Essential Managers: Managing Teams

As a trainer, this is my advice; read it, distribute it to your organizational managers-it makes for a great gift by the way, then discuss it with them in groups or indvidually. Only then you can convert your groups into real teams.

"Managing Teams" by Robert Heller is a very informative book and definitely should be read by new managers. This book contains many different ideas on how to manage your team. Heller brings up important points that many new managers may not be aware of when first starting into the challenging world of team managing. Heller discusses several different topics including `Understanding How Teams Work,' Setting Up A Team,' `Improving Team Efficiency,' and `Working For The Future.' Each of these chapters cover important topics that are broken down into easy to understand summarized sections. This book helps you determine the right people for a team, and how to form a multi- talented, functioning team. You will also learn how to motivate your team to complete the goals that they were brought together to achieve. Learning to manage a team can sometimes be a difficult transition if you are not used to doing so, but Heller's book can really help you to adjust to the position. One great part about this book is that it is short (74 pages) and to the point. The chapters are informative and do not drag on and on like some of the books out there on the market. However there are enough details to help you understand and try out his suggestions and ideas. There is even an added bonus of 101 tips that offer practical advice. I especially like the examples and charts that are listed in this book. They are great in helping understand the individuals in the team, and how to deal with each person within the group and as a group. I highly recommend "Managing Teams" to anyone interested in learning new techniques for managing a team in the workplace. I also highly recommend several of Robert Heller's other books as well in the `Essential Managers' set of books, including "Motivating People."

I'd recommend this to anyone who's part of a team and wants a brief, concise, useful summary of key points that help you better manage (and be part of) a team. Sections are well organized, and actual techniques are described that you can use to improve.One of the better of this series. Best of all, it's small and cheap!