Leadership Skills for New and Seasoned Managers

I’ll admit, I rolled my eyes when I saw *another* leadership book. But *Leadership Skills for New and Seasoned Managers* won me over by doing something radical: it assumes you’re already *trying* to be a good boss—and tells you where you’re accidentally sabotaging yourself. Nunez’s background in organizational psychology shines in chapters like “The Feedback Paradox,” where he dismantles why even “constructive” criticism often fails (spoiler: it’s usually about *timing* and *ego*, not content). The audiobook’s strength is its ruthless specificity. When Nunez describes how a manager’s *tone* in a 1:1 can derail trust for weeks, A.G. Smith’s narration *embodies* that tone—first as a dismissive monotone, then with the warmth of someone who’s actually listening. It’s a masterclass in how performance can elevate content. That said, the brevity is a double-edged sword. The “seasoned manager” in the title might find some sections *too* basic (e.g., the “how to run a meeting” refresher), and the lack of deep dives into remote leadership feels like a missed opportunity in 2024. Smith’s delivery, while engaging, occasionally verges on *too* brisk—some nuanced points (like the difference between *delegation* and *dumping*) could use more air to land. Still, the audiobook’s greatest gift is its refusal to let managers off the hook. It doesn’t just tell you what to do; it forces you to confront the *uncomfortable* reasons you haven’t done it yet. For anyone who’s ever left a leadership workshop thinking, *“But how do I actually *do* this?”*—this is your answer.