As a department head, my job is to make sure all of my staff members are performing to their full potential. From "rank and file" to managers, my responsibility is to ensure performance so that customer satisfaction remains high as a result. While I've read many management books in my time, trying to cultivate a leadership style that works for myself and the environment I work in - this book lays the groundwork for day to day performance management. As this is a topic that I regularly discuss with the managers on my staff I'm certain to recommend that they read this.

This is a revised version of a well-received book that looks at the difficult issue of performance management, namely how to manage, encourage and get the best out of employees. Of course, some of the guidance can also be transplanted into other areas of business and even personal life too.

A lot is changing in the world of work and what might have once tracked, recorded and engaged employees is no longer relevant. The author looks at some of these new approaches and examines, with practical advice and case studies, how these may be implemented, whilst giving credence to older approaches that may still retain utility.

It is a comprehensive, well-written read, despite it being clearly aimed at a specialist market. It deserves a wider audience than those who typically have responsibility for HR. It should be at least considered by those with management and supervisory activity too, even if they don’t necessarily dig in as deep. A lot of great knowledge awaits. It could benefit from a bit of an accessibility clean-up, since its reading can be a tad hard-going as it feels more like an academic textbook than something open for general business reading. A minor, but important consideration.

If you are prepared to put the effort in, this is a book that can still be something a beginner would benefit immensely from considering: it is a very giving book that is backed up by an immense number of references for additional and deeper reading. It also can be one of those ‘natural’ reference books that professionals should have to hand.

If you have a direct need for this kind of information it should be something you strongly consider. If you otherwise have a passing or tangential interest, try and borrow it from a library if you feel you can’t justify your own copy (or borrow a copy from the HR department).

Armstrong's Handbook of Performance Management, written by Michael Armstrong and published by Kogan Page. ISBN 9780749481209. YYYY