Managing Right the First Time: New Book by David C. Baker

A Field Guide For First Time Managers and Managers Who Want to Manage Better

NASHVILLE (July 20, 2010), Those dreaded performance reviews can now be a thing of the past, according to business consultant David C. Baker in his new book, “Managing Right For the First Time,” (2010, Rockbench Publishing Corp., $24.95). Baker is president and founder of business consultancy ReCourses (ReCourses.com) and “Managing Right for the First Time” emerged from his experience advising over 600 companies and interviewing more than 10,000 employees specifically about management and management issues.

There’s a problem with the typical annual performance review, and the best evidence of that is the fact that you, the manager, dread doing them or just keep avoiding them entirely. Performance reviews are necessary. They’re a critical step in the process of building and maintaining a team. They don’t work on their own, though, so you might do better if you consider them as the fifth step in a five-part process of management.

Baker says, “first, you need to know what you want from people. Second, find the right person to do it. Third, express your expectations in a way that the employee can absorb and understand your intent. Fourth, reinforce those expectations with your actions, finding those teaching moments that occur every day. Finally, take a 10-minute walk with each of your employees, both of you going over notes about performance that month.” In that way, the annual review is more of a compilation and celebration.

Contact Information

David C. Baker

Author

ReCourses, Inc.

Contact via E-mail