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 Now, Discover Your Strengths
ASIN: 0743201140
Customer's Rating: 4
Summary: Pretty Good Psych -- Some Insights on People Management
Comments: This book presents an interesting description of personality that describes 34 different types of strengths that a person may have. Based on measurement of these strengths (discussed below), it is possible to identify dominant strengths that help to determine personality. The focus of the book is on describing these strengths and then arguing that it is best for individuals and managers can best develop and build upon individuals' strengths. The book makes the interesting point that it is most effective trying to build on these strengths rather trying to identify and improve upon weaknesses.
A key to this book is an internet-based test that allows an individual to obtain a measurement of their top five strengths. To take this test, you log onto a specific website and type in the unique password that is printed in thte inside cover of the book. (This means you only take the test once -- your friends will need to buy the book to take the test!). The test is based on work that the Gallup Organization has done and has (according to the book) been been administered to 2 million people in a large number of different type of organizations.
Once on the site, you answer 180 questions in which you are asked to make a two-way choice as to what word better describes you, which action you would rather take, and so forth. It takes about 20-30 minutes in total to get through these, but once you do, a report is generated on screen (along with an with the same information) that lists your top five strengths and provides a description of what they are. Many of the strengths involve how you deal with people, how you process information, and how you see yourself in the world.
The book gives short descriptions of each strength and gives short (one-paragraph)write-ups from people who have the particular strength describing themselves. The book is meant to be a management tool, in that it talks about how to manage people with each of the strength in the book and make best use of these strengths.
I feel that the book is a better popular psychology book rather than a management book. Although the descriptions of strength seemed fairly clear, the discussion could have been better when it described how to manage people. It tended to be a list of "do this" without much discussion of why a manager might want to encourage an employee to do certain things or take on certain types of assignments. What the book really lacked was a description of the downside that certain strengths might bring (e.g., a person who is deliberative may seem to take a long time to do something). A better discussion of what the strengths really mean would have been helpful.
The book is well-written and taking the test is fun. Learning about one own attributes as measured by the test is helpful, both in personal and business life. It will make you think about yourself in a constructive and stimulating way. This in itself makes the book worth buying.
The book provides some good insight into how to manage individual types of people and help them develop on the job. I found it a bit weak on management from the standpoint of what an organization should do, in that it just seemed too general beyond saying figure out what everybody can do well and encourage them to do it. It may be, however, that some of this material is discussed in the book's (earlier) companion book ("First, Break All the Rules").
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 Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results
ASIN: 0786866020
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: JUMP RIGHT IN to the wisdom of this book and GO FISH!
Comments: FISH! should be required reading for anyone who has a business, works in a business, wants to start a business -- or anyone at all who wants fun, practical, easy-to-implement ways to make joy a part of their day to day life. It's a short, sweet yet meaningful tale that reads as smooth as banana pudding! You'll most certainly want to pick it up again and re-read it every few months or so just to be reminded that any workplace or living space can be transformed into a happy and fulfilling haven that inspires everyone to be their most creative, productive and vital. The tale of FISH! illustrates how making the choice to bring genuine joy to our work and day-to-day life can bring about the freedom which enables us to face each day head-on with a sense of humor (instead of choosing to spend each precious family dinnertime boring and burdening those at the table with the same office horror stories night after night, month after month-- year after year! ...) Any business that wants success, longevity, and truly happy, productive employees should without a doubt jump right into the wisdom of this book and Go FISH!
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 Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done
ASIN: 0609610570
Customer's Rating: 4
Summary: An OK Business Book
Comments: "Execution" is an OK book for those who want to read about business. The authors point out that many CEOs are very intelligent, great at strategy, and come from top business schools, but they fail to implement their plans, often because the people they manage don't do anything to execute the plans.
Bossidy and Charan write: "... unless you translate big thoughts into concrete steps for action, they're pointless." And, good CEOs say "unless I can make this happen, it's not going to matter." The authors see execution as the missing link between aspirations and results. In particular, strategy must be broken down into doable initiatives.
For example, anyone can say his goal is to grow profits by 10%. But, where is that 10% going to come from? Which products to which customers? What steps are you going to take to market the products?
