Publisher, Simon & Schuster Audioworks (July 1999)

"At last, a management book with a huge amount of statistical evidence...the results are eye-popping...this is one of the best, most practical books I''ve seen on managing." --Detroit Free Press

"Finally, something definitive about what makes a great workplace." --Miami Herald

"If you''re a manager wracking your brain for ways to find and retain good people...this book is worth paying attention to." --Newsday

Great managers share one common trait: They do not hesitate to break virtually every rule held sacred by conventional wisdom. They do not believe that, with enough training, a person can achieve anything he sets his mind to. They do not try to help people overcome their weaknesses. They consistently disregard the Golden Rule. And, yes, they even play favorites. This amazing book explains why. The frontline manager is the key to attracting and retaining talented employees. No matter how generous its pay or how renowned its training, the company that lacks great front-line managers will suffer. Buckingham and Coffman explain how the best managers select an employee for talent rather than for skills or experience; how they set expectations for him or her - they define the right outcomes rather than the right steps; how they motivate people - they build on each person's unique strengths rather than trying to fix his weaknesses; and, finally, how great managers develop people - they find the right fit for each person, not the next rung on the ladder.