Book review: People Management in a Harsh Financial Climate – Developing your Managers on a Tight Budget

People Management in a Harsh Financial Climate – Developing your Managers on a Tight Budget

By Blair McPherson, Russell House Publishers, ISBN 978-1-905541-63-8

Review by Helen Peddlesden

This is a pertinent book during a period of austerity that should assist with looking at management development in a creative learning style.

It is an easy read, neatly divided into thirty seven sections. The ethos is for trainers, manager and mentors to pull out material that is relevant to support the development of your management groups. As the author states at its simplest this involves individuals or groups reading an article and then generating discussion.

Don’t expect to have answers from this book because this is more about encouragement of managers to reflect, discuss and to develop. For example if an issue is around recruitment, you can explore not only interviewing potential staff but also being interviewed. The questions at times seem very basic but this can lead to further discussion and debate.

The sections do give varied examples, from hot-desking at Lancashire Council to the late football manager Brian Clough’s leadership style; both of which can set up lively debates.

This is a stimulating way of developing managers and focus is particularly useful if your organisation uses this method in learning sets or mentor discussions. Due to the way the book is set out you can also choose the most relevant to your organisation. This book, however, would only benefit you if you learn from this particular style.

Helen Peddlesden is a senior social worker in adult services from Bristol