The authors argue that you should focus upon three or four priorities. The authors say that if you have ten priorities you don't know what priorities are. Of course, the same logic can be used to say you really only have one priority. But, I fundamentally agree. Once you've got six or more priorities, it's easy to only do the ones you really want to do while the really important ones don't get finished. If you write the top three, you might find none is particularly fun, but they're all really important.
Selecting the right people for the right job is crucial, as is following thorough to see that your goals are implemented. A good chunk of a CEO's time should be spent hiring and developing people. Technical people sometimes don't make great leaders because developing people really doesn't interest them.
This said, if you're well-read about business, and, especially, if you've read "Good To Great," "Primal Leadership," and "First Break All The Rules," you might find little that's truly new in this book.
Peter Hupalo
Author of "Thinking Like An Entrepreneur"
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 Gung Ho! Turn On the People in Any Organization
ASIN: 068815428X
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Great Book and Here's Another!
Comments: Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles have created another classic. In a highly effective parable, they provide a blueprint any leader can use to create organizational excitement in just about any type of organization. The most positive characteristics of this book, like all Blanchard books, are the underlying values and wholesome philosophies that drive the message home at each juncture along the way. Whether a person is leading a small work group, a department, a division, or an entire company, he or she will find many useful ideas in this easy-to-read book.
Another book, with a foreword by Ken Blanchard, that I have just finished is also destined to be a classic alongside GUNG HO! I highly recommend everyone - not just people in leadership positions - read WINNING WAYS: FOUR SECRETS FOR GETTING GREAT RESULTS BY WORKING WELL WITH PEOPLE, by Dick Lyles. Dr. Lyles is a protégé of Blanchard and Bowles and this book proves that he, also, has mastered the art of parable writing. This book contains tips that will help anyone be more powerful and charismatic in their dealings with other people.
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 Co-Active Coaching: New Skills for Coaching People Toward Success in Work and Life
ASIN: 0891061231
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Co-Active Coaching is the wave of the future
Comments: What an inspiring concept: To be held as a powerful individual that is supported to be and do what was once only dreamed possible. That is part of what is focused throughout this book introducing the alliance of the coach and the client in an action and learning process. This book offers a springboard to discover how coaching challenge clients as they take steps toward their lifetime goals, and how the answers to all the questions are known by the clients and are revealed through the coach's curious questions. This book is a must read for anyone who desires to make this world a more loving and accepting place. After reading it, I think everyone should have a coach!
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 Whale Done! The Power of Positive Relationships
ASIN: 074323538X
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Whale Done equals 11,000 lbs of leadership
Comments: Ken Blanchard does it again. He provides a fresh look at a tried and true idea. After years of management training and motivational classes, the importance of looking for the good gets tarnished. The idea of catching people doing things right instead of constantly looking for the negative works. The way Ken presents the parallel of killer whales and people is brilliant. During the book I couldn't help but think, these trainers from Sea World can't talk killer whale language, but yet discovered an effective way to get positive results. How is it that I have known my kids since birth, but can't seem to get them listen to one word I say sometimes.
If these guys are willing to get into a tank with an 11,000 lb whale using Blanchards techniques, maybe I can get my son to keep his room clean and have fun doing it.
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 Coaching for Improved Work Performance, Revised Edition
ASIN: 0071352937
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: My success using Coaching.
Comments: As a consultant for small companies, I have found using Ferdinand F. Forunies' book,"Coaching for Improved Performance" an outstanding success. It has been very well accepted and an easy read for "Leads". The Coaching Analysis prepares them to then know when to use the Coaching discussion. New people to the supervision field come not knowing what to do. After reading the book and seeing the "Face to Face" video are ready to be trained in working with their employees for improved performance. I have not found any material that comes close to this material as a training vechical. I have used this material for over 15 years.
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 Follow this Path: How the World's Greatest Organizations Drive Growth by Unleashing Human Potential
ASIN: 0446530506
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: A testimony
Comments: Having known and worked under Dr. Gonzalez-Molina's direction for more than twenty years, I can only attest my personal, heart-felt and authentic testimony that he is one of the finest managers I have ever met. His dedication and endless vocation to develop the people around him have made his leadership legendary in many a management circle within the U.S. and Latin America. Follow This Path is a first person testimony of his record. Dr. Gonzalez-Molina: those of us who feel grateful for working with you want to urge your readers know that your vision and teachings are priceless, uniquely priceless.
