In "Punk Rock People Management" I have stripped down HR to the bare essentials for busy people and those who are sick of HR jargon getting in the way of running a business.
In the spirit of punk, each ‘chapter’ is just one page long, which means that you can read a chapter in less time than it takes to pogo to a Sex Pistols or Linkin Park song! On hearing of the concept, Tom Peters, the world’s greatest business thinker, author and speaker sent me a mail with just two words in it: “Do it!” – Now that’s what I call a Punk Rock Business Guru !
"Punk Rock PM" is organised using the classic ‘Life, Sex and Death HR cycle’, in other words Hiring, Inspiring and Firing.
If you have to get things done with people and can't get no satisfaction from an HR textbook, try "Punk Rock PM" for a refreshing difference.
Peter Cook – Author: “Best Practice Creativity”, “Sex, Leadership... More > and Rock’n’Roll”< Less
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By Mark Lambert
Jul 17, 2012
Described by its author Peter Cook as a 'no-nonsense guide to hiring, inspiring and firing staff', this booklet successfully conveys its message clearly and with a refreshing absence of business jargon. Instead, an analogy is made with the punk music 'movement' of the late 1970s and many of the references will strike a chord (pun intended) with readers of a certain age (like me). The bland corporate mission statement, ineffective appraisals and psychometric testing are among the subjects that are 'damned' in the best traditions of anti-establishment punk. Once these are debunked, of course, the book has to offer alternatives and they are generally presented as simpler and more traditional alternatives that rely on common sense and emotional intelligence. This is where the punk analogy starts to feel a bit stretched but perhaps this is not surprising as the music tended to be one-dimensional and nihilistic. And while some people may be blessed with bucketfuls of EQ which would enable... More > them to implement the suggestions with relative ease, others might prefer a more structured approach - something that Peter Cook recognises and discusses in more detail in his book 'Sex, Leadership and Rock'n'Roll'. The writing is unusual for a management book being concise, non-preaching and self-deprecating. My favourite line? 'Peter holds an MBA which in his view should stand for Much Bigger Amps rather than More Bloody Analysis'. Entertaining, thought-provoking and highly recommended, even if you're too young to remember the '70s.< Less
HR books are normally a natural alternative to sleeping pills. This one's a fun read. Surely somethings wrong? No. Peter has a cutting way of drawing out what we all feel deep down about the modern work environment and pushing aside what has been drummed into us by the HR machine over many years. The book manages to draw together a wide range of thoughts, creating a fresh start for people management and trying to get us off the procedure manual and back to using our own intuition and experience. We may not agree with every point, but that's what's good about the book. It makes us take a fresh, alternative look. I'm not a HR professional, I just run a small business. One thing this book teaches me is to be careful if I'm ever in the position of thinking I need to hire HR people. If that happens I'll be dipping into this book again.
When the great Tom Peters says "Do it!", I imagine Peter Cook just thought - "Might as well then" in true Punk Rock style. Which is where this book comes in. I think it is even more spare than the two minute, two chord shouty punk single (with no "B" side) that we all loved for a moment or two. You will love this book longer. You may become defensive as a trad HR (Personnel?) practitioner, you may even be offended. But it will make you think and maybe give you an idea or 7 to put into action. I certainly have. Dying to hear what true HR people think!
