Skeels champions the idea of “unmanaging,” which cuts down on managerial overhead and encourages managers to get out of the way of their teams. The needs of workers and teams, the author insists, take precedence over one’s own managerial workflow; a manager’s most important goal is to enable employees to maximize their productivity. Throughout, the author delivers his insights with an effective combination of readable prose and clear-eyed pragmatism. His experience is evident on every page and should prove invaluable to readers in any managerial roles. He sympathizes with how these readers may feel they’re swimming against the tide of popular opinion: “If you are a manager who came up through the ranks as a specialist, then most of what you mastered will point you away from great managing,” he cautions, firmly but good-naturedly. “You’ll need to toss out that old compass.” This book will do very nicely as a new one.