Managing Others Is An Art Of The Conscience!
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2023
Mastering the Art of Management: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building Leadership Skills and Achieving Success as a Manager, by Samuel Valme Sr., Ph.D. – Supervisory Educational Services Specialist – U.S. Department of the Treasury
The contents of this book captured my attention from the start, and it instantaneously provided details that connect art to management via three shared attributes [of art and management]: 1) understanding the job/craft; 2) having a vision; and 3) communicating with excellence. So, on a small pad, I scribbled my newly created heading, “MAM” (aka, managers’ art mastery), as I also proceeded to jot down notes about the book’s contents. MAM had come to mind, not solely because the book is about mastering an art, but because implicitly it is about art as a necessary ingredient in the conscience of great managers who become great leaders.
Just like Valme emphasizes in the first chapters of MAM, managing is about self-awareness, self-reflection, self-motivation, self-regulation, emotional intelligence (understanding the emotions of others), strategic thinking, decision-making, time management, encouragement of diversity, adapting to change, professional training, referencing others, and so much more… In addition to all of those attributes, “MAM” is a reminder of Valme’s genteel mannerisms, as a former president of the City of Stockbridge Community Association. On the other hand, it’s a reminder of his audacity at the time in successfully advocating for more transparency in local government.
MAM is an excellent resource for managers and leaders, and I will recommend it to others. Hopefully, Valme will write more books on this topic and include in-depth examples of the art of managing in political organizations, governments, and churches, where people and situations beyond the manager’s control must be factored into the art.