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 Masterful Coaching: Extraordinary Results by Impacting People and the Way They Think and Work Together
ASIN: 0893842818
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Masterful Coaching
Comments: I would highly recommend Mr. Hargrove's book, Masterful Coaching, for individuals who are ready and willing to take on the challenge of transforming their own life and impacting others both in the workplace and on a personal level. The author assists the reader in the journey to personal transformation and the journey of coaching others to expand and grow. It is not an advice or prescription book but a tool to help one help themselves and also in the process help others. I especially appreciated the "Calling Forth Questions." The passion of the author is evident and the presentations of ideas are thought provoking, human, insightful and straightforward.
3 major points for pondering:
Personal Transformation: The author focuses on taking effective action throughout the book but the personal transformation that the book pushes readers to explore is powerful. "...coach is someone who engages and enters into the learning system of a person, business or social institution with the intent of improving it so as to impact people's ability to perform" (pg. 17) The presentation of coaching methodology and transformational learning discuss an individual's governing values and implications of those values in learning including Triple-loop learning, Double-loop learning, and Single-loop learning. Personal transformation is the foundation for everything that is presented in the book and is key to the "being" of a person.
A way of "Being" is central to being an effective coach: The characteristics of masterful coaches provide a guide for self-reflection and self-growth. The characteristics are the core of who one is and their sense of "being". Characteristics: 1. The ability to inspire; 2. Setting higher standards; 3. Honesty and integrity; 4. Disciplined intensity; 5. Forwarding action; 6. A passion to help others learn, grow, and perform.
Stewardship, commitment and learning models: The author discusses the shift from dominance to learning in groups and organizations and provides examples for the reader to internalize and better understand the paradigm shift. The role of the coach is is defined in the context of being a steward.
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 The War for Talent
ASIN: 1578514592
Customer's Rating: 1
Summary: The Talent Myth
Comments: The New Yorker (July 22, 2002) had an article that referred to "The War for Talent" that summed up what I felt after finishing the book (I paraphrase): The book largely amounts to an argument for indulging A employees, fawning over them, and "allowing them to find out what they like most to be doing." Malcolm Gladwell's article really articulated my feeling about Enron, my former company and how management talked about encouraging risk and allowing "A talents" to be the dynamic driving force WITH little regard to organizational structure or goals. The resulting chaos of having dozens of self-proclaimed geniuses pursuing their objectives, while often hidden from outsiders, makes me very wary of some consultant's pet theory that ignores divisions duplicating efforts, repeating mistakes, raiding each others "talent" employees, low office morale and intense political jockeying for advancement (which, ironically, was independent of performance). This book is another tiresome example of tired old "hero" worship; it makes me regret ever having gone to b-school. We MBAs are really screwing things up.
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 The Go-Getter
ASIN: 0805065628
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Get This Book and Go For It!
Comments: The Go Getter is an excellent little book, packed powerfully with motivation! I would recommend that this little gem be required reading for all students before they graduate. What motivates you? How hard would you be willing to work for your dream? How quickly do you give up or are you motivated to accomplish the task to the very end? Read this book and find out how the challenge was met and conquered! You WILL be inspired!
This is book is a very quick read and I actually read it twice to make sure that I did not miss anything! This book can be applied to anyone at any job doing any thing! One thing is for sure - you cannot help but be motivated after reading this book and probably changing your attitude from a negative one into a positive one!
I highly, highly recommend this book!
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 Please Don't Just Do What I Tell You, Do What Needs to Be Done: Every Employee's Guide to Making Work More Rewarding
ASIN: 0786867299
Customer's Rating: 2
Summary: Not so thrilled
Comments: I was a bit disappointed after reading the book because I thought the author was giving 'general advice' rather than 'specific tips'. I would rather recommend 'The Administrative Assistant' (Crisp Publications)
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 Peak Performance: Aligning the Hearts and Minds of Your Employees
ASIN: 0875849369
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Achieving and Then Sustaining an Emotional Balance
Comments: In the Preface, Katzenbach explains that "The central topic of this book -- energized workforces that deliver higher (peak) performance -- can be defined as any group of employees whose emotional commitment enables them to make or deliver products or services that constitute a sustainable competitive advantage for their employer. By peak performance [italics] we mean the norm, better than expected, better than the competition, and better than similar workforces in other places." These clarifications are important, especially the reference to "sustainable", because Katzenbach is not talking about the "hot groups" which Lipmen-Blumen and Leavitt analyze nor the types of groups which Bennis examines in Organizing Genius [italics].
