THE MODERN MANAGEMENT MENTOR

Stone delivers a comprehensive guide to changing positions and taking on greater responsibility in the corporate world.

In her nonfiction debut, the author draws on her years of experience of leadership and team-building at companies like Dell, McDonald’s, and Volkswagen to provide her target readership—new hires and new transfers in all fields of the business world—with as much helpful advice as possible. She warns incoming new workers and new managers about the dangers of arrogance, over-familiarity, and impatience. “Be pleasant, kind, and neutral,” she writes. “Someone you overlook in the first weeks can end up being your go-to person weeks later.” Stone advises her readers on shaping their “personal brands” at work by tailoring everything from speech to body language (“which three words do you want people to use when they describe you to others?” she asks). She explores the subject of workplace “mentors,” urging her readers to keep in mind the difference between a mentor and a “sponsor,” whose encouragements are more corporately motivated than personal (“Know that what they learn from you will likely be shared with others and may impact your future work assignments and promotions”). Each of the book’s chapters includes worksheets, discussion questions, and “hot tips” sections designed to convey key concepts at a glance. Throughout, the author skillfully maintains a supportive, non-judgmental tone, often peppering her discussion with stories from her corporate experiences and her personal life. The combination of this storytelling approach and the broad sweep of her material works powerfully to demystify all aspects of corporate team-leadership. Natural leaders might find some of these pointers overly obvious, but the vast majority of Stone’s readers will find her book invaluable for reminding them of all the important moving parts of their new work experience.

A well-designed and wide-ranging primer for team management.