Book Review: Engage, Commit Grow! by Larry Smith

Engage, Commit, Grow!
Author:  Larry Smith
Copyright:  2011
Publisher:  Outskirts Press Inc.
Includes:  Table of Contents, Prologue, Appendices a,b,c,d,e
Pages:  137
ISBN 978-1-4327-6320-6
Genre:  Business & Economics/Leadership
Available at:  www.outskirtspress.com/engagecommitgrow, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

(from the back cover) "Your company will soar when you embrace the insights and initiatives in this guidebook.  Based on 25 years of facilitating growth and productivity in small and medium-sized companies, Larry Smith shares the 'how to' of creating a culture of high performance and then sustaining it.  It is not that difficult.  But it does take courage, because you begin with an Assessment, i.e. reality check.  You'll be taking a measure of management's stewardship.  Removal of rose-coloured glasses is the first requirement.

Bottom line is:  How your employees behave is a critical ingredient.  How you lead determines how they behave."

Do you enjoy performance reviews?  Is your company reaching its goals?  How is employee morale?  How do you lead? 

First off, employees hate performance reviews.  They are hard on morale, even if the review is deemed favourable!  Managers hate them too.  They often wonder, "am I doing it right?" 

Larry Smith is adept at creating answers and helping businesses put into practice principles that equate into high morale, boosted sales, teamwork, mutual respect, and growth!  How, you might ask?  You must read this book! 

As I read Engage, Commit, Grow!, I thought of previous employers, supervisors and managers.  They don't all fit one mold BUT they would all, each and every one of them, benefit enormously from reading and putting into practice the methods and ideas put forth in this book!  If you've had an employer who expected a task done, didn't tell you how or provide you with resources to complete the task to perfection, then you know there's something missing.  If you've ever had or given a performance review, you know they are awful.  A performance review isn't a correct measure of a person's ability to perform their job.  If there's gossip in the work place, feelings of ill will, negativity towards one aspect or person in the business, you know some things can be better.

While reading Engage, Commit, Grow! I had many "aha" moments!  If businesses and individuals put into place what is taught here, employees wouldn't dread going to work or fear saying what's on their mind.  They would feel valued and respected and they would look forward to going to work because they know that they matter!  They make a contribution toward common goals, goals everyone agrees upon and has input in and it makes a difference.

So, if you are tired of the politics of the workplace, frustrated as a manager/supervisor, disgruntled as an employee, then I would recommend reading this book.  But reading isn't enough.  These ideas must be put into action.

I emphatically recommend this be required reading in college and university; that every manager, supervisor, and owner USE this book!!

Rated 5/5

About the author:

Larry Smith’s business career has been one of service to a variety of companies in the fields of marketing, advertising, consumer research, new product development and the facilitation of strategic planning, team building and empowerment. He’s served for many years in advertising agency management and has directed client services of a new product “think tank” that worked successfully for clients such as Borden’s, General Mills, Star Kist, Green Giant, Hunt Wesson, Crown Zellerbach, Libby, H.J. Heinz, Schlitz, General Foods and Ore-Ida. He founded his consulting practice in 1985.

He serves as Management Facilitator, helping companies develop long-term strategies and short-term action plans. His interest is in helping his clients become empowered organizations with high performance teamwork and improved productivity.

Larry is a University of Minnesota graduate and was Student Body President his senior year. He served as Tiburon Peninsula Foundation President from 1995 to 2005 and is a former councilman and Mayor of Tiburon, California, where he has lived for the past thirty-five years. He was Tiburon’s “Citizen-of-the-Year” in 2001.

He and his wife raised three children and enjoy their new roles as grandparents to four boys and three girls. Larry is an avid wilderness-canoeing enthusiast. He also is a skier, sailor and gourmet cook. To learn more about Larry Smith, visit his website, http://www.thelarrysmithcompany.com/.