The One Minute Manager (Paperback)

by Ph.D. Kenneth Blanchard (Author), M.D. Spencer Johnson (Author) "ONCE there was a bright young man who was looking for an effective manager..." (more)
Key Phrases: special manager, One Minute Manager, One Minute Reprimand, One Minute Praisings (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The blockbuster #1 national bestselling phenomenon is back... not that it ever really went away. An easily-read story which quickly demonstrates three very practical management techniques, it also includes information on several studies in medicine and in the behavioral sciences, which help readers understand why these apparently simple methods work so well with so many people. The book is brief, the language is simple, and best of all...it works.

About the Author
Kenneth Blanchard, Ph.D., is one of the most recognizable names in American business today. His One Minute Manager® Library has sold over nine million copies worldwide. He is also an award-winning speaker and business consultant.

Spencer Johnson, M.D., is the author of the runaway hit, Who Moved My Cheese?. Eleven million of his books are in print in 26 different languages.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 111 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade; 10th anniversary edition (January 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425098478
• ISBN-13: 978-0425098479
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (173 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #5,454 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

253 of 254 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Short to Read, Big on Wisdom, February 18, 2008

By	tannercpa - See all my reviews

This review is from: The One Minute Manager (Hardcover)

I really liked this book, but for the same reasons I liked it, some may hate it.

First of all, it's an easy read, and it gets its points across by telling a story. Other books, such as The Sixty-Second Motivator, have also used this format succesfully, but this style may not appeal to everyone. To me, it makes the book a lot less boring to read.

Secondly, the book is short. The vast majority of readers will easily be able to read this book in a day. It has bigger font, which I personally liked and thought it made it a joy to read. However here again, some may be turned off by that and consider it to be too "child-like."

Thirdly, the book takes solid mangagerial info and gives it to the reader handily in the form of three "secrets." I found the advice to be very practical and while some may consider it far too simple, it can help you a lot IF you actually apply the info- which I suspect most managers do not.

In conclusion, I recommend this short business classic to anyone looking for better ways to improve their managerial skills. I doubt most will be disappointed. Also liked Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life by the same author.

54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Role Modeling of Communications and Motivation, December 14, 1999

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

When most people become a manager for the first time, they are more than a little unsure of themselves. Naturally, they often use speech and ways of doing things that they have seen others use. That's great if their role models are good, but can be terrible otherwise.

The One Minute Manager provides a positive role model for those who have not yet seen one, and good reinforcement for those who have not seen one lately.

If organizations try to operate on the assumption that only the manager has ideas worth acting on, then very little will be accomplished. The One Minute Manager provides a useful model for opening up and stimulating the minds of everyone in the organization to accomplish more.

Not only is this advice worth following from an effectiveness point of view, it will also make you feel better about yourself as a manager and as a person when you follow it. And you will certainly make those who report to you feel a lot better, as well.

I like the use of a parable to help each of us reexamine ourselves, because it makes the reader feel less defensive. But be sure to remember what you gut instincts would have been in the same situations the One Minute Manager describes. Otherwise, you may miss the point of how much your behavior needs to change.

This is one of a handful of books well worth rereading annually.

Unlike most business books, this one is short and easy to read. The academic language has been banished, and it is well written.

If you want to go beyond The One Minute Manager to get even better results, you will have to learn and use other beneficial habits as well. But you can have all the great ideas in the world, and if you annoy and stifle everyone around you, not much will happen. So think of this book as necessary for more success, but not sufficient in and of itself for getting the utmost benefits in working with others.

47 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The One minute Manager, March 6, 2000

By	Joe Ruszczyk (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The One Minute Manager (Hardcover)

A measurement of a good leader is ability to develop other leaders, not followers. In today's world, many new supervisors are thrust into a "baptism by fire" management environment. I found this book to be an easy to read guide that arms newcomers to management with the basic tools for building worker relationships and getting the best out of their staffs. As a result, their efforts are guided into decisions that generate increasingly positive outcomes in uncomfortable situations. Self confidence builds and leadership/management styles improve.

I have made it a habit during my welcome interviews to provide each new management employee with a copy of "The One Minute Manager". We all enjoy the benefits!