This book is about the reciprocal role of both employee and employer in promoting the mission and business of a company. It presents everyday challenges that ordinary workers and their managers face. It also illustrates routine office events which are symbolised through imaginary people and activities that can be directly related to most workplace situations. Characters in this book represent distinct people found in a typical workstation. Some are courageous, assertive, and dynamic while others are fearful, nervous, and regressive. Some are able to overcome major workplace setbacks and advance their careers whereas others, in similar conditions, falter and tumble. The reader will find out how subordinate staff can work better, achieve results, develop their careers, defend their rights, and generally improve their wellbeing through constructive interactions with co-workers and managers. Written in a simple style and dotted with humour, this book is apparently a must-have instrument for a member of staff at any level of organisational structure.
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Author: Venansio Ahabwe Author ID: PT0000354 Book ID: B00001151 Page Count: 264 Listings 1. Amazon 2. PageTurner
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![There Is A Way: HOW TO MANAGE A MANAGER by [Venansio Ahabwe]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51sjmlyAzHL.jpg)
REVIEWS
Jude Andrew Abaho
Reviewed in Uganda on September 7th, 2022
Be a Manager or Surrender
“There Is A Way - How To Manage A Manager” portrays the joy, fulfillment and challenges associated with gainful employment today. Life is about management and leadership. At the helm of every society where both individual and societal goals must be met, there are always people to give a sense of direction. Whereas management consists of controlling a group to accomplish the set goals, leadership refers to an individual’s ability to motivate, influence and enable others to contribute towards the organizations’ success. There is power and influence in both leadership and management.
Venansio Ahabwe handles the subject of management in an unorthodox manner for he questions the notion that management is a top-down system where the ‘manager’ exercises power and control to influence the ‘managed’ in pursuit of an entity’s goals. Whereas the power and authority exercised may appear absolute at times, this influence is hinged on the mindset of ‘the managed’. Therefore, an employee can influence how an employer treats them.
It is said that ‘experience is the worst teacher’ because it turns things upside down; ‘experience starts by giving a test to the learner, and thereafter, gives a lesson’. Ahabwe writes from a wealth of experience as a manager and a subordinate, from where he draws lessons that make many a reader relate closely with the book’s subject matter. He thus states, “… the key issues handled in the book have been symbolised and personified through many imaginary characters and incidents that that would appear in a typical workplace.”
The book deals with the modern-day dilemma of employment. The importance of deliberate efforts to create and sustain healthy relationships both at the workplace and family level should never be underestimated if a person is to live a fulfilled and fulfilling life. The golden rule of management is, ‘manage others the way you like to be managed’. This cliché resonates in the mind of the reader when reading this book. The episodes and anecdotes therein relate well with what occurs in many workplaces; positivity, creativity and solidarity on one hand, and pessimism, pretense and intrigue on the other. An organisation’s growth, stagnation or collapse arises from here, and this book provides pertinent answers. A key issue that Venansio Ahabwe decodes is that most books about management are suited to the interests of managers. Yet, workplace relationships should be ‘a two-way traffic’ - catering for workers both at the bottom and top ends of an organisation’s hierarchy - for the benefit of both the organisation and its staff.
Ahabwe does not call for timidity at work. In fact, his book never falls short of inspirations. Each chapter ends with various citations in relation to the topic at hand. To all readers, even unkeen ones, there is a lesson, which is also graphically illustrated, and this witty twist to the book makes it easy and enjoyable. However, there is excessive use of quotations and scriptural references which some readers may find tedious.
The reader cannot miss Ahabwe’s scathing attack on how contemporary Africans handle the issue of death and funeral rites. In the poem, “Let No One Lie, When I Die” he expresses his views on life and immortality and displays contempt for a pompous funeral.
In this book, the author precisely uses simple style and language to propagate the view that institutional and individual fulfillment always lies not just in the hands of the managed but also of the manager. The book treats the subject of management from a new and interesting perspective. I found it handy. You too will.
Source: The Observer
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The reviewer, Jude Andrew Abaho, is Senior Education Officer and volunteer at Nyarushanje Community Library in Rukungiri District.
Saidi Semakula
Reviewed in Uganda on July 4th, 2022
Shifa: A No-Nonsense Worker
In this book (page145), Ahabwe Venansio describes a superb character, Shifa Neumbe, in the Finance Department of Gongo Company, an imaginary organisation.
Shifa Neumbe, as a character, is true to the vision of the company and won't tolerate nonsense. She is not easily compromised, even by her own boss otherwise she would be ready to be defiant, if not resigning. She is typical me or a Besigye for that matter!
