Product Description

The lure of the open plain, boots, chaps and cowboy hats makes us think of a different and better way of life. The cowboy code of honor is an image that is alive and well in our hearts and minds, and its wisdom is timeless. Using ranch based stories, author Michael Gooch, a ranch owner, tells us how to apply cowboy wisdom to our everyday management challenges. Serving up straight forward, practical advice, the book deals with issues of dealing with conflict, strategic thinking, ethics, having fun at work, hiring and firing, building strong teams, and knowing when to run from trouble. A unique (and fun!) approach to management training, Wingtips with Spurs is a must read whether you are new to management or a grizzled veteran.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #859683 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 292 pages

Customer Reviews

Excellent management advice delivered with a virtual cowboy twang
Although the author sometimes goes a little too far into the libertarian philosophy and uses a bit too much religion, in every other way I am in complete agreement with him. When not engaged in his primary job as a director of human resources for a major corporation, Gooch owns and operates a cattle ranch. As someone who once had a hobby farm and raised cattle, I can deeply empathize with his statements about raising cattle.
The theme of the book is to relate the problems of the modern corporate culture to the "simplicity" of herding cattle on a drive. Using analogies between the various components of each area, Gooch describes his philosophy of managing people, loving hard work and having respect for your underlings, whether they are people or cattle. While this may sound demeaning, no one who has ever raised cattle will question the validity of the comparison.
The way to get cattle to do what you want is to engage in gentle persuasion, anticipate their needs and to introduce change reasonably slowly. That philosophy works with people as well. You must understand that they have fears, concerns and feelings and that many of the negative things such as poor performance and lay-offs are the responsibility of management. Cattle have personalities and are not interchangeable parts although eventually you must replace even the best due to sagging performance.
Sound management advice can be packaged in many ways; in this case it is presented with a western flair and a virtual cowboy intonation. Plain speaking, respect and honesty are always the best long term management strategies, as the trail to success is a long one and sometimes you step in what the cattle leave behind.

Refreshing.... down to earth.... a must read if you are in management at any level!
Having spent over 25 years in Human Resources as an HR Director with Fortune 500 companies, I have read a lot of management books on managing people over the years. Most contained valuable information and insight but were written in a style that tended to put you to sleep after the first few pages.

I received Wingtips with Spurs a few days ago and have to admit it's one of the most enjoyable, refreshing, down to earth books on people management I have ever read. It's a virtual encyclopedia of information on a host of issues that we have all dealt with not only in the business world but everyday life as well. It blends wit and humor (Cowboy Wisdom) into real life situations that keeps you turning the pages.

The author has an uncanny knack for getting to the core of an issue and then providing his own unique insight from his experiences professionally and from life on the ranch. You may not agree with everything the author has to say regarding a particular subject but I will wager you will thoroughly enjoy your journey through this book. I certainly did.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone who manages people at any level of an organization but it would be on my list as a must read for anyone new or just getting started in management. If you're an HR Director, you should buy copies for your management team. You will not be disappointed.

Excellent!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author has managed to weave together a very resourceful book for the business world while capturing the average person's interest as well. His practical advice on people management and moral life lessons can readily be applied to not only the corporate life, but to one's daily life, proving that being ethical and moral are important aspects of both worlds. His clever writing style and wit are refreshing and a delight to read!