Why Teams Win. 9 keys to success in business, sport, and beyond. Dr Saul L. Miller. 2009. ISBN 9780470160435. At some time, I used to notice the large numbers of ex professional athletes I would meet in large multi-national sales forces.  I found their forces more organized, driven andconsistently our performed their competitors. Since then I have   compiled a sports coaching library which has been very helpful. This book is a great addition to my library.

Dr Miller lists the following nine qualities of winning teams:

1. A meaningful goal
2. Talent
3. leadership
4. Strategy
5. Commitment
6. Feedback
7. Confidence
8. Chemistry
9. Identity

He uses great examples from business, sport and life to reinforce the message. As well you will appreciate his easy to read organized style. See www.saulmiller.com

Awesomely simple. Essential business strategies for turning ideas into action. John Spence. 2009. ISBN 9780470494516.  Spence reveals the six key strategies that create a foundation for achieving business excellence:

1. Vivid Vision,
2. Best People,
3. A Performance-Oriented Culture,
4. Robust Communication,
5. A Sense of Urgency, and
6. Extreme Customer Focus.

The book has lots of case studies and clear action items, and easy-to-follow guidelines for implementing the strategies in any organization no matter its mission or size
After breaking down each strategy, Spence gives specific examples, tips, tools, discussion questions and exercises for how to execute them successfully.  He has an easy personable writing style, which makes this a pleasure to read. See www.awesomelysimple.com

The Supervision Solution . Manage performance-not people. John Roulet. 2009. ISBN 9780981683768.  This is a two part book. The first half of the book provides you with a clear understanding of organizational leadership, covering such topics as:

• what leadership is;
• how to measure leadership;
• the leadership system; and
• the universal problem-solving method.

The second half offers the information, tools and methods leaders need to effectively address the supervisory issues they face every day. Those issues include:

• establishing clear employee performance requirements;
• measuring performance; analyzing and resolving performance problems;
• structuring work environments that do not de-motivate employees;
• eliminating policy violations and; and hiring the right people.

The book has  examples from psychology, history, and politics to explain and illuminate key leadership concepts. Easy to read with good graphics and use of white space all assist you in your learning.  I likes the chapter on job performance evaluation a lot. See www. thesupervision solution.com.

Oops! 13 Management Practices That Waste Time and Money.  Aubrey C. Daniels. 2009. ISBN 9780937100172.  The author is a seasoned veteran of this space. He has seen more than his share on errors in mergers & acquisitions, downsizing, stretch goals and performance appraisal.  He is adamant that you should really stop, promoting people nobody likes, overrating smart people, and upsetting everyone with employee of the month programs.  Its a good read as he pulls no punches and has the data to prove it. His 13 targets are:

• Employee of the month
• Stretch goals
• Performance appraisals
• Ranking
• Rewarding things a dead man can do
• Salary and hourly pay
• “You did a good job but,”
• The sandwich
• Overvaluing smart, talented people
• The budget process
• Promoting people no one likes
• Downsizing
• Mergers, Acquisitions and other forms of reorganizing

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