BOOK REVIEW - First Among Equals (How to Manage a Group of Professionals)

BOOK REVIEW - “First among equals (How to manage a group of professionals)”

I came across this book through personal networking and have just finished reading it. It is aimed at two sorts of people: those who manage a professional firm as a paid manager (like many Practice Managers) and those people who are professionals themselves (Architects, Accountants), but who assume the role of “managing partner”. While the latter term does not occur so frequently in general practice, there are a few managers operating at or aspiring to this level now or moving to it and this number will undoubtedly increase.

Why is it worth reading?

It is 250 pages in hardback and not overwhelming in terms of volume. It is practical rather than academic. It covers many of the challenges that managers routinely face and which are often referred to in our daily Forum and other places.

The book talks about defining your “terms of engagement”. What role, what status, what is the expectation on you in terms of managing the partners? Is there an explicit agreement about your rights and responsibilities? It offers advice on building relationships with professionals, recognising what makes some people committed and why others may not have the same commitment. There is a section on the need to deal differently (with different partners), helping under-performers, appreciating what drives individuals. There is a lovely section on the types of roles your partners might fall into called “Analyticals, Drivers, Amiables and Expressives. You will smile as you look at your partners and put them into their categories!!

While it focuses more on the relationship with the professionals, it also covers managing those who have a subordinate role to you.

What is not so good about it?

The term “general practitioner” is not mentioned at all. It is an analysis of managing the professional firm and has a pre-disposition to “fee paying” and “income generation”; it has an American theme. There is a list of testimonials at the beginning of the book that we think are wholly unnecessary.

Viewpoint

There are few, if any, good books written on the strategic role of the Medical Practice Manager or Managing Partner and while this is far from perfect it is the best we have come across. If your personal education funding stretches to a few pounds and you want to learn a few new perspectives on your role, it is well worth a read.

If you are an Amazon user go to:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0743225511/qid=1103629168/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_11_1/026-5189711-8842065

If you use your local bookshop:

ISBN 0-7432-2551-1

First Among Equals (How to Manage a group of Professionals)

Patrick J McKenna

David H Maister

Price ranges from £12-£17.

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