Book Review: Squawk! How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results by Travis Bradberry

Squawk! How to Stop Making Noise and Start Getting Results by  Travis Bradberry is one of the shortest leadership books I have ever encountered.

The book talks about a seagull manager who has moved his flock from it's regular habitat to a new one. Now the seagull manager faces some problems that, unresolved, will lead to his flock going back.

The book, in parable form, discusses three simple techniques for effective leadership. Having read a lot of leadership and management books, the techniques discussed are very basic but the way they are presented is very unique. 

Although I have heard about 'seagull managers' - those who fly in, make a lot of noise and cr*p on everyone, the book also presented the other side, those being managed. I was able to see myself in one of the seagulls being managed and saw for myself what I am doing wrong too.

 

Recommended for those in management/leadership roles, those aspiring for these roles, and those who are working in teams.

About the author:
Dr. Travis Bradberry is the award-winning author of the #1 best selling book, Emotional Intelligence 2.0, and the cofounder of TalentSmart®--a consultancy that serves more than 75% of Fortune 500 companies and is the world's leading provider of emotional intelligence tests and training.

His bestselling books have been translated into 25 languages and are available in more than 150 countries. Dr. Bradberry has written for, or been covered by, Newsweek, BusinessWeek, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Harvard Business Review.

Dr. Bradberry is a world-renowned expert in emotional intelligence who speaks regularly in corporate and public settings. Example engagements include Intel, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Fortune Brands, Boston Scientific, the Fortune Growth Summit, The Conference Board: Learning from Legends, the American Society for Training and Development, the Society for Human Resource Management, and Excellence in Government.

Dr. Bradberry holds a Dual Ph.D. in Clinical and Industrial-Organizational psychology. He received his bachelor of science in Clinical Psychology from the University of California - San Diego. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Book Review: How to Lead and Still have a Life by H. Dale Burke

This is different from the other leadership books I have encountered.

It starts with two topics discussing on the core qualities every leader who seeks to be very effective. The next section deals with four topics that are essential to effective leadership. The third section covers two topics on effective execution.

Even though this is a leadership book based upon Christian principles, every topic can easily be integrated to the workplace.

Divided into easy to digest chapters, every leader can apply the principles one chapter at a time. My personal favorite, Chapter 8 Concentration - The Power of Focus, is already well worth the cost of the book.

Highly recommended to new leaders or those leaders who are 'tired'.

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Book review: The Way of the Shepherd: 7 Ancient Secrets to Managing Productive People by Kevin Leman and William Pentak

One of the major challenges of new leaders is how to get the confidence and management as quickly as possible.

In The Way of the Shepherd, Leman and Pentak impart sound management principles and practices in the form of a story about an up-and-coming manager learning leadership principles thru tending sheep.

The principles imparted are simple but powerful and after reading the book, I found myself creating a small card that outlines the principles discussed in this small book.

I have given copies of the book to other leaders in my organization and church. I never fail to get positive feedback on the book every time.

I recommend this book to every aspiring leader and to the 'seasoned' leader who needs a fresh perspective on leadership, albeit coming from ancient principles.

About the authors:
Dr. Kevin Leman, an internationally known psychologist, radio and television personality, and speaker, has taught and entertained audiences worldwide with his wit and commonsense psychology. The best-selling and award-winning author has made house calls for hundreds of radio and television programs, including "The View" with Barbara Walters, "The Today Show," "Oprah," CBS's "The Early Show," "Live with Regis Philbin," CNN's "American Morning," and "LIFE Today" with James Robison, and he has served as a contributing family psychologist to "Good Morning America." He is the founder and president of Couples of Promise, an organization designed and committed to helping couples remain happily married. Dr. Leman is also a charter faculty member of iQuestions.com. He has written over 30 best-selling books about marriage and family issues, including "The Birth Order Book" and "Sheet Music: Uncovering the Secrets of Sexual Intimacy in Marriage." Dr. Leman and his wife, Sande, live in Tucson. They have five children.