In Chapter 1, Katzenbach suggests four criteria by which to identify "higher-performing workforces. They are: More than one-third of the workers consistently exceed the expectations of their leaders and customers, the average worker outperforms the average competitive worker, a strong emotional commitment to higher standards and aspirations is manifest throughout the entire workforce, and finally, the collective performance of that workforce or of critical segments (typically at the front line) creates the core of the organization's competitive advantage...and is extremely difficult to copy.
Katzenbach organizes his material within three Parts: Maintaining the Critical Balance, Exploring the Five Balanced Paths [Mission, Values, and Pride; Process and Metrics; Entrepreneurial Spirit; Individual Achivement; and Recognition and Celebration], and Applying the Lessons Learned. He then provides an Appendix in which he skillfully summarizes key points about 27 "Participant Companies and Organizations" and "Outside-In Cases" which include The Home Depot, McKinsey and Company, NASA, Southwest Airlines, Toyota, the U.S. Marine Corps, and the U.S. Navy Seals.
It would be a mistake to assume, however, that Katzenbach has only larger organizations in mind. On the contrary. If anything, the "critical balance" between enterprise performance and employee fulfillment is even more important in small-to-midsize organizations than it is in organizations such as those previously listed because, in a smaller organization, an individual worker can have greater impact...be it positive or negative. For Katzenbach, having an appropriate "critical balance" will enable any organization to "stay the course and successfully climb" any "mountain" it may encounter because it has "an emotionally committed, peak-performance workforce."
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 The 24-Carrot Manager: A Remarkable Story of How a Leader Can Unleash Human Potential
ASIN: 1586851543
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Highest ROI book ever!
Comments: After sinking my scarce time into a book, I do a rough ROI calculation by asking two questions: "Is this really going to build my business?" and "How rough a slog was the book to get through?" The 24-Carrot Manager might be my highest ROI book ever. I think it'll have big impact on my company . . . and it's a blast of fresh air to read.
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 1001 Ways to Energize Employees
ASIN: 0761101608
Customer's Rating: 1
Summary: There's a sucker born every minute
Comments: Companies are spending so much money trying to inspire employees that they have spawned an industry: the motivation industry. Bob Nelson is cashing in on it for sure. What executive wouldn't buy in to the notion of some pundit who champions "no cost" motivation? I wonder what they pay to hear him say it on his motivational tours??
What inspires people remains vague and elusive. For every reader who is moved by his book, there are likely ten who see it as childish drivel.
Nelson is just repackaging old anecdotes and fictional stories, then reselling them. There is not one shred of proof that any of his methods have any lasting value. Don't waste your time or money on this garbage.
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 The Little Book of Coaching: Motivating People to Be Winners
ASIN: 0066621038
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Double Benefits
Comments: Life, no matter personal or bisiness, is so much like the game (such as NFL).
How to make yourself stay competitive and strong is as important as how to motivate people surrounded you to spearhead to victory.
Business guru Kenneth Blanchard and NFL coach Don Shula share with us their perspectives on coaching and leadership with different methods but same objective. So you can have a better view of how to improve your own coaching skill.
One book, one price for two professional and treasurable insights. It's obviously a best buy!
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 Skills for New Managers
ASIN: 0071356185
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Packed With Knowledge!
Comments: Most of us developed our management skills, or lack thereof, in the same way: through trial and error. But Morey Stettner's new book will give anyone freshly promoted to the ranks of management a valuable head start by spelling out practical steps that new managers can take to be effective. For all of you old-timers, reading this book will induce a near constant mental stream of "I wish someone had told me that when I was starting out." For example, Stettner's first step, writing out a basic plan of how you want to manage your subordinates, might at first seem a bit naïve to veterans. But consider this point: How much time did you spend thinking about the techniques you would use in managing people before taking over your first managerial assignment? The probable answer is not much. In a clear voice laced with illustrative examples, Stettner covers the critical skills managers rely on every day: speaking, listening, criticizing and disciplining. For his insightful treatment of these topics, we [...] recommend this book to managers new and old, employees and students of management - But then again, aren't we all?
