cover image Tap into Greatness: How to Stop Managing, Start Leading, and Drive Bigger Impact

Tap into Greatness: How to Stop Managing, Start Leading, and Drive Bigger Impact

Sarah Singer-Nourie. Ripple, $23.95 (223p) ISBN 978-09776518-3-2

As a "gifted underachiever" and teacher, trainer, and motivator, Singer-Nourie promises to help managers "unlock the brilliant leader inside" and subsequently help their team members discover their own possibilities in this spirited, if underdeveloped, how-to guide. Singer-Nourie was certain that there had to be a better method for leading and motivating people than the leadership styles she had observed in the workplace, so she created one, and guides readers through it in this book. Managers will learn to pose motivation-boosting challenges, using "WIIFM" (What's In It For Me?) techniques, which take into account the question that, according to Nourie, is "in everyone's head, all the time." Leaders will learn to accommodate different learning styles. Though Singer-Nourie keeps the energy level high with pop phrases like "own it" and "let's do this" and sports terms (such as a "halftime review"), she never provides solid business examples. And though it's easy to see how Singer-Nourie's pace and attitude can pump up teams%C2%AD%E2%80%94and their leaders%E2%80%94the book would have been strengthened by more details about her teaching career, from which she shares just one story. The author warns that reading this book is just the beginning of the learning process; it's not a "read-and-shelve book." It is, however, a very effective motivational tool for managers. (May)