Shifa talks less if at all she ever does, but only expresses herself differently and you will understand. No tolerance to shoddy work, no reward for mediocrity, very honest, steadfast, thorough in her work, accountable, fearless, committed, no pretense, kind-hearted, no grudges against anybody, no malice. Impressive, if you ask me.
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Rose Nyinamariza
Reviewed in Uganda on July 3, 2022
A Book Worth Reading
The book is based on work experiences in an imaginary company.
It starts off by describing different individuals in the work place and how people get there. Then there are real examples of happenings in the workplace.
The relates well with our Ugandan and African workplace context. The facts presented are based on the writer's 20+ years workplace experiences and observations.
At the end of each chapter, workplace experiences are referenced to scripture in the all time best seller - The Holy Bible - which comes in handy for a Christian.
This book is easily relatable to everyone in the workplace. I personally learnt a few things such as collective responsibility.
Worth reading!
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Tony Mushoborozi
Daily Monitor Correspondent
Reviewed in Uganda on February 6, 2022
Imagine nuggets on how to manage a manager in this era
There are books that give you the wink on the first encounter. Like the girl of your dreams, they are beautiful and dazzling and confident. You could be passing through a mega bookstore and only two or three books will have this kind of overt interest in you, just by looking at their cover. It is this initial attraction that makes you pick one book out of a shelf of hundreds. The saying that ‘never judge a book by its cover may be a tad implausible after all.
Venansio Ahabwe’s book ‘How To Manage A Manager’ is one such book. The catchy title promises to handle an important component of our professional lives and that is just one aspect of the book’s allure. The book is premised on the idea that everyone in the workplace has a manager (which goes without saying) and being able to do their bidding while keeping true to yourself is a great secret to having success in your professional career.
The style of this book is peculiar. It is a nonfiction, self-help book that is written like a fiction book. That sounds like an oxymoron, but the style actually works wonders. It becomes very clear on the onset that the writer is writing about real people he has met and real scenarios he has been researched. But he chooses to keep the identities of the people and organizations hidden in a style that reads like fiction. This makes for a fast-paced reading, with real-life characters engaged in plausible scenarios. So if you enjoy works of fiction that are based on true stories, this book is going to be a delight for you.
This style makes the book wildly hilarious in many areas, which happens to be one the most important aspects of any storytelling. Because who of us despises a good laugh? The author’s voice only comes in to commentate on the goings on of his characters before he dives right back into the fiction world again.
This is a book for the underdog and the luminary. Whether you are starting out, fresh from school or already a CEO, it shares insight into the human condition that should be helpful to you. Whether you are a CEO dealing with the directors of the company or a cleaner dealing with your supervisor, there are insights here that will help.
One of the very inspiring quotes from the book is this: “There is no actual difference between a manager and the managed. The two can easily switch roles. In some cases, a junior staff eventually becomes a manager and starts supervising the former boss.” This tends to jolt the reader and gives him a fresh perspective on his relationship with his supervisor.
The book delves into important qualities at the workplace, all of which puts you in a favorable position with the manager. Qualities like honesty and speaking uncomfortable truths at the office. Speaking truth to power might be so uncomfortable that many people would rather keep to themselves. But the truth always sets you free. Keeping it to yourself might placate the manager you fear to offend but speaking it could save the company and your job.
There is a chapter about ‘jumping career growth barriers’ that stands out as particularly powerful. It is premised on the idea that, sometimes, educational background does not necessarily define a person’s competence on the job. It serves you well when you believe in yourself even when your educational background isn’t necessarily related to the vacant position.
Courage is a virtue to pursue wholeheartedly. If you don’t believe in yourself, neither will your bosses. The idea is that the strongest don’t always win the fight not the quickest the race. It is about refusing to see boundaries sometimes.
While most of the topics in the book are pretty much common knowledge, it’s the scenarios and the characters in the story that combine to create unforgettable lessons. The writer encourages you to show respect to everyone, to defy the odds, to dare to dream and take gambles. All this, while taking the needs of your manager and those of the company in mind. That and more is how you manage your manager.
The book starts on a low note and can be quite underwhelming. The first section of the book that includes the foreword, author’s word, introduction and background read like stand-alones that seem to have little connection to each other. It is all mind and no heart. This section, which is important to any book, comes off as preachy and seems to be leading nowhere. And it goes on for 17 pages, which is hard to read and disconcerting. Then chapter one comes and everything changes. This book reads well, it is funny and full of helpful nuggets to uplift your professional life.
Source: Daily Monitor