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 Bringing Out the Best in People
ASIN: 0071351450
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Breakthrough in business literature
Comments: Business is characterized by a lot of common sense solutions. But in fact, the many books that are released articulate only the particular view and experiences of the author. A scientific based book about how to understand and change behavior in organizations was lacking. Aubrey Daniels has made the remarkable accomplishment of writing a book that is both strongly based in the science of behavior analysis, as easy to read and to use. This is one of the best books that has been written about business, also because it demonstrates that business is behavior.
Drs. M.M. Rietdijk, Nyenrode University, The Netherlands
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 Motivation and Personality
ASIN: 0060419873
Customer's Rating: 3
Summary: Motivation and Personality
Comments: I was assigned to read this book for my AP Psychology class, at first it was really boring to me, I'll be honest. But after a while it started to grow on me, and I began enjoying learning the teachings of Maslow. I agree with Maslow's pyramid of needs, and after reading this book I have began to notice when people's needs arent being met, and how aggitated they will get when trying to achieve the needs that they want. This book will open up a lot of people's eyes and allow people to see things in a different light, if they are willing to get through the very detailed sections of Maslow's ideas. Overall, the book was enjoyable, a little slow because it is basically a giant thesis paper, but still enjoyable and much will be learned from this book.
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 The Ultimate Guide to Mental Toughness: How to Raise Your Motivation, Focus and Confidence Like Pushing a Button
ASIN: 0966431200
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Wow! What a power-house book! Fun, rewarding, Ultimate.
Comments: Every now and then, a writer comes along who knows his subject well enough to actually present it in such a way that it's easy to understand (but not simple), fun (yet to the point) and can be demonstrated and dulicated.
The author got to me by using examples that literaly got me emotionally involved in experiencing these techniques. Yes, other authors have gotten me excited and motivated. However, at one point while reading I was so charged up that I almost jumped up from my chair and physically took action.
Is there something you desire? Is there you wish were real? If you find you run short of achieving your goals, this book is a must have.
The author has found a way to educate without being boring. This is not just a book that you read and think about, while hoping your dreams come true. You learn, use and live these powerful techniques.
Stay tuned. My life is changing already, and this is just the beginning! This is power!
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 Toward a Psychology of Being, 3rd Edition
ASIN: 0471293091
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Hard Reading but Worth It
Comments: I had to read this for an Organizational Leadership class in graduate school. When I first got it I thought, "This is going to be like reading a VCR manual." That is, it appeared to be boring theoretical way out there stuff, with sentences lasting a full paragraph.
However, it is one of the best books I have ever read in helping me to understand people and why they are the way they are. This is a quick written self help book. Rather, it explains the fundamental causes of people's behavior in life.
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 Punished By Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise, and Other Bribes
ASIN: 0618001816
Customer's Rating: 3
Summary: Interesting conception of reward systems...
Comments: Khon, Alfie (1993). Punished by Rewards: The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's as Praise, and Other Bribes. New York, Houghton Mifflin Company.
