effects of gender inequality in the office, and is a must-read for all business executives.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Jim Randel
Publisher: Rand Media
Genre: Business
ISBN: 978-0-9844418-1-5
Pages: 156
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” But how do you get to know the people who can assist you when you need it most? Our inner circle of acquaintances – friends and family – can occasionally help. But it’s best to broaden our network and increase the likelihood of being able to call on just the person who can address our need.

In The Skinny on Networking, Jim Randel shows us the power of having a large network, and how to go about creating it. He discusses the concept of “connectors” – those who seem to know just about everyone. Social capital is explored, and why it’s not always a good idea to ask for big vs. little favors. And Randel shares his thoughts on how best to use the internet through social media and blogs.

For many folks, networking is difficult, but Randel encourages us to work on this important skill every day. A network that grows organically takes effort, but it’s well worth it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

Author: Jessica Pryce-Jones
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Genre: Business
ISBN: 978-0-470-74946-3
Pages: 256
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

How happy are you at work? If you are happy, do you know why? Or if not, what could be contributing to your unhappiness? Although employers seldom stop to think about happiness and how it affects their bottom line, Jessica Pryce-Jones has compiled some evidence that suggests this is something that businesses need to address.

Happy employees have more energy, are more engaged at work, are more motivated, have more confidence, achieve more of their goals, take less sick time, and contribute more than unhappy employees. They also tend to stay in positions longer, since they enjoy what they do.

In researching the factors involved in happiness at work, Pryce-Jones discovered 5Cs. Contribution, Conviction, Culture, Commitment, and Confidence are all explored in detail, with explanations of how these affect happiness. Some issues are dictated by company rules and policies, but some things are within an employee’s control, since they involve shifts in attitude or actions that can be taken to make work more tolerable.

But if you should find yourself in a situation that makes you very unhappy, the best thing for you and the company is for you to look for another job that is a better fit. No one should be so unhappy at work that it spills over into your health and personal life.

Smart companies understand the 5Cs and how these contribute to overall employee productivity and involvement. Happiness at Work is a useful and informative guide in helping employers create environments and structures that keep employees happy and productive.

Reviewer: Alice Berger