December 2023 MBR The Business Shelf

The Business Shelf

Social Media Strategy
Julie Atherton
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398610019, $131.00, HC, 296pp

https://www.amazon.com/Social-Media-Strategy-Practical-Engagement/dp/1398610011

Synopsis: Integrated marketing and PR strategies are a requirement for all businesses but with the explosion of social media and content marketing many organizations still struggle to know which channels to invest in and how to maximize their impact. Now in an updated and expanded second edition, "Social Media Strategy: A Practical Guide to Social Media Marketing and Customer Engagement" by Julie Atherton gives clear guidance with a simple structured approach to executing campaigns that work.

"Social Media Strategy" provides a blueprint for planning, delivering and measuring social media's contribution to your business through: Identifying and targeting audience segments; Maximizing social search; Enhanced reputation management; Managing a diversified influencer portfolio; Selecting the right channels for organic and paid social; Creating a process and structure to improve efficiencies; Using appropriate technology including AI.

With explanations of best-practice tools and practical downloadable templates, this new and expanded second edition includes new and updated interviews and case studies from industry leaders, influencers and brands including TUI, Greggs, Lego, Ryan Air, National Geographic and others. "Social Media Strategy" delivers a long-term solution for maximizing social media-led business development.

The business world has progressed to the point that no company or corporate executive can ignore the value and necessity of employing social media in their marketing. Social Media is no longer an optional 'take-it-or-leave-it proposition for anyone engaging in direct marketing, on-line marketing, or national/international commerce. It is a survival-as-a-business necessity.

Critique: "Social Media Strategy: A Practical Guide to Social Media Marketing and Customer Engagement" is a complete course of DIY instruction that unpacks the winning formula for effective social media marketing complete with comprehensive updates and all the latest developments. While especially and unreservedly recommended for corporate, community, and college/university library Business Management & Marketing collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of corporate executives, business managers, marketing directors, entrepreneurs, MBA students, academia, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Social Media Strategy" is also available in a paperback edition (9781398609990, $35.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $28.79).

Editorial Note: Julie Atherton, based in Bristol, UK, founder of Small Wonder is a business leader, public speaker, consultant and strategist with 30 years' experience gained working with global brands including Nissan, ITV, Deloitte Digital, Asos and St John Ambulance. Awarded IDM Educator of the Year in 2018, she trains marketing professionals and business leaders in digital, brand, social media and content marketing. Previous chair of the DMA Social Media Council, she is also an experienced trustee and non-executive director for a range of organizations including the IDM Qualifications Advisory Board and Union of Brunel Students. (https://www.koganpage.com/authors/julie-atherton)

Managing Conflict: A Practical Guide to Resolution in the Workplace, second edition
David Liddle
Kogan Page Inc.
www.koganpage.com
9781398609471, $131.00, HC, 320pp

https://www.amazon.com/Managing-Conflict-Practical-Resolution-Workplace/dp/1398609471

Synopsis: Now in an updated and expanded second edition, with the publication of "Managing Conflict: A Practical Guide to Resolution in the Workplace", author David Liddle shows HR professionals how to tackle these office and workplace personnel problems by not only resolving current issues, but also preventing future instances of conflict.

Included are the latest research and case studies showing how conflict management has been impacted by hybrid working models and digitalization. There are also updates to reflect how resolution is a driver of trust in organizations, enabling people to disagree more constructively in a safe environment.

"Managing Conflict" also covers the causes and costs of conflict, the impact of the psychological contract and the legal framework for managing workplace disputes both in the UK and internationally. It shows how to design a conflict management strategy, develop a formal resolution process and engage stakeholders and training managers in resolution and mediation skills.

Packed with best practice examples from organizations such as Tesco, Burberry and Nationwide Building Society as well as conflict resolution resources and toolkits, "Managing Conflict is essential reading for all HR professionals looking to resolve conflict in the workplace.

Critique: Exceptionally well written, organized and presented, and of special relevance to readers with an interest in workplace conflict resolution and mediation, this new second edition of "Managing Conflict: A Practical Guide to Resolution in the Workplace" is an ideal resource for in-service training programs in conflict management and mediation. While highly recommended as a core addition to corporate and college/university library Business Management collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists, it should be noted for personnel managers, MBA students, entrepreneurs, and corporate policy makers that "Managing Conflict" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9781398609457, $35.99) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $34.19).

Editorial Note: David Liddle is the CEO of the TCM Group and president of the People and Culture Association. David is a recognized leader in the areas of conflict resolution, cultural change, and transformational leadership. For over twenty years, David Liddle and his team have been delivering award winning conflict resolution, leadership development, and cultural change programmes for organizations across the globe. Based in London, UK, in 2021 he was named as one of the Most Influential HR Thinkers by HR Magazine and has been featured on the Thinkers50 Radar for 2022.

