5 stars (Excelent) - I'm stduying this book in the MBA program, i think it is in one word excelent. Since I'm reading it i feel i can see myself in a mirror and at the same time i have found in the book the necesary guide in order to design my personal management skill improve program. It is a must at your personal library 5 stars (Extremely Useful and Practical Guide to Effective Management) - This book has been widely adopted and is now in its sixth edition because it has proven to be a valuable and effective text for people who want to think about what skills go into being an effective manager, how to develop them, and what are the practical means of application. The book is divided into four parts: Part 1 - Personal Skills Part 2 - Interpersonal Skills Part 3 - Group Skills Part 4 - Specific Communication Skills Part 1 starts with developing self-awareness, then discusses managing personal stress, and concludes with approaches to solving problems analytically and creatively. Part 2 starts with coaching, counseling, and supportive communication, then discusses gaining power and influence, motivating others, and concludes with managing conflict. Part 3 starts with empowering and delegating, then building effective teams and teamwork, and concludes with leading positive change. Part 4 is a series of helpful supplements and appendices on making oral and written presentations, conducting interviews, and an extremely useful section on conducting meetings based upon material by John Tropman from the University of Michigan. I had Prof. Tropman for my required class on Organizational Behavior and it was a highlight in my program. He covered some of this material in that class and it makes wonderful sense. He often says that you can use this material to cover as little as you do now, but in half the time. What I particularly like is that each chapter opens with one or more assessments to help the student / reader think in a personal way about his or her thoughts, beli... Prentice Hall :: Business & Economics & Systems & Planning :: Strategic Planning :: Management Science :: Leadership :: Entrepreneurship :: Business&Economics :: Business & Econom :: Developing Management Skills (6th Edition)