Memoirs of a Recovering Autocrat: Revealing Insights for Managing the Autocrat in All of Us: Richard W Hallstein
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The CEO of McLagen International, a management training and consulting firm, Hallstein explores the place of autocracy in today’s workplace and finds that it is doomed as a style of management. Instead, he argues, in our diverse society a “participative” philosophy is required in order to create a “nourishing and supportive community” with “dramatic new ways of engaging with others at work and outside work.” Hallstein’s analysis of the weaknesses of “command and control” tactics and his personal thoughts, notably on incompetence, competition and collaboration, are enlightening. Ironically, however, he does not satisfactorily answer the questions he raises about what kinds of management practices will work and how. Overall, this work is jagged and often falls short of the mark.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
In today’s complex, rapidly changing business environment, managers are confronted with the need to change their behavior fundamentally, facing an Indiana Jones-like leap of faith into the unknown without any visible means of support. Hallstein’s testimony of his own agony is based on personal management experience. Although revealing, this account of his crossover into 12-step recovery methods and other personal self-help ideas offer little practical, concrete help. Hallstein nicely summarizes the present state of flux, but readers should look to Jack Hawley’s Reawakening the Spirit in Work ( LJ 5/15/93) to address this issue more fully and Peter Block’s Stewardship ( LJ 6/15/93) to explain soundly what will replace the autocratic directing and controlling management style that is no longer relevant in today’s harried business world.
- Dale Farris, Groves, Tex.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.