Negotiation Made Simple
John Lowry
HarperCollins Leadership
c/o HarperCollins Publishers
www.harpercollins.com
9781400336326, $24.99, HC, 240pp

https://www.amazon.com/Negotiation-Made-Simple-Relationships-Delivering/dp/1400336325

Synopsis: Business and organizational leaders spend well over half of their professional time engaged in the process of negotiation. It's the way they do deals, lead employees, and manage relationships. Most leaders learn to negotiate on the job through a long process of trial and error. In today's competitive marketplace, there is no time for experimentation, nor room to make mistakes.

The good news is by mastering negotiation, the next level of success is actually closer than it appears. The actionable advice and practical guidance offered in "Negotiation Made Simple: A Practical Guide for Solving Problems, Building Relationships, and Delivering the Deal" by John Lowry give a roadmap for every type of negotiation.

Through case studies, illustrations, exercises, and personal stories, Lowry shows how to: Make strategic decisions (move from doing what is comfortable to doing what is most strategic); Manage the process (carefully balance the urge to compete with the need to collaborate); Deliver the deal (fine-tune the negotiation process to achieve the desired outcome).

"Negotiation Made Simple" makes it easy to join the ranks of leaders who have experienced unprecedented success by making negotiation effectively simple.

Critique: With the publication of "Negotiation Made Simple: A Practical Guide for Solving Problems, Building Relationships, and Delivering the Deal" by John Lowry, the reader is provided with a useful and comprehensive approach to negotiation that can springboard a career or a company, one deal at a time. Exceptionally well written, and thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, "Negotiation Made Simple" is highly recommended as a core and fundamental addition to personal, professional, community, and college/university library Business Marketing/Selling collections and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for MBA students, academia, corporate executives, sales personnel, entrepreneurs, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "Negotiation Made Simple" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $11.99).

Editorial Note: Dr. John Lowry (https://lowrygroup.net/about-us/john-lowry) is a recognized authority on negotiation through his experience as a lawyer, business consultant, entrepreneur, negotiation coach, and university administrator. His results-focused, systematic approach to negotiation has been successfully implemented by thousands of professionals across the United States. Dr. Lowry teaches negotiation at the top-ranked Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University School of Law and in Vanderbilt University's Master's in Management in Health Care program. Dr. Lowry also serves as president of The Lowry Group, LLC ("TLG"). At TLG, he provides negotiation training and coaching for governmental entities, major insurance companies, health care organizations, and other businesses.

Strategic
Rich Horwath
Wiley
c/o Wiley Professional Trade Group
www.wiley.com
9781394215331, $27.99, HC, 304pp

https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Direction-Advantage-Executive-Excellence/dp/1394215339

Synopsis: There are four disciplines of strategic fitness essential to executive performance.

With the publication of "Strategic: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence" author Rich Horwath delivers an incisive roadmap to help leaders at all levels think, plan, and act strategically to navigate every business challenge they face.

"Strategic" offers business leaders a proven framework (the Strategic Fitness System) containing dozens of tools, techniques, and checklists to confidently master every area of the business, from designing market-winning strategies to shaping the organization's culture.

The practical content will help executives in any industry improve what research has shown to be the most important leadership factor to an organization's future success (strategic competence) and use this skill to transform complexity to clarity in charting their strategic direction.

"Strategic" features: A common language for strategy and business planning; Practical tools for developing the four dimensions of executive fitness key to advancing the company's growth: strategy, leadership, organization, and communication; Techniques for designing enduring competitive advantage and frameworks for creating innovative new value for customers; Methods for evolving the business model to transform the trajectory of the business; The Strategic Quotient (SQ) -- a validated assessment of an executive's strategic thinking, planning, and execution.

With practical tools and dozens of real-world examples, readers of "Strategic" will immediately be able to set direction, create advantage, and achieve executive excellence. Be more than tactical, be Strategic!

Critique: Extraordinary, eloquent, exceptional, impressive, comprehensive, "Strategic: The Skill to Set Direction, Create Advantage, and Achieve Executive Excellence" is thoroughly 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation, making it a very desirable, practical, and useful pick for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Business Planning and Leadership collections, and supplemental MBA curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for students, academia, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, and business managers that "Strategic" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $17.00).

