Managing Einsteins: Leading High–Tech Workers in the Digital Age

Today‘s new breed of technologically skilled employees often acts and thinks differently than their counterparts. And while break–the–rules approaches and attitudes can be helpful and even necessary for innovative, out–of–the–box thinking, they can also be a nightmare for managers. Managing Einsteins walks managers through proven best methods to optimize the skills, abilities, and knowledge of the new economy workforce––without stifling the creativity and innovative spirit needed for success.

Written by two of today‘s top high–tech management experts, this clear, easy–to–read guide combines strategies for managing and team building with tips and pointers for building better communication between techies and non–techies, coaching for better performance, and more. The helpful skills and effective guidelines in Managing Einsteins will help managers "bridge the gap," providing:

• Antidotes for correcting problems in the workplace
• "Knowledge tests" for each topic covered
• Insights from top tech leaders including Larry Ellison, Michael Dell, and Andy Grove

From the back cover:

Frontline Tips for Managing the New Economy‘s Most Valuable­­and Volatile­­Employees

Today‘s new breed of technologically gifted employees often think and respond differently than their more traditional counterparts did. Managing Einsteins is the first book with tips and traps for managing these highly valued, fiercely independent workers­­and, just as important, keeping them out of the grasp of your talent–starved competitors.

Praise for Managing Einsteins:

"In this age of the workplace environment, attracting and keeping Einsteins on staff is a must.  Managing Einsteins offers the ultimate guide to motivating the ‘working genius‘ through their value system."­­Ken Jones, Chief Operating Officer, Tradecast Securities, Inc.

"Managing high tech workers is a major challenge for even the most gifted managers. This book provides a practical, how–to approach to dealing with a range of issues commonly experienced with techies. The authors have written in a style that combines instruction, humor, and insight. Anyone who manages techies should read this book."­­Geary Broadnax, Senior Vice President, Reliant Energy Communication

"Insightful ... informative ...well conceived ... Managing Einsteins is a book not only for managing the brilliant among us, but for managing people overall. It‘s a very valuable resource."­­David Rippe, President, Dia InnerActives

Einstein­­An intelligent, curious, and technologically proficient knowledge worker who has the know–how to keep everything operating without costly delays, breakdowns, and crashes­­and the individuality to drive managers insane

Picture your workforce, even for a second, and you will be able to immediately identify the Einsteins. They‘re the lifesavers who hammer through your impossible problems, keep your essential operations running by any means necessary, and consistently find answers when others scarcely understand the questions.

And as valuable and essential as they are to your organization, these curious and brilliant employees can also be your most frustrating, aggravating, and difficult to manage.

Managing Einsteins is the first book to provide strategies and guidelines managers can use to recruit, train, lead, and retain Einsteins, even as outside forces and recruiters are working just as hard to lure them away. Introducing managers to the proven techniques needed to optimize the skills, abilities, and knowledge of the new–economy workforce, without stifling the creativity and innovative spirit that exceptional employees need to achieve breakthrough success, this hands–on management guidebook discusses:

• Tips and pointers for building better communication between techies and nontechies
• Three factors for dramatically increasing job satisfaction for Einsteins
• Proven methods, from alternative work schedules to on–site quiet rooms, for satisfying even the most hard–to–please Einsteins
• Strategies for freely sharing information among coworkers­­without destroying its inherent value
• Insights from top leaders, including Michael Dell, Larry Ellison, Andy Grove, and others

In today‘s increasingly technical, specialized workplace, Einsteins are as valuable as diamonds­­and as fragile as glass. Their anything–goes brainstorming and authority–flouting approaches can be both critical for innovative, out–of–the–box thinking and a nightmare for their bosses. Let Managing Einsteins provide you with a complete, well–researched profile of these diverse individuals, tips and strategies for maximizing their energy and knowledge, and an overall guide for effectively deriving their value and skills­­without driving them to your competitors.