Punished by Rewards, by Alfie Kohn, is a book that explains the negative aspects of receiving rewards. The author describes in great detail the effects that rewards have on people of all ages. The book is concerned with operant conditional learning. The basis of the book reflects the favoring of behaviorism. This is because behaviorists believe that everything we do can be explained by the principle of reinforcement and the learning of how rewards work. The book is mainly about the reasons why rewards are not effective and proving that rewarding a person can be negative. The author's purpose in writing this book was to open a new perspective to people's minds. He wanted to show that rewards are not the only way to help a person succeed. A good amount of people feel that rewards are beneficial and can be a positive way to influence a person. Kohn wanted to show proof that rewards could be almost classified as a punishment by making a person lazy or less motivated. He gave many examples, experimental statistics, and facts to back up his theory. One consisted on a series of ten studies that found with preschoolers working for toys, older children for grades, and adults for money, that they all try to avoid challenges (65). Another example found that kids are constantly fearful of getting things wrong, which is why they do as little as they can get away with (159). At first, I could not decide if I supported the author or not. I am in favor of the reward system just because I think that a person should be rewarded. On the other hand, the author gave many examples to support his theory of no rewards. One idea that I did agree with was at the beginning of the book. "The more rewards are used, the more they seem to be needed" (17). I do agree that if you constantly give a person rewards, they will always want something in order to complete a task. But on the other hand, I disagree with idea that all rewards are negative or bad. I feel that some rewards can either motivate students to excel or help promote employees to increase in power at a workplace. The author has a list of seven suggestions to minimize the salience of grades: 1. limit the number of assignments of which you give a letter or number grade, or better yet, stop the practice altogether 2. limit the number of gradations 3. reduce the number possible grades to two, A and Incomplete 4. never grade students while they are still learning something 5. never grade for effort 6. never grade on a curve 7. bring students in on evaluation processes I would recommend this book to some people, but mainly teachers. This could possibly be beneficial in that, it could bring about new ideas to motivate a classroom. The teacher can decide on a new learning technique, if the present routine is not suitable or helpful for the children. It can help teachers by giving them opinions and criticisms from different areas of learning. An example would be "not to praise people, only what people do" (109). Saying something about what the person has done makes more sense than just saying "good job" to a person; being more specific is beneficial.
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 Unlock Behavior, Unleash Profits
ASIN: 0071358781
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: What All Leaders Need To Know!
Comments: At the beginning of Unlock Behavior, Unleash Profits, Leslie talks about the recent article from Fortune magazine on "Why CEO's Fail". What surfaced as a constant for many, was a lack of execution, follow-through, and delivering on commitments. Leslie opens the reader's eyes to the opportunity that exists in all companies, which is their people. The book presents the science of behavior as a key to motivating and enabling people toward the successful execution of the company's goals as well as their own personal success. It became clear that the "soft side" of business is where much of the opportunity exists for leaders in today's competitive marketplace. The author presents an understanding of behavioral science with real examples which allows the reader to understand how it could positively impact their world. It allowed me to look at my business problems and personal challenges in a whole new way. Excellent insight into what really makes an effective leader.
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 How To Give It So They Get It
ASIN: 0965685128
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: What Style!
Comments: This book offers a wealth of information about the people in my workshops - and how to use styles information to reach each one. Wonderful, clear balance between theory and application - I can use her ideas in every session I do. Thanks!
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 Masterful Coaching Fieldbook
ASIN: 0787947555
Customer's Rating: 4
Summary: A Field Guide to Great Coaching
Comments:
Bob has done a masterful job of pulling together a wide variety of coaching situations to illustrate the coaching models from his previous book. This is a book for the serious coach seeking how-to applications. The emphasis on creativity is a nice enhancement.
? Mark Kelly, coauthor of MASTERING TEAM LEADERSHIP: 7 ESSENTIAL COACHING SKILLS
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 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself
ASIN: 1564145190
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Better Yourself through applying this book to your life!
Comments: 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself is definitely one of the better self-help / leadership books I have read. The one part of this book that is quite unique is that Chandler often starts with a quote, then he presents an typical example and finally tells a brief short story. I find this to be quite refreshing in these types of books as Chandler covered a wide array of topics from taking action, looking at things from a different angle, using your imagination, setting goals, turning off your TV, relationships, etc.
I believe the key ingredient in getting long-term value out of this book is to highlight the quotes/stories you love and integrate them into your daily life. Practice what you read if it ties in with your values. Hope this helps everyone.
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 Enhancing Adult Motivation to Learn : A Comprehensive Guide for Teaching All Adults
ASIN: 0787903604
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Motivation
Comments: "Before people can learn, they must be motivated to learn." This is the main thesis of the book that I enjoyed to read and discuss for our Class AHE 581, Enhancing adult motivation to learn: A comprehensive guide for teaching all adults, by Raymond J. Wlodkowski(revised edition in 1999). I selected this book because I am very interested in a number of theories about the learning process and a model of motivation in action what are relating to my Human Services worker at the American Red Cross and Puget Sound Community.
As a Red Cross instructor, I must look for some ways to enhance or maintain students' motivation to learn. I need to motivate learners to acquire new information, remember it, and apply it. When disaster strikes they must know how to come through the disaster safety and be equipped to cope with such an emergency. Therefore, people need to understand the worth of a subject and be motivated and ready to learn. "Effective learning does not occur without motivation" (Wlodkowski, 1999, p. 3).