William Pentak has twenty-two years of proven success in revitalizing under-performing organizations. An author, columnist, pastor, consultant and speaker, he has traveled across the nation delivering keynote addresses and seminars. An MBA from the University of Texas at Austin, William was one of the last hires made by Enron before the company imploded in bankruptcy. He currently works in External Communications at Reliant Energy in Houston, Texas.
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Book review: Leading at a Higher Level - Blanchard on Leadership and Creating High Performing Organizations by Ken Blanchard

I have been a fan of Blanchard ever since I read a copy of the One Minute Manager. Since then, I have bought and read most of the books in the series.

In Leading at a Higher Level, Blanchard covers all the principles that were imparted by the One Minute Manager Series. This book is a handy reference for all the principles.

However, the tone of the book is serious, unlike the light approach of the other books in the series. There were many references to the other books which can cause frustration to those who are not familiar with his other writings.

Overall, if you are looking for an all-in-one book covering Blanchard's Situational Leadership II leadership model, this is it. For those who enjoy lessons being presented in the form of stories, I wouldn't recommend this.

About the author:

Dr. Ken Blanchard is the cofounder and Chief Spiritual Officer of The Ken Blanchard Companies, an international management training and consulting firm that he and his wife, Margie Blanchard, began in 1979 in San Diego, California. In addition to being a renowned speaker and consultant, Ken also spends time as a visiting lecturer at his alma mater, Cornell University, where he is a trustee emeritus of the Board of Trustees.

Ken has received many awards and honors for his contributions in the fields of management, leadership, and speaking. The National Speakers Association awarded him its highest honor, the "Council of Peers Award of Excellence." He was inducted into the HRD Hall of Fame by Training magazine and Lakewood Conferences, and he received the Golden Gavel Award from Toastmasters International. Ken also received The Thought Leadership Award for continued support of work-related learning and performance by ISA--The Association of Learning Providers. Ken has been inducted into Amazon's Hall of Fame as one of the top 25 best-selling authors of all time. The business school at Grand Canyon University bears his name. In addition, Ken teaches students in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership Program at the University of San Diego.

Born in New Jersey and raised in New York, Ken received a master's degree from Colgate University, and a bachelor's and PhD from Cornell University. An avid golfer, Ken belongs to the Loch Lomond Golf Club in Scotland.

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Book Review: Everyone Communicates, Few Connect by John Maxwell

This book deals with how every communicator fails to connect with others and provides tips on how to connect with his audience.

As a communicator and a leader myself, I am often faced with situations wherein I say to myself, 'I did a pretty good job presenting my ideas.' and yet find out later, to my dismay, that people didn't get my message and I may have to keep on repeating myself.

If there is one thing that I got from reading the book, it's this: 'People really won't care about what you are talking about unless they know you care about them.' For many communicators, it's mostly about them, how they look, how they say it and how they present their message. Maxwell stresses that communication is not just presenting, but it is more of connecting.

I have been a reader of John Maxwell books since 1998 and true to his typical writing style, he presents his ideas through lists and reinforces his message with anecdotes. But this book is different, instead of anecdotes about famous people, Maxwell took another route, getting anecdotes from ordinary people! People just like me.

It gave me a certain relief that others, even Maxwell, had been in the same situation and like them, I may also learn to connect with others!

I am giving this four out of five. A lot of the principles are also present in his other books but getting stories from ordinary people is very cool!

About the author:
About the author:
John C. Maxwell is an internationally recognized leadership expert, speaker, coach, and author who has sold over 19 million books. Dr. Maxwell is the founder of EQUIP and the John Maxwell Company, organizations that have trained more than 5 million leaders worldwide. Every year he speaks to Fortune 500 companies, international government leaders, and organizations as diverse as the United States Military Academy at West Point, the National Football League, and the United Nations. A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Business Week best-selling author, Maxwell has written three books which have each sold more than one million copies: The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, Developing the Leader Within You, and The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. You can find him at JohnMaxwell.com and follow him at Twitter.com/JohnCMaxwell.


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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”