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How to Be a Star at Work: 9 Breakthrough Strategies You Need to Succeed (平装)
by Robert E. Kelley
| Category:
Career advancement, Career guide, Workplace excellence, Personal success |
| Market price: ¥ 170.00
MSL price:
¥ 138.00
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| Stock:
Pre-order item, lead time 3-7 weeks upon payment [ COD term does not apply to pre-order items ] |
MSL rating:
 Good for Gifts |
| MSL Pointer Review:
Highlighting emotional intelligence in the workplace including initiative-taking, networking and broadening your perspective, this inspiring work will greatly help you excel in your career. |
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AllReviews |
1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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Howard Rothman (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
For over a dozen years, Carnegie Mellon University instructor and corporate consultant Robert Kelley has studied the difference between superior workplace performers and their average peers. After determining that such stars are made, not born, he identified the game plan many use to secure better jobs, higher pay, and top career opportunities. How to Be a Star at Work: Nine Breakthrough Strategies You Need to Succeed describes these tactics - which he dubs initiative, networking, self-management, perspective, followership, leadership, teamwork, organizational savvy, and show-and-tell - and explains how to incorporate them into real-life work situations. |
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Library Journal (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
Contrary to popular belief, Kelley believes that star employees are made, not born. His nine new breakthrough strategies are "initiative, networking, self-management, perspective, followership, leadership, teamwork, organizational savvy and show-tell. |
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Roger E. Herman (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
When I review a book, I consider a number of different factors. Among my considerations is the suitability of the book to what appears to be the intended market-the intended reader.
Looking at a title like "How to be a Star at Work," I assume that the book is designed to inspire and instruct people who are not stars at work. Perhaps I'm being a bit pedantic here, but I question how many non-stars would gleefully pick up a 300+ page book to learn the Secrets of Business Life.
OK, I've got that out of my system. Let's dig a little deeper. The book is based on research, written by a college professor. Kelley teaches at Carneigie Mellon University's business school and, as may be expected, does a lot of research and publishing. Goes with the territory. This book reports on ten years of research at major companies, revealing nine factors for success: initiative, networking, self-management, perspective, followership, leadership, teamwork, street smarts, and show-and-tell (to the right audience).
As you read that list, you may be thinking, "no-brainer; should I waste my time with this book?" On a shallow level, that's a fair assessment. As you read deeper through these pages, however, you'll discover many subtle innuendos in each of these categories. You'll learn from the thought-provoking anecdotes-all with the names changed, of course. The experiences of the employees described are somewhat interwoven with political issues that are more prevalent in large companies than smaller enterprises. This environment-resident factor may taint your sense of relevance if you don't work for a big organization, but don't be fooled. The advice is solid for all sizes of employers.
This book may not be read heavily by its assumed primary target, but will still be quite valuable to supervisors, managers, leaders, and mentors who coach and guide others to improve their effectiveness and strategic career development. |
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Roberta Hill (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
I don't like small print and although I am a great believer in the power of telling stories, I get tired of real live case studies, one after another. That said this is a solidly researched book that presents important ideas in a straightforward and comprehensive manner. You may not always agree with some of the points, but if you bear with the book (and read it all - don't skip) everything will hang together.
Remember, this book is about strategies - not a how to. For example, strategy eight, "Organizational Savvy" goes on to list a number of skill sets. One of these is managing conflict. This skill is awarded three pages in the book, but as we all know is a complex competency.
There is no right way for each and every one of us. I appreciated how differences and individual personalities are validated and reinforced in the book. Nor does the author downplay the potential pitfalls or possible negative consequences for adopting a strategy. Each one has its own risks.
I found two of the strategies presented particularly interesting. The first star performer strategy is initiative. "Initiative is the most widely misunderstood of all the star performer work strategies". The clarification between what is initiative versus what is just doing your job is an important concept for individuals to understand. The difference is well laid out in the material. Chapter 6 provides an insightful presentation on networking. In my experience, I find that individuals often misunderstand the importance of networking and what it really is. I am sure that each reader will find a particular chapter or two speaks to him or her.
Kelly states in his preface that "you should resist skipping around to chapters that seem more interesting... start at the beginning with the model and read through the work strategy chapter in the order presented." I suggest a couple of caveats. I skimmed the appendix first. I wanted to get a sense of the research behind the book. There on page 305 is a very important table. It is a list of seven factors that Kelly has discovered that create the perception or judgment by superiors that an individual shows high productivity and performance. After all aren't these strategies and underlying skill sets on how to be a star all about being perceived as one by others?
Read chapter 14 on "Becoming a Star Performer" either after chapter two or four. I thought that this section provided some perspective to the book as a whole. It is short so you can reread it again when you come to it. I liked chapter 4 which responses to questions from interested readers and motivated me to read on. It did sound a little like a sales pitch at times.
Which brings me to my last beef. Kelly stresses that this book is based on lengthy and extensive research, particularly at Bell Labs and I acknowledge the contribution that he has made. Kelly and his group, Consultant to Executives and Organizations Ltd. have developed a program based on his model. This too has been researched and evaluated for its effectiveness that appears impressive. Unfortunately, I often got the impression that the book is a ruse for selling this training package. That is unfortunate. The book stands alone on its own merits as having something important to say to individuals who want to improve their organizational impact. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
Although a fast and easy read, this is not a quick-fix recipe book. You can't just read the book, put it down and then wait for the "star thing" to happen. The strategies espoused are based on common-sense and well-researched principles - but practicing them requires... well... practice.
