Understanding and Changing Your Management Style and over 360,000 other books are available for Amazon Kindle � Amazon�s new wireless reading device. Learn more

Quantity:

Express Checkout with PayPhrase

What's this? | Create PayPhrase

More Buying Choices

73 used & new from $4.00

Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Share with Friends

Share your own customer images

Search inside this book

Start reading Understanding and Changing Your Management Style on your Kindle in under a minute. Don�t have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Understanding and Changing Your Management Style (Jossey-Bass Business/Management Series) (Hardcover)

~ Robert C. Benfari (Author) "Charlie Ott liked knowing that he had acquired a reputation as one of the most benevolent yet productive department managers at Burch, O'Brien & Powell,..." (more)
Key Phrases: extroverted sensing types, extroverted feeling types, extroverted thinker, Strengths Under Stress Areas, Beliefs Counters, George Prince (more...)

4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

List Price:	$29.95
Price:	$23.36 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save:	$6.59 (22%)
	o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o

Upgrade this book for $2.99 more, and you can read, search, and annotate every page online. See details

In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

33 new from $16.94 40 used from $4.00

Formats		Amazon Price	New from	Used from
Kindle Edition $16.47 Available for download now. Published September 24, 1999	Kindle Edition, September 24, 1999	$16.47	--	--
Hardcover $23.36 In Stock. Published September 23, 1999	Hardcover, September 23, 1999	$23.36	$16.94	$4.00

Frequently Bought Together

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Management of Organizational Behavior (9th Edition)

by Dewey E. Johnson

4.1 out of 5 stars (22) $114.76

Teachers and the Law (7th Edition)

by Louis Fischer

4.6 out of 5 stars (5) $81.19

Human Resources Administration: Personnel Issues and Needs in Education (5th Edition)

by L. Dean Webb

3.3 out of 5 stars (3) $100.26

Financing Education in a Climate of Change (10th Edition)

by Vern Brimley

4.3 out of 5 stars (3) $101.69

Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal Communication

by Neil Towne

4.3 out of 5 stars (18) $71.95

› Explore similar items

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Understanding and Changing Your Management Style, by psychologist and business consultant Robert Benfari, is a hands-on guidebook for determining the type of leader you are--and becoming the kind you want to be. It includes methods that you can use to influence others, problem-solving techniques, and exercises that reveal your psychological nature according to the widely used Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Using the resultant patterns, the book suggests practical ways to maximize your strengths, overcome weaknesses, and deal with difficult employees, such as hostile-aggressive Sherman Tanks ("Give them time to run down") and supremely confident Bulldozers ("Do some serious research so that you are on top of the problem"). "Good management is not in-born in some, nor is so-called bad management a fixed state for others," Benfari writes. "Changing your management style is possible once you understand what can be changed (and what cannot) and are willing to do the work to shift your assumptions, perceptions, and behavior." --Howard Rothman

From Booklist

What does it mean to be a "good" manager? Benfari, an academic, psychologist, and business consultant, offers a process for determining types of managers and for accentuating positive managerial traits and overcoming the weak ones. He uses the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to find one's psychological type, and he also considers one's individual needs, power orientation, approach to conflict resolution and problem solving, values, and reactions to stresses in the environment and in handling difficult people. Also emphasized is practical intelligence, or "street smarts," which aids in dealing with personal relationships and knowing how to approach work. This is an interesting presentation, but because of the complexity of the material, many readers may find the book lending itself better to a workshop situation or group activity in which there is leader direction and assistance. Since the author conducts workshops, this book may be used as a workbook for his programs or a reference book for his consulting activities. Mary Whaley

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (September 24, 1999)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0787908584
ISBN-13: 978-0787908584
Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 7.1 x 1.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)

Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #87,955 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

› Visit Amazon's Robert Benfari Page

Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
Charlie Ott liked knowing that he had acquired a reputation as one of the most benevolent yet productive department managers at Burch, O'Brien & Powell, a direct marketing and advertising firm where he had worked for more than eight years. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
extroverted sensing types, extroverted feeling types, extroverted thinker, introverted sensing types, management style factors, affiliative power, high assistance, stress carriers, introverted feeling types, protective beliefs, extroverted intuitives, introverted thinking types, introverted intuitives, compromise style, inferior function, people from the problem, intuitive types, referent power, dominant function, management sample, judgment function

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Strengths Under Stress Areas, Beliefs Counters, George Prince, Integrated Management Style Model, Von Franz, Charlie Ott, Stone Tablets, Carl Jung, Game Players, Jason Publications, Sherman Tank

New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats

Citations (learn more)

This book cites 42 books:

The Effective Executive: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done (Harperbusiness Essentials) by Peter F. Drucker on page 147, page 152, and Back Matter
Intellectual Capital: The New Wealth of Organizations by Thomas A. Stewart on page 127, page 168, and Back Matter
Coping with Difficult People: The Proven-Effective Battle Plan That Has Helped Millions Deal with the Troublemakers in Their Lives at Home and at Work by Robert M. Bramson on page 208, and Back Matter
Transformational Leader (Wiley Management Classic) by Noel M. Tichy on page 124, and Back Matter
Games People Play: The Basic Handbook of Transactional Analysis. by Eric Berne on page 205, and Back Matter

See all 42 books this book cites

4 books cite this book:

The Solution Path: A Step-By-Step Guide to Turning Your Workplace Problems Into Opportunities by Tasos Sioukas in Back Matter
The Essential New Manager's Kit by Florence Stone on page 50
Management and the Arts, 3rd ed., Third Edition by William Byrnes on page 193
The Accidental Leader: What to Do When You're Suddenly in Charge (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership) by Harvey Robbins in Back Matter

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron

Discusses:

Personality Types by Don Richard Riso

Discusses:

The Portable Jung by Carl Gustav Jung

Discusses:

The 12 Bad Habits That Hold Good People Back by Timothy Butler

Discusses:

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	92% buy the item featured on this page: Understanding and Changing Your Management Style (Jossey-Bass Business/Management Series) 4.3 out of 5 stars (3) $23.36
	2% buy The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People 4.2 out of 5 stars (927) $9.32
	2% buy The Leadership Challenge, 4th Edition 4.4 out of 5 stars (92) $15.72
	2% buy The First-Time Manager 4.2 out of 5 stars (31) $12.21

Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

(What's this?)

Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.

leadership development(2)

Customer Reviews

3 Reviews

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (3 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book but don't go out of your way to get it, September 5, 2001

By	Marc A. Pitman "Fundraisingcoach.com" (Waterville, ME USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I began "Understanding and Changing Your Management Style" expecting just another book on management theory. While Benfari definitely is well versed in management theory, he's packed this book full of dozens of practical tools, advice, and descriptive case "studies."

After reading "Understanding and Changing Your Management Style," I've come to see that books on management are often like the three blind men trying to describe the elephant-they each describe focus on one aspect of the whole. Benfari attempts to take in the whole picture and help the reader understand all the aspects of managing. Quite a daunting task!

In the introduction, Benfari says, "The most fruitful way of working through the book is to take the assessment in the appendixes before you start your journey" (p. xii). I was already familiar with the Myers-Briggs profile but much less familiar with the influence inventory, and the assessments of needs, conflict resolution style, problem solving style, values, and stress. I spent so much time assessing; I almost gave up on the book without even reading the first chapter!

I'm glad I gave the book a chance. This book is Benfari's explanation of his "integrated management style." In his words, "Changing your management style is possible once you understand what can be changed (and what cannot) and are willing to do the work to shift your assumptions, perceptions, and behavior" (p. xi). We can't change our basic wiring-personality-but we can change most everything else. Benfari even offers techniques on influencing and temporarily flexing our personality tendencies.

At times, I found "Understanding and Changing Your Management Style" to be somewhat redundant. I think this stems from trying to describe the elephant from eight different angles. No matter how many ways you look at it, the elephant is still an elephant. Much of what Benfari writes about already appears in many management theory and pop psychology books. The value of this book is precisely in the "multiple views" packaging Benfari gives the material.

"Understanding and Changing Your Management Style" is more of a workbook than a textbook. Don't just read this book. Have a pen handy and be ready to flip back-and-forth between the section you're reading and the appendices in the back. The last chapter was a bit of a let down for me. Rather than "developing an action plan," it amounted to little more than re-recording the results of the assessments.

Nevertheless, if you're interested in developing yourself and your management skills, "Understanding and Changing Your Management Style" may be a useful book to have in your library.

The table of contents for this book is:

Introduction: What Makes a Good Manager?

Part One: A Model for Change
1 The Dynamics of Management Styles: What Can Be Changed?
2 Personality and Psychology: What's Your Type?
3 Practical Intelligence: How Do We Make It Work?
4 Mental Models: How Do We Make the Shift?

Part Two: The Elements of Management Style
5 Needs: The Drive Towards Competence
6 Power Bases: Influence, Authority, and Expertise
7 Problem Solving and Conflict Management: Catalysts for Change
8 Values: Clarifying What You Stand For
9 Stress: Managing Work and Difficult People
10 Putting It All Together: Developing an Action Plan for Your Management Style

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Become a Better Manager, April 13, 2000

By A Customer

A practical guide to using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator geared toward helping the manager understand and change her own management style. I liked this book and heartily recommend it to anyone who would become a better manager or leader. Several tests are included to aid in understanding one's own values, problem solving preferences, and "practical IQ," as well as how one deals with conflicts and "problem personalities." This book allows an opportunity for managers to alter their behavior for the better. Good managers are made, not born, and Benfari offers good lessons for making them.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this book will change you!, October 27, 2004

By	profali "profali" (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

I am one of those lucky people that had him as an instructor at Harvard years ago. He is one of only three instructors that I admire and recommend to my friends.

We used this book's pre-published version as a textbook in a graduate-level course. You will find certain tasks that he asks you to do very time consuming, boring, ordinary. That's what happened in his first 3 classes. He made us to use our previous management experience and knowledge first few classes. Nothing was new and we followed what we were doing for years. That is exactly what he wanted us to do. He made us to make a mistake, -big wrong managerial decision- just as we would do in real life. Every student out of more than 70 made a mistake. All of us had different ideas, unique approaches, different backgrounds, different education, but we all fell on his trap. After our case -managerial decision- he explained our management style, and what would go wrong. He successfully pointed out our personality, type of management style, and our weaknesses. In that one class, I really understood what I studied in undergraduate business that I did not understand in 4 years.

Follow the instruction of the book, take your time to fill-out those tests in appendix. Do not quit when you get bored. If your life, the work you do is boring then it is how you should feel when reading first few chapters. Remember that you make your business decisions under same circumstances. That is the way to reach your true personality, and management style, not the one that your subconscious created.

After reading his book, you will see that you will look people, and problems differently.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 3 customer reviews...

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }

Customer Discussions

This product's forum

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight

Start a new discussion

Topic:

First post:

Receive e-mail when new posts are made

Prompts for sign-in

Guidelines

Active discussions in related forums

Discussion	Replies	Latest Post
textbook textbook scam	77	1 day ago
textbook Textbooks for Kindle DX?	63	3 days ago
textbook Anyone need psychology testbook- trying to sell a used copy	2	7 days ago