Customer Reviews

The Greatest Management Principle in the World

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It's beyond me how anyone could not think this is one of the great management books of all time. I read a previous review that was critical of the "hehavior rewarded, behavior repeated" philosophy of this book -- but what that reviewer evidently fails to realize is that LeBoeuf's point is that rewards aren't just bonus checks and award trips. Attention from management, personal praise and mentoring are all vitally important aspects of the principle. What could possibly be the alternative? No praise? No management attention and encouragement? To reduce Dr. LeBoeuf's sound research to the erroneous assertion of a previous poster does a terrible injustice to potential readers searching for a work of great insight that is also a great read.

It would be of tremendous help to obtain details on how to convey the presented practices with effective management techniques such as Management By Objective.

It's been many years since I read this book, so my recollection may be off. As I recall, the GMP is something like "that which gets rewarded gets done." If so, then this book is of a piece with hundreds that extoll the virtues of extrinsic motivation, whether carrots or sticks. For a devasting critique of extrinsic motivation, I recommend Alfie Kohn's PUNISHED BY REWARDS, brimming with insights into the shortsightedness of trying to motivate people with promises or threats. Years of consulting work and of on-the-job observation as a manager and employee have taught me that Kohn provides a true GMP, even if most managers resist it. Like those who could see with their own eyes that the Sun circled the Earth, these managers can "see" that only rewards or, the flip side of the same coin, punishments get results. If you are ready to question the "obvious," read this book, then Kohn's.