How to Learn from Quickies!
The Art of War, a book written over two thousand years ago, provides instruction for generals and soldiers to fight a war and to win it, is perhaps the best-selling leadership book in the world. Although a war book, many top leaders use the book’s war techniques to solve problems they may encounter in their own businesses. Ironically, the theme of The Art of War is to “not fight at all,” but to show respect to the potential fighters and to use manipulation to counter only if necessary.
In The Prince, a book written for a similar purpose as The Art of War–to teach how to rule a province and to be victorious–is ideal for top leaders all over the world, for they may use its tips to build new enterprises. The book teaches autocratic leadership schemes, leaving little wiggle room for subordinates to have a say-so in any matter. The theme of The Prince is “It is better to be feared than to be loved.” With fear, people work, with love, people take over. Equally, The Prince presents leadership techniques that rulers (leaders) may use to eradicate potential problems before they occur.
In The Mafia Manager, many tips are suggested as to how to solve employee problems. For example, in the book, a situation entails two dedicated employees who often bicker over much of nothing and who cause havoc in the office. The book suggests that the least effective employees must be fired or moved to another department where the two defiant ones will not cross paths. The theme of The Mafia Manager is that, “You must get rid of trouble makers before they infect the entire workforce.”
Regardless of the business a person may lead, he or she can learn a lot form the books mentioned herein just by altering the books’ concepts into policies of one’s own company. Companies need to be tough if they are to survive in business, and companies must employ the best and strongest and smartest individuals they can find. Business is business, and niceness one-hundred percent of the time is a foolish notion. Leaders must be polite, yes, but also they must be stern and businesslike.
In schools, too, the rules of the books mentioned may also be applied to classroom management. The motto “Do not fight a war,” explains to leaders that they need to use proactive strategies, ones to include respect of employees, to prevent problems in their company. Employees feel noticed and honored when leaders are able to listen to them and provide support in a feasible manner. To have a leader to understand and do his best to help–whether he does help or not–means a lot to the employee when the leader “tries.” Listening yet ruling will control employees from deceit and under handiness when dealing with their leaders. The neutral expression of the leader and his “I shall see” type response supports the employee’s stance yet instills a type of fearfulness of the leader because the leader’s tone in responding is authoritative and regal; likewise, the tip “fire or move the least effective employee if trouble continues between the two” is good advice for leaders when they must make difficult decisions about good employees, and also this tip is a no-brainer as to what to do if the employee in a dual is not a valuable commodity for the company.
In the book Everybody Likes A Quickie (Quickie!), the tips mentioned herein are explored as well as many other leadership tips from the controversial books. Also located in Quickie! are schools’ best practices, such as Bloom’s Taxonomy, Intellectual Standards, and College Readiness. The tips that these lessons provide are invaluable and enduring and are easily accessed–Quickie!
You will also encounter leadership quotes, leadership quizzes and classroom management tips in Everybody Likes A Quickie. One particular classroom management tip in Quickie! that stands out is “Look attractive and be professional.” In the Art of War, one of its best defenses is the armor that the soldiers wear; equally, leaders and teachers must dress to impress and present themselves as soldiers, as an authoritative figure, as a person dressed to lead, dressed to prevent any wars in dealing with students or staff. The Look Attractive and be Professional is a classroom management tip that will help leaders gain respect and remain in control.
Everybody Likes A Quickie is a reference book that is filled with almost every leadership tip available and is a gem in providing best practices for schools. The book is an enjoyable read because it speaks of familiarity and brings about a twist of climax. The book is unique and a keeper for life, for the ideas within the book have stood the test of time.
Cynthia Mathews, Author, Teacher, Doctor of Curriculum and Instruction