Geared towards true novice managers, the guide takes a little time to gather steam (helping users to identify the difference between a regular everyday task and a “project”, “breaking the ice” with employees), but it’s worth hanging in there as it transitions smoothly into the task of breaking down the elements of the job ahead, and detailing the practical steps necessary for the beginning management professional to succeed at project management.

It’s a hands-on approach, taking readers through detailed information about preparation, planning and organization, and implementation, while providing useful resources like an overview of software tools and a comprehensive glossary. Expert case studies – both of individual and whole project experiences — make the book user-friendly and relatable to real life situations. This guide is more practical than academic, meaning it will spend more time open on the desk that collecting dust on the bookshelf, which is exactly what a good resource book should do.

Rating: 5 stars

For first timers who feel like they can’t see the forest from the trees, Bereaux teaches how to separate each phase of the project, set-up a schedule & budget, delegate tasks, and follow through. She illustrates her guidelines by taking the reader through a simulated project. There is even some good advice on running effective meetings and how to handle common disruptions. (Who hasn’t been stuck in an unproductive meeting with late-comers and sidebar conversations?)

You’ll find that this book is a real confidence builder as it helps you navigate the unknown and prove to your boss that his faith in you will be rewarded.

Rating: 5 stars

The book lays out a great step by step guide to tackle each phase of a new project. It is loaded with tools to help you save time and energy, which is something that I know most managers, could use a little extra of. This book is definitely not another book for the shelf. The end of the book is filled with resources for new managers. There is a software section that has details on different web based software programs that may be helpful to new managers. There is also a chapter with tips on effective voice mail and e-mail communication. The resources for new managers alone that are listed in the book make it worth the read.

4 star rating

When you hit chapter 3 you will find what you are looking for. It starts at the very beginning of a potential project and walks you through closing. Throughout the book there are real life scenarios provided for example. You will also find multiple interviews from experienced project managers that are full of tips and suggestions. The end of the book includes explanations of available software to assist in multiple projects.

You will have at your fingertips multiple case studies to help you on your way to being a successful project manager yourself in addition to sharing common mistakes to avoid. All of this is made available in the appendixes. Some of the language in this book is presented in a manner that individuals that have not worked closely with other managers prior to their promotion may not understand it, however each aspect is thoroughly explained. I give this book 4 star rating.

Many new managers and project managers don’t have leadership experience. This book is for those who want to succeed but may not have the right roadmap. Bereaux’s outlines verything a new manager needs to remember and then break down all the phases of a project into smaller steps. She offers help with general management skills from dealing with different personality types to running meetings as well as specific supervisory skills such as delegating effectively and cost assessment. She then breaks down each project into a series of five phases leading from project origination to producing deliverables, making each piece manageable by helping you break the project into well-organized and realistic goals. By talking new project managers through each step of the process, she creates a guide that is useful when starting a new project and also when you hit roadblocks along the way.

One difficulty of the book is that it tries to make itself applicable to a huge range of projects. The breakdown of steps can sometimes be a little abstract. The “case studies,” however, help turn all the theory into practice and also make it easier to understand how to fit Bereaux’s ideas to your own needs. I do wish, however, that some of her case studies were more detailed so that I could see an example of each of her individual steps within each phase. That said, her book is an incredibly useful resource both for new managers and for project managers who may never have had a solid example of successful management. Her appendices also include helpful suggestions on software packages and online resources to help managers get organized. I will definitely keep using this book throughout my career.

But seriously, this book was actually a worthwhile read. It not only offers candid, straightforward advice, but breaks down the project management process into easy to understand and implement steps. Bereaux makes some very good points about ho to manage a team of people, how to communicate with them effectively and how to ensure the project finishes successfully. All in all, much better than most of the business help books out there. If this is a subject you are interested in or just need something to read on the plane, you would do well to take a look at this one.