First at all, and most important, throughout his book Wlodkowski provides us with a wide variety of detailed strategies for increasing learner motivation so that instructor can choose from among them based on the subject being taught and the learning situation. Wlodkowski is an extraordinary individual. For me, the more I read and learn about the book and his life experiences, educational challenges, and cultural background the more I respect his efforts and desire to become an adult educator.
Next, Wlodkowski also provides us the eight chapters in his book with an understanding of the important ideas and information about the learning process and styles of learning in which includes three types of learning: cognitive, affective, and psychomotor (motivating skills).
1. Cognitive: Chapter One through Three are organized to describe the cognitive as the first type of learning: facts, concepts, and application skills. Facts and concepts are taught and learners are provided opportunities to apply these information. They also present the theory and research supporting how motivation contributes to competent adult learning.
2. Affective: Chapter Four through Seven discuss the comprehensive treatment of major motivational condition: attitudes as they affect behavior. These chapters can help people examine attitudes that affect behavior and change attitudes that may result in undesirable behavior, which regards human experience, intelligence, and communities as ever-evolving mechanism.
3. Psychomotor: Chapter Eight explains two methods of instructional planning and guidelines for assessment of learner motivation. It is emphasized the unity of among worth, meaning, and joy in the process of learning. Learners can go through decision-making steps before beginning their learning and its consequences. One step is to make a decision about what they want to learn.
Learning can be defined as a process of change through which people acquire new knowledge, skills, or attitudes as a result of some type of study or experiences. Learning occurs over time and should be considered a lifelong process or experience. The objective of learning is to replace or enhance some of the ways we think or act with new ideas, attitudes, or behaviors. Wlodkowski stated, "The learning objective remains a top priority because without it, the motivation of the learners has no direction," (p. 303).
But people differ in the way they accept change. Some people may become anxious when they are expected to perform new skills or to be tested on new knowledge. They may try to reduce their anxiety by holding on to familiar ways of thinking and doing things. This is true since poor performance is obvious to other group members and could cause personal embarrassment. (See Strategy 14, p. 139). Giving learners an opportunity to talk about old and new behaviors in a supportive, positive environment will help them in accepting new information.
Learners need to feel free to share their first attempts in expressing new ideas or in performing new activities. Adults, who have been away from the class for some time, especially if they did not like school, may find it harder to take risks and to share their ideas with others in the class. (See Strategy 17, p. 145). Providing support and encouragement and being positive will help them to be more relaxed and open in the learning environment.
Part of learning also may involve aking mistakes. (See Strategy 18, p. 150). Help learners to understand that few people do everything right the first time they try. Support, encouragement, and corrective feedback will help motivate learners to continue the learning process by sharing with others.
People learn things in difference ways and different speeds. (See Strategy 54, p. 267). Teaching methods need to accommodate these differences when possible. One-way to find out whom is having difficulty learning. We can do this by asking questions, by observing, and by encouraging learners to ask questions. A learner who learns quickly or who enters the course knowing many of the skills that we are teaching may be paired with a learner who learns more slowly.
The ways people prefer to learn may differ; someone will want a lot of direction from you, while others will want little direction. Some are more visual learners, others learn better by listening or by using their kinesthetic sense. Generally, a learner will learn and remember better when instruction fits his or her style. We may not be able to know learners beforehand or determine their learning preferences; however, using the Motivational Framework for Culturally Responsive Teaching will help us more closely meet different learning preferences.
In this book, research shows that the higher the level of education obtained, the more motivated students are to learn and to seek out new learning experiences. Educational level also is important because "the learning is connected to who they are, what they care about, and how they perceive and know," (p. 74). If learners read a level that is significantly below the reading level of the standard courses material, we may have to provide these learners with an outline of major course ideas and an overview of key words and concepts to support them in reading the course material. These learners may benefit if ideas are illustrated by examples taken from their own experiences and knowledge.
