Tulgan - Bridging the soft skills gap: how to teach the missing basics to todays young talent

Bruce has a remarkable ability to examine today's important management issues and provide useful and hands on' tools to help every organization improve their leadership effectiveness. I really appreciate the unique insight in this book and will be able to use this to tackle this important challenge with our changing workforce.

Jon Morrison, President, WABCO, Americas

Once again Bruce has his finger on the pulse beat As with his previous works addressing generational differences within the workplace, the reader finds him/herself nodding in recognition of the behaviors characterized by Gen Zers. Bruce goes beyond the commentary by providing practical guidance on how employers can work with their young talents to help them develop the soft skills they will require in order to reach their full potential

Jack Dwyer, VP Human Resources and Administration,
ASSA ABLOY, Inc.

Well researched, practical and immensely readable, Bridging the Soft Skills Gap is destined to be a go-to book for any leader charged with managing during this turbulent changing of the employee guard.

Joni Thomas Doolin, CEO, TDn2k; Founder, People Report

Traditional rules don't apply in appealing to and engaging our extremely talented younger generation. This book is a valuable and practical resource for any manager who wants to effectively manage and motivate this important and ever-growing part of our workforce.

Andy Ajello, Senior Vice President of Diabetes & Obesity Sales, Novo Nordisk, Inc.

As companies like ours develop new solutions in a rapidly transforming industry, it is critical that we identify, recruit and engage new talent that can help lead these transformations. Bruce provides a critical tool in this step by step training guide.

Raymond R. Ferrell - EVP General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary, Dex Media, Inc.

This book reflects authentic thought leadership and will be of great value to all executives who are smart enough to buy the book!

Daniel Butler, Senior Advisor, National Retail Federation; President, Maple Point Consulting

Bruce Tulgan has done it again. He has not only well framed the issue of the soft skills gap, but has also given today's managers practical advice for dealing with it.

Hank Harris, President and Chief Executive Officer, FMI Corporation

Teaching today's young talent basic soft skills can be a magnificent legacy for seasoned pros. This book is a must-read for managers in any industry, and it is especially relevant in the service sector where soft skills are the face of our business.

Sharon McPherson, Director of Training & Development,
On The Border Restaurants

Bruce's book is such a timely and relevant read for managers. As always, he masterfully lays out the research as to what makes Gen Zers unique, why we should be excited to have them, and the most effective performance development strategies to motivate and bring out the best in them. The best part of this book is the hundreds of practical and adaptable lesson plans he provides to develop basic, yet vital interpersonal skills to help an early career professional become your strongest contributor.

Kristen Storey, Organizational Learning Director, Learning &
Professional Development, University of Michigan

HOW you conduct yourself and get the work done will always trump technical skills. This book distills the HOW in a way that can truly transform performance. It is a wealth of information and on-point in speaking to an issue we need to harness in the workplace quickly, and should be mandatory reading for every manager/leader out there!

Melissa Feck, Vice President, Human Resources,
Health Care Association of New York State

Bruce Tulgan's book provides great insight, ideas and resources for a manager leading the new college graduates in the workforce. Adjusting to a regular schedule and leaving the freedom of college and youth is a challenge for many - they lack many soft skills. Bruce provides specifics to help the leader guide the new employee to learn key skills in the context of the work which helps them be successful without losing their desire to be unique.

Sue Hiser, Program Director, Leadership Development,
Ohio Health

Bruce Tulgan has done it again. Bridging the Soft Skills Gap doesn't just describe the challenges I see every day with my talented young team - it provides real tools for their development. Businesses and their valued young employees will benefit from these resources and reap long-term rewards.

Janet Kyle Altman, Marketing Principal,
Kaufman Rossin

If you want to learn how to teach, inspire and lead today's young talent, read as Bruce magically mixes actual life examples with solid leadership principles. This book will give you complete knowledge of what you need to know to lead today.

Doug Sterbenz, EVP & COO Westar Energy (Retired); Present to Win,
National Speaker and Leadership Coach

Many managers lament that Millennials lack soft skills like professionalism or followership but then struggle with how to address the gap. In his now well established style, Bruce Tulgan's latest book offers detailed, practical training lesson plans for each of a dozen soft skills.

Alan Krezco, The Artist formerly known as Executive Vice
President and General Counsel (retired), The Hartford

After reading this book, I just keep thinking, It all makes sense now! Incredible insight into understanding the next generation of talent in today's workforce. This book has forced me to think about how to restructure on-boarding and training efforts that will result in more successful and productive employees and teams.

Sheri Petrie, Training & Coaching Consultant, Mid-Atlantic
Permanente Medical Group

This remarkable book is a must have for any manager with young talent to lead. With extensive scripts and step-by-step lesson plans to improve what Tulgan calls the missing basics, it provides everything a manager needs to turn a mediocre younger worker into a truly valued, key player.

Deborah Orlowski, Ph.D., Senior Learning Specialist, Learning and
Professional Development, University of Michigan.

This is one of the best books I have ever read when it comes to teaching soft skills to a group of young employees in the workplace. To bridge the gap between Gen Z and their supervisors, managers, leaders, and executives and create a collaborative workforce both groups are provided with specific skills sets through exercises and concepts. The book is a must read for those who want to increase their productivity and workplace morale.

Steve Hanamura, President, Hanamura Consulting, inc.; Consultant, speaker and author

Cover design: Wiley

Copyright 2015 by Bruce Tulgan. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Published simultaneously in Canada.

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Limit of Liability/Disclaimer of Warranty: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in preparing this book, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. No warranty may be created or extended by sales representatives or written sales materials. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.