Flex: The New Playbook for Managing Across Differences

Coauthors Hyun (Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling) and Lee (principal, Hyun & Associates) provide the modern manager with a playbook on how to switch among leadership styles to get the most out of employees. Based on the premise that today's workplace suffers from a "power gap" between the frontline manager and employees who are increasingly multicultural, intergenerational, and female, the authors' notion of "flexing" introduces the idea of a fluent leader who can bridge differences. Using examples from across disciplines, Hyun and Lee offer ways to encourage participation and innovation from employees who do not always work within the Western model of corporate culture. The book's three parts provide the rationale for their leadership model, practical methods for bridging personal and cultural divides, and ways to build fluency and flexibility within an organization. The premise behind the work is timely and important, but readers may find some of the examples filled with stereotypes rather than realistic people.