New from Larry Olmstead

Learn to Be a Better Boss

How to be an Awesome Boss

Intentional Strategies that Produce Results—and Respect

A practical leadership guide for managers navigating today’s fast-changing workplace. Drawing on decades of executive leadership, consulting, and organizational development experience, Larry Olmstead makes the case that great leadership is intentional—and that strong people management is one of the most important drivers of organizational success.

Pages
184
Language
English
Category
Management
Cover of How to be an Awesome Boss by Larry Olmstead

Leadership is a set of learnable skills

What makes someone an awesome boss? It is not charisma, personality, or authority. Great leadership is intentional.

Drawing on decades of management, consulting, journalism, and organizational development experience, Larry presents leadership as a set of daily disciplines that directly shape culture, performance, morale, retention, and trust. His real-world examples show how strong leaders combine accountability with empathy, ambition with realism, and high standards with genuine respect for people.

The book also addresses a defining reality of modern organizational life: constant change. Leaders must help employees navigate uncertainty, stress, and resistance while maintaining performance and encouraging innovation. Facilitation guides help managers and HR leaders carry these discussions into their organizations.

Written for first-time supervisors, experienced managers, executives, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and HR professionals, the book is practical rather than academic. Its tools can be put to use immediately.

Clear guidance for the work managers do every day

  • Communication and clarity
  • Performance management
  • Coaching and employee development
  • Conflict resolution
  • Workplace culture and trust
  • Leading through uncertainty and change
Larry Olmstead with CEO Katy Castagna and the United Way Monterey County executive team
CEO Katy Castagna (next to Larry) and her executive team at United Way Monterey County pose after wrapping up a project with Larry around team and career development and strategic alignment.

What readers say

How to be an Awesome Boss is filled with inspiration and practical examples for anyone leading a team. The content is readable, actionable, and written with humor and compassion. Larry Olmstead’s own character and experience shine through in sharing stories from his career in communications and community development. The world would be a better place if we had more awesome bosses!

Katy CastagnaPresident & CEO, United Way Monterey County, CA

Larry’s writing style is crisp and clear and fun. And the message is fantastic. The anecdotes are completely relatable and great illustrations of the challenges. I hope this gets used in college classrooms because it’s the clearest and most accessible such text I’ve ever read. I’ve already recommended it to two friends, one who is already in a leadership role and one who is about to assume one.

Carole Leigh HuttonRetired CEO, editor & marketing executive

How to be an Awesome Boss is a very readable, practical, and quick guide on how to become an intentional leader in any setting. Larry Olmstead, a journalist at heart, offers an entertaining and useful perspective on the main issues that managers and leaders face in the workplace, with helpful facilitation guides to lead discussions with leaders at different levels within any organization. This is a very useful tool for building people-skills in your company, with the goal of producing greater results and more job satisfaction at every level.

Donnell EwertBoard Member, The California Endowment; retired Director of Health and Human Services for Shasta County, CA

How to be an Awesome Boss is full of advice from a man who’s had the experience to back up his suggestions. Having worked alongside Larry for many years, I can attest to his following the principles he details. A good reference to keep close at hand.

Susan LewisExecutive assistant to the CEO, Knight Ridder (retired)

Where to buy the book

Choose the format and seller that work for you.

BookBaby

Choose a printed copy or eBook from the publisher’s bookstore.

Buy on BookBaby

From Larry

$2.50 flat shipping added to book price. First Class USPS, 3–5 days.

Secure checkout by Stripe

Need more than three copies?

Send Larry a message or email larry@leadwithlarry.com to discuss a larger order.