February Book Review

I love Don KarduxFebruary book review.  We all know Don is the owner of Business Navigators, a business consulting firm.  It's a little different than what he usually brings to us.  For those who are assistants (or second in command) or need to hire one be sure to read on!

Johnny Carson had Ed McMann.

Steve Allen had Louis Nye, Tom Poston and Don Knotts.

Carol Burnett had Korman, Lawrence and Conway.

Second bananas help make the star look good.

It's the same in business.

So many of the management books I read focus on the leader and how the leader can help those who support the ones at the top.  But, what principles should a support person use to help the leader?   Larry Linne and Ken Koller answer this question in their book, "Make The Noise Go Away."

I'm dedicating this review to two of my best friends and clients who are facing this issue now in 2015.

Their real names are Dom and Mike but I hope they will become like Jim, 'First in command' and Brett, 'Second in command' who are the main characters in this parable style story about "Making the noise go away".  Larry Linne has spent over twenty years working directly with 'First- and Second-in commands and so his principles are forged in the real world of noise in business.

What does the book regard as noise?

From the introduction, A first-in-command who has a lot of noise might:

•  ·        Feel anxiety and doubt about the busines

•      Receive a lot of feedback that his or her new ideas are driving the company crazy

• ·         Have low trust that things will be accomplished

• ·         Be the only person who brings value to outside relationships

• ·         Feel the need to do everything himself or herself

• ·         Feel as if he or she is the only one in the business losing sleep

• ·         Check up on every detail of the business because he or she doesn't know what is going on

• ·         Be so busy doing everything but not have time to do what he or she does best

• ·         Follow up on things multiple times until the items are complete

The thirteen principles are key. My personal experience of working with small businesses for over thirty years, tells me that implementing these principles can make all the positive difference in the world.

Chapter 18- Hiring an Effective Second-in-Command includes a 'Crystal Clear' six step outline of how to find your 'Second-In-Command'. The ten attributes you should be looking for in this person are bonus observations which cut to the core defining this most important part of your team.

The book is a pleasant read. The story is engaging. The humor gently softens the serious nature of the content.