Editorial Note: Rich Horwath is founder and CEO of the Strategic Thinking Institute where he is a strategy facilitator, advisor, and coach to executive leadership teams. He is the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of eight books on strategic thinking and rated the number one keynote speaker on strategy at national events such as the Society for Human Resource Management Strategy Conference. Rich has helped more than a quarter million people develop their strategic thinking and planning skills over the past two decades in pursuit of his vision to teach the world to be strategic. (www.strategyskills.com/about/about-rich-horwath)

PR Confidential
Amanda Proscia
Jarrowchase Media
9798988720218, $14.95, PB, 100pp

https://www.amazon.com/PR-Confidential-Unlocking-Creating-Powerful/dp/B0CHDBQH6D

Synopsis: Outsiders have so many questions about the misunderstood public relations industry. Isn't it all just writing press releases? When should I start? Why can't I get my story on the front page of the New York Times?

In order to get the most from your PR investment, you need an insider's perspective. Before you hire an agency or invest in PR, get the inside scoop about the utility of an effective public image with "PR Confidential: Unlocking the Secrets to Creating a Powerful Public Image".

Written in her Advice Column format, PR expert Amanda Proscia draws on her 30 years of experience to dish out answers to answer questions about PR -- even those you might hesitate to ask a PR pro.

"PR Confidential" covers: What PR is and what it isn't (like, advertising, marketing and sales); Why you might not be ready to invest in PR; The "3 I" formula for spotting a newsworthy angle.

Entertaining and informative, Proscia shares informative stories, insights, and frank thoughts on how PR works, when it fails, and how to course correct as the story changes.

Whether you're a PR newbie or a seasoned pro, you'll enjoy this refreshingly honest guide to public relations from the client's perspective. Better yet, you'll emerge with a better understanding of how to put PR to work for your business.

Critique: Simply stated, before you hire an agency or invest in PR, seeking an effective public image, first give a close read from start to finish with Amanda Proscia's "PR Confidential: Unlocking the Secrets to Creating a Powerful Public Image". Especially if you are operating on a limited budget for hiring such public relations and marketing services. Highly recommended for community and college/university library Media Communications collections, it should be noted for the personal lists of readers with an interest in public relations and communication skills that "Before you hire an agency or invest in PR, get the inside scoop about the utility of an effective public image with "PR Confidential: Unlocking the Secrets to Creating a Powerful Public Image" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99).

Editorial Note: Amanda Proscia is the co-founder of Lightspeed Public Relations and Marketing (https://lightspeedpr.com). Before founding Lightspeed, Amanda worked in a variety of other agencies and businesses, spanning from the very large ones to the very small. An unexpected part of her experience has been fielding thousands of questions about public relations. Many of them come from business leaders who would benefit from a PR program of their own, if they just understood what it is.

Clarity: Business Wisdom to Work Less and Achieve More
Jim Vaselopulos
Independently Published
9798988956419, $28.95, HC, 316pp

https://www.amazon.com/Clarity-Business-Wisdom-Work-Achieve/dp/B0CMRVSNN8

Synopsis: Clarity can mean different things to different people. For some, it arrives in the form of an answer or a direction. For others, it's understanding the context of a complex situation. For most, however, clarity evokes a calm and focused state of mind with lower stress and diminished anxiety over what to do next.

As satisfying as it is to help people find clarity with their business problems, it's far more rewarding to teach someone how to find their own clarity. That's the purpose of "Clarity: Business Wisdom to Work Less and Achieve More" by Jim Vaselopulos -- to describe how people can find the clarity to help manage, grow, and lead their businesses to greater success.

Any executive, leader, or owner can benefit from greater clarity regarding their business. "Clarity: Business Wisdom to Work Less and Achieve More shows how you can: Learn to quickly sift through distractions and address the real issues; Identify the core problems affecting your business and impeding your success; Develop the curiosity to destroy assumptions and find solutions; Enhance your awareness of the emotions and context that lead us astray; Improve your success with better sequencing, timing, and patience; Create Conscious Competence around the most impactful parts of your business; Develop your own Business Wisdom(R) to see the world clearly!

Critique: Insightful informative, 'real-world' practical, inspired and inspiring, "Clarity: Business Wisdom to Work Less and Achieve More" is exceptionally well written, impressively 'reader friendly' in organization and presentation. While especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, and college/university library Business Management, Leadership, and Mentoring, Counseling collections, It should be noted for personal reading lists that "Clarity: Business Wisdom to Work Less and Achieve More" is also readily available in a paperback edition (9798988956402, $19.95) and in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Jim Vaselopulos (https://www.raftiadvisors.com) is a C-level business advisor and executive coach with a proven record as a leader, strategist, rainmaker, and expert in new business development. With his principled leadership, visionary approach, and effective execution, Jim has successfully established new companies and transformed underperforming organizations. As the founder of Rafti Advisors, Jim assists early-stage businesses in launching successfully, growth-stage enterprises in accelerating their progress, and established organizations in navigating complex challenges and strategic shifts. He teaches sales and professional development and frequently speaks on the subjects of leadership and innovation. He is also the co-host of The Leadership Podcast.

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Midwest Book Review