Each learner has had a variety of experiences during his or her lifetime. Lear
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 Get Everyone in Your Boat Rowing in the Same Direction: 5 Leadership Principles to Follow So Others Will Follow You
ASIN: 1558505474
Customer's Rating: 4
Summary: Important Messages Said Simply
Comments: Books about vision and mission are usually excursions into the ether of fine thoughts and noble thinking. I appreciated how Boylan reduced these concepts to very practical concerns and actions that once expressed will get an organization effectively pointed in the same direction. This is a book I recommend to anyone who needs to get an organization from here to there, when the group is unclear about which "here" and which "there" is intended.
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 Coaching and Mentoring for Dummies
ASIN: 0764552236
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: What They Forgot To Tell You When They Made You A Manager
Comments: First, let me disclose that I am a client of the author. So perhaps I should be upset with Mr. Brounstein for putting out a book that has the same information I paid him thousands of dollars to teach me. Buy the book.
Remember the first time you dealt with a difficult employee - the knot in your stomach as you called them into your office. Learn about giving constructive feedback instead of criticism, and you may just turn a problem employee into a model employee - it happened to me. The knot may not go away completely, but with this technique it will definitely be more manageable. Buy the book.
Work smarter not harder. Learn about Results-based Performance Management, and get results, not just busy employees. Teach your employees to manage themselves by holding them accountable for results, not just activities that you give them to do. Buy the book.
Learn about coaching techniques such as Tutoring With Questions that will get your employees to start answering their own questions - and getting the right answers. Buy the book.
About a year ago I suddenly found myself in charge of 100 employees that had been thrown together from different cultures as the result of mergers and corporate realignment. Through the techniques I learned from Marty that are revealed in this book, I have been able to build an effective team of managers who in turn have helped me turn the organization around. A year ago, we were missing committed deadlines one after another. Now, we consistently meet and often beat our commitments. I often refer to my copy of the book for a refresher on Marty's techniques and regularly refer my managers to the book when they run into difficult situations. Buy the book.
Just in case I forgot to mention it: Buy the book.
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 Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation: The Search for Optimal Motivation and Performance
ASIN: 0126190704
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Intrinsic and Extirnsic Motivation: The Search for Optimal M
Comments: This is the best book I have ever read. I mean EVER read! This book has changed my life! It has inspired me! It is my bible! My highest praise goes to Dr. Harackiewicz and Dr. Sansone! Thank you! What a wonderful book!
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 The Book of Positive Quotations
ASIN: 1577490533
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Knowledge is power, quote me on it
Comments: My friends would not know a book from a toaster so these types of books are especially helpful to me. I am the neighborhood pub philosopher thanks to memorizing a few quotes a week. This is a valuable resource in that, like any other book of quotations, one can parrot wisdom with out having to really take the time to understand the author.
So buy this book because the only thing you have to fear is fear itself.
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 Motivating Without Money-Cashless Ways to Stimulate Maximum Results, Raise Morale, and Reduce Turnover With Your Telephone Sales and Service Personnel
ASIN: 1881081109
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Worman Rocks !
Comments: Dave Worman should be a cult hero for the motivating industry. His energy level and excitement is felt throughout the book. He has great ideas that after you read them, you say, "What a great idea, I can't wait to try it." If you need motivation, Worman has the stuff.
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 We Are All Self-Employed: The New Social Contract for Working in a Changed World
ASIN: 1881052478
Customer's Rating: 5
Summary: Secure in your job? Or just laid off? Read this book
Comments: This is one of the most useful books for someone who is facing redeployment,downsizing, being laid off or whatever the current euphemism is these days for losing your job. It's also handy for finding a new job for yourself when you are dissatisfied with your current situation.
The book title says it all: today, you MUST view yourself as self-employed to control your career path. No one will do that for you. The heady days of the Dot-Coms and IT boom, when headhunters stopped taking corporate clients and couldn't find enough people to fill positions have evaporated almost overnight. Now those courted employees are being laid off and must once again, pound the pavement. Don't suffer a rude awakening. After the period when you feel anger and loss (understandable) you need to take control and steer your own career. This book is absolutely invaluable to help you do that, and to get over the nasty shock of loss, betrayal, feeling of failure, whatever you are experiencing from a temporary lull in your personal path.
This is not a how-to book. It's about changing your attitude and habits permanently to protect yourself in the corporate world, no matter what the climate.
Don't forget to re-read it from time to time, to remind yourself of what you need to do to stay on course. This is one of the best books on the subject and I think far, far more than "What Color is your Parachute."
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