The most uplifting message of this book - and one that I stress with my employees - is that "anyone" can be a star. It's not about how good you look, being a genius, or having great political or social skills - it's about "how" you go about working. These aren't strategies you are born with - these are strategies you can be taught.
Nothing replaces old fashion perserverance - this book is the inspiration and the rest is, as they say, perspiration. But if you consistently apply these principles you "will" succeed.
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Donald Mitchell (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
How to Be a Star at Work is excellent for attacking misconceptions that retard almost all careers. Everyone I know who had a fast rising career used the principles in this book: But they usually had to figure out some of the principles for themselves.
As a young person, many lack the experience and judgment to derive these principles. For example, many will see conforming to the views of co-workers (many of whose careers are going nowhere) as the way to get ahead. Not true!
As your first step toward becoming a star at work, read this book and apply its principles. If you want to go further and be a Superstar at work, read on for more instructions you will need.
Careers are also plagued by other flawed thinking habits not explored in this book including poor communications (assuming the message is received and understood without checking), disbelief in promising new ideas and technologies (check these new perspectives out carefully before you dismiss them), tradition (habits that have outlived their usefulness), bureaucracy (having people involved unnecessarily), harmful procrastination (delaying when the situation is deteriorating), and avoiding ugliness (everyone else avoids it also, so the best opportunities are often in the most unattractive aspects of your operations).
To be most successful, you need to be able to create better solutions.
The way to do this is to (1) learn the value of measurements (nothing improves that is not measured) (2) measure everything you can about important processes in your key activities (each measurement will teach you something you need to know) (3) identify the best practices anyone has ever done in these areas (especially by looking outside your industry), and anticipate where these best practices will be in 5 years (4) assemble best practices together in new ways that no one has ever done before to exceed the future best practice (5) identify the ideal best practice (the best people will ever be able to do - for communications this will be having everyone get the message in one second, like shouting "fire" in a crowded theater where smoke and flames are evident) (6) find ways to approach the ideal best practice by applying the analogy of where humans do it almost perfectly now to your situation (7) assemble the right people, resources and incentives to get the job done and (8) repeat the process (you will get better at it and find better ideas, each you time you do this again).
Further, a lot of people are oblivious to the powerful trends around them. The most effective people will find ways to turn these trends to their advantage, regardless of how the trend shifts.
If you teach someone else these ideas, you will learn them even better, and proven yourself as a leader.
Now you have everything you need to be a superstar at work, except for the proper goals. Write them down! Review them frequently! You will outperform 97 percent of everyone else with just this focus... before you apply this book.
Don't forget to be a superstar in your personal life, where it's tougher... but more meaningful... to do!
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Pamela Stone (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
If you want to do more than just succeed at work, this is the book for you! It's full of vitally information on how to reach beyond your skills at work. About ten to fifteen percent of all people will out perform their peers by a wide margin and rise above to the star ranks. How to be a Star at Work tells us how to be our own star and to be able to outshine everyone else, no matter who you are. This book has nine strategies to getting ahead, but don't think you can muddle through with a few pointers; you need to read the entire book to be able to realize how everything works and fits together. It's worth the time and effort! Remember stars are made not born.
I found this to be a helpful, informative, simplistic read. It's very well written and the fact that the author spent so much time 'in the trenches' is apparent, he knows what he is talking about. I recommend it. |
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Beltway Rider (MSL quote) , USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
When the gold-collar professionals (knowledge workers with hi-tech skills in our financial services business) ask me how to be more successful at work, I now refer them to this book. There is no magic here, just solid social science. This book documents what Kelley and his team observed at Bell Labs. They identified behaviors that are exhibited by those perceived as stars, and that are not exhibited by others. This book describes those behaviors, calling them "breakthrough strategies". The strategies can be taught, can be learned, and can be put into practice. But they aren't easy to do and one must work at developing proficiency and effectiveness.
For those who want a terse prescriptive cookbook, with specific instructions, or a book with a magic one-shot one size fits all solution, this book may disappoint. Kelley describes the star strategies with examples and stories, as well as specifics. Those who learn best from examples and narrative will find this book very accessible and useful.
If you are serious about working on your "game", and don't believe your failures are the result of everyone else's incompetence and ineffectiveness, this book will be most helpful. But if you believe the world is an cut-throat win or lose place, you'd probably be better off spending your time and money with a counselor or analyst or a coach in knife-wielding politics.
If you believe you can get better at what you do, and that what you do is valuable and worthwhile, this book offers some insights on how to improve your "game" and increase your value to those who depend on what you do.
You can't learn how to play golf or how to be a star at work just from reading a book. But if you and others read this book together, and coach one another on how you are doing, your "game" will most certainly improve and your value, because you are a star, will most certainly increase. |
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A reader (MSL quote), USA
<2007-10-18 00:00>
I only wish Kelly would write a book for employeers and corporations on how to take care of their professionals and work force. His lessions are those that are hard won from years of work place environment for most of us. When taking care of the boss, your employees, and customers doesn't give you what you need, want, and expcet from your employeer, you need a new approach. Kelly provides this in clear and concise terms for even the average reader. I attended a lecture in new business trends to make yourself a success in the work place and Kelly's book was one of the top ten mentioned as well as the new behavior modification software, Neurosync. I'm glad I bought both. I have reread Kelly's book three times and make a practice of applying the lessions. Even though I'm considered a great business success, I'm always looking for new ideas and methods to apply. Buy this book for the College student, your spouse and yourself. |
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1 Total 1 pages 9 items |
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