The new one minute manager by Ken Blanchard & Spencer Johnson

"The new one minute manager" by Ken Blanchard & Spencer Johnson. This book is published by Harpercollins in 2014 and has 112 pages. 

Ken Blanchard is a famous author of books like Gung Ho!, Full Steam ahead! He has developed Situational Leadership model with Paul Hersay. Spencer Johnson is author of legendary book 'Who moved my cheese?'. The duo has co-authored the original 'One minute manager'.

This is the updated modern version of the famous book 'One minute manager'. In the message from authors they explain why they wrote this book. The world has changed from the times of previous book. Organizations have to respond faster, with fewer resources, to keep up with ever changing technology and globalization. In short it's a modern retelling of previous story making it current.

Three secrets of one minute management as per this book are:

1. Setting one minute goals - Set clear goals at the start of an assignment, write them on one page, review frequently and adjust your actions. 
2. One minute praisings - Catch them doing something right. Praise and encourage. 
3. One minute re-directs - Specify what went wrong and reaffirm trust in said employee. 

This retelling of the story changes the management style to suit present times. It was a directive or telling style of management in former avatar, this one is proponent of a participative style of management. The spirit of collaboration is prominent. Here you involve your charges in decision making. The reprimands in previous book have become re-directs.

Simple recommendations of this book are that People who feel good about themselves produce good results. Be people AND result oriented. Provide regular feedback. 

This avatar of the book is more people oriented. In the feedback from manager how the manager 'feels' is emphasized. Human angle is prominent. Even the example of pigeon is replaced by that of a child.

Authors have provided 'The new one minute manager's game plan' towards the end of book. It's a simple flowchart on one page that captures the essence if this book. The book is interspersed with important quotes. The quotes pack the punch by saying a lot in few words. 

It's a good idea to write a modern retelling of hugely popular old book. It thus remains current, addresses present situation & does not become an obsolete classic. It also makes a great commercial sense as good sales are guaranteed. Every person who read previous one will read this one too. In fact I read previous one again with this one to determine what the changes were. 

Although the authors do not say it explicitly, it appears that the seeker in previous book has now become New One Minute Manager and now there is a new seeker. The chain continues. One can't help but wonder how the book ends so quickly. 

A must read.