The first part, the fable, reads like a screenplay. It basically just promotes the value of different aspects of communication and moves formulaically from beginning to end. The story includes the wise mentor with nothing to lose that sends the hero on his quest to obtain knowledge from the three wise 'men' that teach or introduce parts of the model.

The three kinds of communication are: Communicate your expectations, constantly communicate with your employees, and communicate balanced praise and corrections. It really didn't help me visualize leadership perfection that the hero (and his flock) was free and the mentor and his wise trio were caged, either. It could be of value either as an illustration of some leadership principles or as a lead-in (as a cartoon) for a seminar or part of a more in-depth course. The very slim second part is pretty much just an ad for the company / book website and services.

This is the kind of book that an employee might leave in the bathroom or break room for a manager or supervisor to 'find' and then change his/her behavior, or at least spend some of the company's money on management training (hopefully with the author's consultancy).

Yet, I must say that reading this book has caused me to become interested in the author's other work and website and what they have to offer. This book is just not something that stands on its own in any way and should just be considered a vanity publication or marketing material. It could be very effective as a give-away in an airliner business class seat pocket when people have nothing else to read for a while, or maybe bundled with something else by the same author that is more substantial.
http://www.amazon.com/review/RMHNNVD...cm_cr_rdp_perm