The SQUEEZE: Written by Rodd Wagner and James K. Harter, 12: The Elements of Great Managing centers on the subject of employee engagement and offers insight into the research practices of The Gallup Organization. In the book, the authors profile twelve managers, comparing employee attitudes in terms of workgroup performance. The research study reveals much about employees knowing what’s expected and having the materials and equipment to complete tasks. In some respects, employees feel their opinions count; and in other respects, employees feel they have the chance to learn and grow. In essence, the authors’ book offers psychological insight into how Gallup questions are structured with regard to employee surveys. Wagner and Harter conclude that some questions can’t be measured and urge companies to harness their social capital versus fighting against it.

Notable Endorsement: “This book picks up where the late, great Peter Drucker left off. Rodd Wagner and Jim Harter have nailed it, providing the concepts, evidence, and practical advice that will guide the much-needed revolution in the theory and practice of managing. The chapter on the psychology of pay is a must-read for every single manager out there. If you read only one business book this year, 12 should be it.”--Richard Florida, Ph.D., Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University and author of The Rise of the Creative Class

Common Q’s Answered by this Book:

• How does harnessing social capital contribute to the improvement of workgroup performance?
• What are examples of employee attitudes that offer psychological insight into how employee surveys may be biasedly constructed?
• What types of Gallup questions encourage companies, by default, to recognize the importance human capital brings?

About the Author: Rodd Wagner is a principal at Gallup. Wagner joined the company in 1999 and quickly gravitated to the high-performing managers study, where he researched how human nature affects business strategies. At Gallup, Wagner conducts and interprets studies on employee engagement and business performance. Wagner formerly served as the research director for the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram; and a report and news editor for The Salt Lake Tribune. Wagner completed an MBA at the University of Utah Graduate School of Business. For more information, visit: http://www.linkedin.com/in/roddwagner. James K. Harter is a chief scientist for Gallup’s international workplace management practice. Harter has co-authored more than 1,000 research studies of for-profit and non-profit organizations. Harter is the co-author of Manage your Human Sigma, which was published in the Harvard Business Review. Recent titles include: Wellbeing: The Five Essential Elements. Harter’s subject expertise includes employee engagement, employee retention and acquisition, and behavioral economics. For more information, visit: http://www.gallup.com/corporate/103180/James-Harter.aspx.

Book Vitals:

• Publisher: Gallup Press (November 2006)

Accolades: New York Times Bestseller