Flight of the Buffalo

I have never been one to highlight parts of a book that provide unique information. I have highlighted over 100 items in this book. It is a must read for anyone who works at a company and wants to know the simple answer of to how to achieve complete success

Reading Jim Belasco is an exciting voyage to the very core of business. His common-sense leadership lessons have changed the way I lead. He presents an entirely new way to look at people, and teaches you through his inspiring pages how to transform your company into a more dynamic, accountable, enjoyable and profitable, 'live' organization. I have had the rare opportunity of attending a live Jim Belasco seminar, and can say he is not only an outstanding business author, but maybe the most powerful leadership speaker in America. Go ahead and order this great book (an all Jim Belasco's titles). It's a great reading and a terrific, smart use of your time.

As a manager with a background in Fortune 100 and 500 companies, "Flight of the Buffalo" reaffirms recommended directions and styles to increasing effectiveness in the workplace. Instead of giving a classic response or quickie solution, you are able to hear a wealth of experiences and understand what approaches were used by management, both good and bad. "Flight of the Buffalo" delivers. It empowers the listener. And it is worth purchasing. I wish I'd bought it when it first came out. But better late than never!

The authors really "feel the pain" of the small business owner whose employees just don't seem to accept ownership and concern of the major issues in their areas. Excellent examples are provided of real life business circumstances that most any owner/manager can relate to. The ideas and theory provided is down-to-earth and can apply to most any company. It is also a very motivating book for getting re-focused on your employees, their needs, and motivations.

Unlike most management texts, the Buffalo is written for all employees in any organization. The books's sub-caption is "Learning to let employees Lead" The Buffalo gets that across without ever using the buzzword, "empowerment," and it attacks the employee leadership issue with strong (and inspiring) emphasis on delivering great performance to the customer. The Buffalo also has the marvelous ability to tranform thought and to get those who read it - from CEO to employees on the line - to realize that change must start with them, and to ask themselves, "How and where do I need to change?" This is essential, for as consultants we go into most every company and ask the CEO if these things are happening in his/her company. Inevitably the reply will be, "Yes, Yes, we are doing a, b and c." Then we ask the employees, and they say, "No way, not happening" Both sides really want it to happen, but it seldom happens in companies. Why? First because it really isn't easy, and second because top management is in fact typically trying to "fix" the employees. The employees sense it, don't like it, and believe that "it's top management that needs to be fixed." It is extremely difficult for CEO's or consultants to break this circle, but the Buffalo can be an enormous help - if both top managment and the employees read it -and then teams are organized to address how to implement it. Yet even after top management and the employees have realized that change begins with themselves, to actually achieve employee leadership is still a challenge. Typical business press advice is that "CEO's must give up power." Incorrect and certainly not helpful. Here again the Buffalo shines, as in the second half of the book it provides exceptionally clear and practical examples of how one company did it - the systems they set up, and most importantly, how they measured their progress. Landmark book. Brooks Helmick Managing Director The IML Boston Group