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Summary: Zapp! A great resource.
Review: This book is great for helping managers and superivors see the difference between building a team and dictating to individuals. The story line is used effectively in communicating the damage done by negative thinking and stale attitudes. I recommend it for group reading and discussion.
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Summary: The bible of today's business
Review: This book really puts a lot of things into perspective. It takes a fictional story and brings it to life. Once you pick up Zapp! you won't put it down until you're finished. If your employees lack motivation and a sence of pride in their work, read this book before you try anything else.I must say... Out of all of my management courses at Oregon State University, Zapp! was my favorite book and I now recommend it to all my colleagues and friends.
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Summary: This book will change attitudes!
Review: This book seems like a silly little fairy tale. That's exactly what my boss said when he started to read it, but once he finished it, he had a whole different attitude. Zapp! allows you to see a regular day-to-day life setting in a whole new light. I gave this book to all of my managers, and it has definitely had a positive impact on their attitude with the hourly employees we deal with on a daily basis. So much so, that they are now passing it on to the hourly supervisors they work with on a day-to-day basis. I highly recommend this book, especially if you are trying to change attitudes!
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Summary: How to become a managerial super-hero!
Review: This is a great book. I was introduced to some of its principles a few years ago at a seminar, but didn't read the full thing till this year. The book is a fable chronicling the journey from managerial idiot(who most of us have worked for or with at one time or another) to managerial super-hero. Many managers who I deal with in my job don't have any understanding of how to manage people, they have risen to the position of manager through having great technical skills. This book addresses that, it's an easy read so even reluctant readers will find it enjoyable, and it may even provide a good refrersher to those who have been managing others for a while. It's simple in format and style, but it's got lots of layers to it, and its insights get deeper the further you dig. If you open it expecting pages of managerial psychology, you will be disappointed - this book is far more accessible than that. Happy zapping!
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Summary: Not sure what to expect
Review: When I first started reading this book I was not sure what to expect. I wasn't all that excited about the fairy tale setting. As I read on I found myself suprised at how much I could relate to the situations being described. After reading the book I think the Fairy tale setting was great because it helps you visualize more the way others feel and how you may not recognize that from the outside. I think this was a very good book with some wonderful ideas and insight. I would reccomend it to anyone who has trouble relating to associates from a management standpoint or just associate to associate.
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Summary: A spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down
Review: Written in the form of a fairy tale, this book provides situational examples of issues that greatly affect employee performance, attitude, and motivation. It's a quick easy read, one that details situations most readers have undoubtedly experienced at work. It's wacky, funny, enlightening and entertaining. Once you get zapped you'll remember just how simple empowerment and motivation can be, and have some tools to improve your organization.
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Summary: Avoid "Stallled Thinking" with Zapp!
Review: Zapp! is fun and easy to read. It is a good basic reminder of the things that good managers and leaders should know but do not always practice. The cute story discribes the benefits of listening and sharing. Too many organizations are hindered by what I call the "Communications Stall". An additonal and very uccessful approach to this problem is to use many ways of communicating (print, videos, speeches, discussions,..) and to do so often. Part 4 accurately shows that in the larger company setting, the ways that people have always done things continuously get in the way of progress. We have found that these "Traditions Stalls" and "Bureaucratic Stalls" must be questioned if they are to be avoided, and new ways found to accomplish more. For example, take the seats out of the meeting rooms to make the meeting shorter. Zapp! begins to do this by saying "There must be another way". The key to finding 2,000 percent solutions and to making much faster progress, is to ask the right questions. I look forward to Byham's next book to learn how he recommends a manager or leader get started.
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