Being the Boss

The 3 Imperatives for Becoming a Great Leader

By: Linda A. Hill, Kent L. Lineback

Narrated by: Erik Synnestvedt

Length: 8 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

You never dreamed being the boss would be so hard. You're caught in a web of conflicting expectations from subordinates, your supervisor, peers, and customers. You're not alone.

As Linda Hill and Kent Lineback reveal in Being the Boss, becoming an effective manager is a painful, difficult journey. It's trial and error, endless effort, and slowly acquired personal insight. Many managers never complete the journey. At best, they just learn to get by. At worst, they become terrible bosses.

This new book explains how to avoid that fate, by mastering three imperatives:

• Manage yourself: Learn that management isn't about getting things done yourself. It's about accomplishing things through others.
• Manage a network: Understand how power and influence work in your organization and build a network of mutually beneficial relationships to navigate your company's complex political environment.
• Manage a team: Forge a high-performing "we" out of all the "I"s who report to you.

Packed with compelling stories and practical guidance, Being the Boss is an indispensable guide for not only first-time managers but all managers seeking to master the most daunting challenges of leadership.

©2011 Linda A. Hill, Kent Lineback (P)2011 Gildan Media Corp

Returning it

What made the experience of listening to Being the Boss the most enjoyable?

I assume the remaining 2/3rds of the book are good. But if I have to hear another sentence from this narrator, I will jump out of the window.

What didn’t you like about Erik Synnestvedt’s performance?

The narration was so annoying that I am returning the book.

Very usefull

Would you consider the audio edition of Being the Boss to be better than the print version?

no

What did you like best about this story?

The book is divided into three parts, the first part confirmed most of my own findings, the second part, about exercising influence outside of your own team was an eye opener

Would you be willing to try another one of Erik Synnestvedt’s performances?

Never, this was the weakest part of the book. It was almost impossible to get through to what was being said, because of the monotone way it was read, and how every other sentence would finish with the same intonation as the previous.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Just that the voice really annoyed me.

Just don't.

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No, I bought this because it's assigned reading for a class and I thought it would save me some time. I could listen while I ran or drove, but the performance is so bad I chose to just read it instead.

Would you be willing to try another book from Linda A. Hill and Kent L. Lineback ? Why or why not?

Yes, the information is great.

How could the performance have been better?

It's a book about management. The narrator should be able to say the word management. The cadence and inflection were also just totally off. The reading was irksome.

Do you think Being the Boss needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Probably, there are many ways it could be expounded upon.

Useful, Practical Content

What made the experience of listening to Being the Boss the most enjoyable?

The content is very good. It will assist managers/leaders to consciously be aware of various components that they need to keep in mind while leading teams.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Being the Boss?

For me, the most important insight is the articulation that being an effective Boss requires the person to actively manage three components.

Any additional comments?

The narration is below average. I might be harsh here but the narrator really is annoying with his weird ending to each phrase/sentence. It is just irritating.

Great book, not great narrator

Where does Being the Boss rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The content is great, but the narration made it tough to get through.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Erik Synnestvedt?

Someone not trying so hard.

Great content, horrible narration!

Would you consider the audio edition of Being the Boss to be better than the print version?

No, Not with the current narrator. It was almost like the man version of Siri... Very distracting to the content

Would you recommend Being the Boss to your friends? Why or why not?

Yes, overall the content is on point but definitely needs an upgrade in the narration

Would you be willing to try another one of Erik Synnestvedt’s performances?

No

Good content, horrible narration

Would you listen to Being the Boss again? Why?

I would read the book, but never listen to this narrator again.

Has Being the Boss turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, the content was excellent.

Would you be willing to try another one of Erik Synnestvedt’s performances?

He is the worst narrator I have ever heard. I will never buy a book read by him again.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Great leadership book: summarizes Harvard's best

What made the experience of listening to Being the Boss the most enjoyable?

Very good examples, structure, and more than enything CONTENT!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, can be listened in parts.

Any additional comments?

GREAT READ for all managers... MUST READ for new managers.

Not worth it

The reader of this book has horrible tone lacks the required emphasis and fails the author miserably when it comes to the Books message.

Narrator ruins it.

The narrator drove me bonkers. I couldn't concentrate on the content. He sounds like he's a junior high student in a play trying to emulate a serious journalist.

Great content, really annoying narrator

Where does Being the Boss rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

For this particular topic top in terms of content

What did you like best about this story?

The book is well organized into sections. It flows well from topic to another. Some things may seem obvious but are often missed or ignored. It discusses the common pitfalls of managing others and dealing with a large organization.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator is awful. He sounds like a teenage valley girl. Absolutley the worst and most annoying narrator.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

No