Suddenly in Charge is less about being a manager and more about how to manage your boss and some of your coworkers. I dont think I am the right audience for this book but I could see it being potentially helpful to someone starting their first professional job. I did not like the time spent on physical appearance because although i know its important now, i think and hope it will be something that doesnt matter anymore as the older generations retire.

I requested this book because I find myself suddenly part of the national leadership team of a UK charity. I am retired and finding myself back in an office environment is a challenge. Robert Matuson's advice has remined me of things I once knew but needed an update on, current office codes and behaviours and the importance of looking the part and being professional. There was nothing particularly new but it was a useful reminder of many training courses I have been on in the past and got me off to a good start. I probably need to reread it now I have been in post for several months. Thank you.

Thanks Nicholas Brealey US | John Murray Business & NetGalley for the ARC!

Suddenly In Charge was a great guide for a new manager like me who's suddenly thrust into the murky waters of the world of people management. The book emphasises upon the importance of managing in both directions i.e your manager & your direct reports. How good you are as a manager will be the outcome of how successful you are in dealing both the directions of management.

The author has been in the industry for over two decades & she has neatly divided the book into well-defined chapters focusing on various aspects of the topic - developing a good relationship with your manager, understanding & navigating the politics of one's workplace, how not to ask for a raise & not to involve in gossip, taking control of a room, how to find the right mentor or a coach, improving our communication & so on.

Although the descriptions were detailed with a lot of tips & experience backed suggestions, the summary at the end of each chapter seemed to just repeat what was said earlier which felt a bit tedious.

Also, the managing down was never explained. At the end of the book, I was looking for the managing down part, but it seems to have been missed out.

Overall a good book to help a new manager to thrive at the work place .

"Suddenly in Charge" by Roberta Chinsky Matuson is a practical and insightful guide designed for individuals who find themselves thrust into leadership roles, often unexpectedly. The book is likely tailored for new managers, team leaders, or anyone who has recently taken on a position of authority and needs guidance on how to navigate the challenges of leadership effectively.

Matuson's writing is clear, straightforward, and filled with actionable advice. The book probably covers key areas such as managing up (dealing with your own bosses) and managing down (leading your team), offering tips on communication, delegation, conflict resolution, and building trust. With real-world examples and practical strategies, "Suddenly in Charge" is likely to be a valuable resource for those who want to make a successful transition into leadership.

This book is ideal for new leaders or aspiring managers who want to quickly get up to speed on the essentials of leading a team and managing relationships in the workplace. It’s a go-to guide for anyone looking to gain confidence and effectiveness in their new role.

As a new manager I appreciated the section on managing up. It out more structure around what I have observed as expectations but didn’t have the right verbiage to describe. The managing down section didn’t feel groundbreaking and I didn’t feel as if I took much new away from however it was a nice complement to managing up.

Suddenly in Charge is ideal for anyone who has been promoted because of their technical skills and hasn't yet had the opportunity to develop their managerial or leadership skills. A useful guidebook.

I found this piece to be exceptionally well-crafted, and I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to delve into more works by this author. Given its potential popularity among our library patrons, we're certainly looking forward to adding it to our collection

Recommend for anyone who's found themselves suddenly in charge. You may have heard some of the information presented in this book already, but the reality is that many of us will find ourselves in a managerial or supervisory position without further training or preparation to tackle the shift from being a staff worker. The book contains simple and actionable advice for managing up with your superiors and managing down with your charges and has been updated for recent shifts in the work environment, such as remote working and the coming together of multiple generations in the work space.

Spot on: “Managing Up is not about brown-nosing” or becoming the equivalent of Teacher’s Pet. It’s a critical leadership skill that everyone, everywhere, and at every level must master. Suddenly in Charge, is just the book to help. The third edition offers modern advice to handle classic challenges - like asking for a raise or compensating staff appropriately (in chapter 8). As Matuson points out: it’s not all about money. No matter your career stage, keep this book handy to successfully navigate myriad people management situations – up, down, and all around.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this title in exchange for a fair and honest review. I did read this book as I have been recently promoted into a leadership position and found it easy to read casually and helpful on a basic level.

As a new manager in my job, I felt like there was a good amount of information presented clearly in this book. I hope to implement some of what I read soon.

I appreciate that this is the third edition of this book so it must be successful. This edition is only half a book with no explanation as to why that is the case. The section on ‘Managing Down’ was completely omitted. The chapters are relatively short and are in the structure of ‘ tell them what you’re going to tell them , tell them and then summarise what you told them’. It is a very basic introduction to management. It is also American based - references are to American TV shows and icons. I got irritated by the alternate use of pronouns - sometimes he/him sometimes she/her and very occasionally they/them. A note at the beginning that one pronoun was intended to be inclusive would have sufficed. Perhaps , younger managers are more likely to take offence at using only one. As a management skills trainer of 25 years experience, I didn’t learn anything new. I would have liked some graphics to break up the monotony of the printed page. Thank you to NetGalley and Nicholas Brealey publishing for a prepublication ebook.

This is an insightful and important resource for the entire team. Naturally one would think that this guide is solely for business owners, leadership and administrators. However, it is also beneficial to employees.. This book offers strong practical advice and measurable action steps. The book is well written and the subject content is thought provoking. Content areas include different leadership styles, office politics and conflict resolution, asking for a raise, developing presence and making a lasting impression, as well as mentorship, and how to graciously exit from an organization.

While reading this book I came across a key point that the author states one must be vigilant and I wrote it down as a reminder when I step out to work every morning "Commitment always trumps compliance, and engagement will help ensure commitment."
There is something comforting about this book- and it's in the way the author explores workplace dynamics, from your team, the system in place, policies, mission and your bosses- and what to be on the lookout for and do more of- like being firmly rooted in getting the job done, and what to do less of if possible not to ever do-gossip.
For anyone in the work space- I bet this would come as a great guide, on the ethics and professionalism aspects to adorn.
Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

*Thank you for the ARC!! All opinions are completely my own.** 4 stars. Useful and helpful book. Great basics for those in the workforce.

Absolutely packed with useful tips and learning opportunities. Whether you're new to managing or think you already know it all... This book has things to teach you! I think this could become a constant companion to refer to, flicking to sections as and when moments arise. I also love the flip side nature of it, what a clever idea! This should be a staple of all work places and shared with any colleagues and friends!