Below is a review of Peer Today, Boss Tomorrow, a new addition to the Business Skills Lending Library. Based on our partnership with Training Media Review, we thought it would be helpful for you to see another review of a program available from Business Training Library. To see more reviews, go to www.tmreview.com or call 877-532-1838. Make sure to give your account code, BTL02, to ensure your Business Training Library special 10% discount.



What changes when you're the boss?
Lynn Monaco


Course Code: 39054
Media: Video and DVD
Production Year: 2004


Making the leap from peer to boss is never easy, and the hardest part seems to be the struggle of balancing former coworker relationships with new management responsibilities. Peer Today, Boss Tomorrow is designed to help newly promoted supervisors make that transition successfully.

In a clever and unusual way, Peer Today, Boss Tomorrow presents four strategies to help new supervisors handle the changing relationships. In this well-done video, five friends are returning home from a climbing trip in a Winnebago. One of the friends got promoted to supervisor last week, and is beginning to regret it because of the problems with his former coworkers. As the five-hour trip progresses, this friend gets different beneficial advice from his fellow travelers. They point out strategies to the new supervisor in a very conversational manner, but then the video cuts to the workplace and shows these people in action, displaying the proposed behavior. Great learning reinforcement!

The four strategies are: 1. Accept the responsibilities of the new role. 2. Set clear boundaries, especially with friends. 3. Use strong and consistent communication skills. 4. Provide thoughtful and strategic action.

The video is entertaining because it isn't the typical office setting but still accomplishes its learning objectives. And, there is no "talking head" telling viewers what they just learned. The recap of the strategies throughout the video is done cleverly by displaying them written on road signs, gas pumps, and restaurant checks.

At 22 minutes, the video is short and to the point. It features a good mix of ages, races, and sexes so any new supervisor can easily relate to it. The program has an excellent instructor guide. It will be useful for organizations that have to train many new supervisors on a regular basis. For organizations that don't have that kind of volume, the program is still useful for self-study. Newly promoted supervisors can pop it into a VCR and learn.

Recommendation

I recommend that Peer Today, Boss Tomorrow be part of any company's learning library. It's succinct and ably addresses the complicated transition from peer to supervisor.

Score: (1 through 4 rating scale; 1 being poor and 4 being outstanding)

Holds viewer interest - 3.5
Acting/Presenting - 3.5
Diversity - 4
Production quality - 3.5
Value of content - 3.5
Instructional value- 3.5
Value for the money - 3.5
Overall rating 4 - 3.5


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Lynn M. Monaco (MonacoL@aol.com) has served in a variety of positions, including vice president of Training and Development. She is currently a consultant.