Synopses & Reviews
A practical, entertaining handbook for people who never expected to be bosses.
Plenty of managers never asked, expected, or trained to be put in charge of other people. But when it happens, these accidental bosses often find that learning to manage is like learning to swim by being dropped into the deep end of the pool.
Hank Gilman knows what that's like. As a top editor for Fortune, Newsweek, and the Boston Globe, he has helped nurture some outstanding talent. His success can be attributed largely to his management style, which allows him to treat his employees like, well, humans, while holding them accountable. But he was far from a natural when it was time to take charge.
Gilman shares the lessons he's learned-through trial and error-during his two decades as a manager in one of the craziest businesses on the planet. Writing in a warm but no-nonsense voice, he offers straight-up advice on the ins and outs of hiring, firing, motivating, and dealing with cranky superstars.
Gilman argues that your employees should always come first-and that managing down, as opposed to managing up, will ultimately lead to a successful career as a boss.
Synopsis
When Hank Gilman started his career, he aspired to be a great journalist. But just a few years later, he became an editor and suddenly found himself in charge of a slew of difficult reporters—without a clue how to manage them.
Plenty of managers start out this way, never asking, expecting, or training to be responsible for others. These accidental bosses often find that learning to manage is like learning to swim by being dropped into the deep end of the pool.
Now the deputy managing editor at Fortune, Gilman learned the hard way about what makes a good boss. He shares his insights from the good, bad, ugly, entertaining, and sometimes just plain bizarre stories from more than two decades in the management trenches.
About the Author
Hank Gilman is the deputy managing editor of
Fortune. Over his career, he has worked at
The Boston Globe, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and
The Beaufort Gazette (South Carolina). (His favorite job.) He has also been a regular commentator on
The Nightly Business Report on PBS.