FYI: For Your Improvement, A Guide for Development and Coaching (4th edition) [Paperback]

Michael M. Lombardo (Author), Robert W. Eichinger (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2004 | ISBN-10: 0974589233 | ISBN-13: 978-0974589237 | Edition: 4th

Updated forth edition of the 1996 title (see ISBN 0965571203 for further information)

Product Details

• Paperback: 629 pages
• Publisher: Lominger Ltd Inc; 4th edition (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0974589233
• ISBN-13: 978-0974589237
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,994 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Encyclopedia of Competencies, July 4, 2008

By 

John M. Ford "johnDC" (near DC, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: FYI: For Your Improvement, A Guide for Development and Coaching (4th edition) (Paperback)

FYI presents a comprehensive list and description of competencies needed for leadership, according to the Lominger Group. This model may differ in some respects from the one used by your organization, but it won't be far off.

The competencies in this book are organized into six factors: Strategic Skills, Operating Skills, Courage, Energy & Drive, Organizational Positioning Skills, and Personal & Interpersonal Skills. The authors add the two negative factors Trouble With People and Trouble With Results. Nested within these factors are clusters and individual competencies. One might quibble with the details, but this map covers the terrain.

Readers are skillfully guided through this territory. The initial chapters provide solid advice for deciding which competencies to develop, recognizing that sometimes it is more useful to compensate for a weakness with other strengths and that it is possible to unproductively overuse one's strengths. The authors' willingness to deal seriously with negative issues such as overapplication of strong competencies and barriers to success is valuable--and often lacking in competency publications.

Individual competency chapters have a predictable and useful structure. Each chapter begins by locating the competency within its factor and cluster and "inspires" the reader with an appropriate quote. The reader encounters concise lists of the behavioral indicators of unskilled performance, skilled performance and overuse of this competency. These lists cross-reference other competencies that can either substitute for unskilled peformance or compensate for overuse. Then, following a list of some causes underlying poor performance, comes an extended discussion of several strategies for developing the competency and sources for further reading.

You can find the best competency chapter for your needs in under two minutes. This competency chapter can then be read and understood in under 10 minutes. Developing the competency will take longer, of course. But this book helps the reader diagnose and begin remediation with some confidence that the right disease is being treated--and treated effectively.

This book is worth having--and using.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hits the mark on a lot of topics, June 14, 2007

By 

PMO Manager "PMO Manager" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: FYI: For Your Improvement, A Guide for Development and Coaching (4th edition) (Paperback)

A very good overall guide for self discovery, and a great tool for coaching and developing others - a great leadership resource. This touches at a high level a lot of behavior and development topics, but does not get into the details. If you're looking for a book that dives deep into a specific behaviorial area, this is not the book for you. But what it gives is 3-4 pages on a behavior or skill, hitting it fast and hard, with guides and advise on development (covers overuse of a skill, as well as adressing gaps in a skill). It links topics/bahaviors to each other which is very helpful, and the book even leaves space in its categorizing/numbering for future skills and behaviors that may come in future editions. I've purchased this book for all the managers on my team.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Core title for anyone in supervision, 'Must-Have' for all HR personnel, April 11, 2008

By 

Insight (Midwest) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: FYI: For Your Improvement, A Guide for Development and Coaching (4th edition) (Paperback)

If you want to advance your career, you must know how to professionally evaluate people, give & receive feedback, recognize talent, and compensate. These are titles HR personnel use to evaluate YOU, and YOU must learn these skills if you want to supervise people.

This is a CORE TITLE for any professional Manager which should also include FYI for Performance Management, Broadband Talent Management, Flawless Consulting, Successful Manager's Handbook, and The Science Behind Best People Practices.