Getting Things Done When You Are Not in Charge

This book is great for any support professional. If you work in a service organization (IT, HR, Accounting, etc.) within a larger corporation, this book is for you! It has helped me understand the dynamics between my department and my customer. The ideas are great and the book is an easy read.

A fresh reminder of how leaders are powerless without followers, and how "the rest of us" can change the way our world and our organizations operate. "Dreams are not realized through small investments of energy, and leaders portray this. Leadership can be seen as energy collected, directed, and released toward a future vision. " "Belief in what could be and confidence in your supporters' ability to get you there. Your image of the world is different from the image of those who are invested in keeping the world as it is. You see the organization as it could be, in potential, and you risk taking steps toward that imagined organization." I like this book, and have greater affirmation that I can make a difference.

Geoffrey M. Bellman provides strategies that support personnel can use to bring about positive change in their organizations. A comprehensive table of contents allows you to go directly to the area of the book that most interests you. In fact, the author designed the book to be read in pieces and many topics stand on their own in manageable chunks. This alone makes the book a useful tool for people who are interested in "leading from the middle." The informal writing style and the many useful lists make these ideas accessible to readers who lack formal business training, and thus are likelier to work in support roles. Bellman believes that instead of complaining about your lack of power, you should build your power and get things done. We at getAbstract.com recommend this book to anyone who isn't CEO (yet).

If I take all of the management books I have read from my time at University till now and stack them up they may form a balance with this brilliant book. The wisdom, down to earth style and practical insight is not just uncommon, it is extrodinary. This book has done more to help me in different management situations than any other. The structured approach to tackling life as a manager is a solid base which leaves enough room for personal style and growth. Anyone who does not read this is at a disadvantage.

Believe it or not this is the most used management book on my shelf. As I have progressed in my career, I have discovered that "being in charge" is a myth. Even at the apex of an organization you are beholden to someone if not more "bosses". So regardless of your place within your organization this book provides pratical tips on improving your effectiveness. Of particular value and insight are the comparison of leadership and management, the concept of counterdependence, and the internal and external customer discussion. I have shared this information and it has been well received by collegues, at management retreats and with university professors. At less than half the price of the typical soft cover management book you may consider purchasing two. One for you and one to share.