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John J. Gabarro

UPS Foundation Professor of Human Resource Management, Emeritus

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Books

Gabarro, John J., and John P. Kotter. Managing Your Boss. HBR Classics. Harvard Business School Press 2008, paperback ed. Abstract

Managing your boss: Isn't that merely manipulation? Corporate cozying up? Not according to John Gabarro and John Kotter. In this handy guidebook, the authors contend that you manage your boss for a very good reason: to do your best on the job--and thereby benefit not only yourself but also your supervisor and your entire company. Your boss depends on you for cooperation, reliability, and honesty. And you depend on him or her for links to the rest of the organization, for setting priorities, and for obtaining critical resources. By managing your boss--clarifying your own and your supervisor's strengths, weaknesses, goals, work styles, and needs--you cultivate a relationship based on mutual respect and understanding. The result? A healthy, productive bond that enables you both to excel. Gabarro and Kotter provide valuable guidelines for building this essential relationship--including strategies for determining how your boss prefers to process information and make decisions, tips for communicating mutual expectations, and tactics for negotiating priorities. Thought provoking and practical, "Managing Your Boss" enables you to lay the groundwork for one of the most crucial working relationships you'll have in your career.
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DeLong, Thomas J., John J. Gabarro, and Robert Lees. When Professionals Have to Lead: A New Model for High Performance. Harvard Business School Press, 2007. Abstract

For too long, professional services firms (PSFs) have relied on the "producer-manager" model, which works well in uncomplicated business environments. However, today's managing directors must balance conflicting roles, more demanding clients, tougher competitors, and associates with higher expectations of partners at all levels. "Integrated Leadership in Professional Services Firms" presents an overarching framework better suited to such complexity. It identifies the four critical activities for effective PSF leadership: setting strategic direction, securing commitment to this direction, facilitating execution, and setting a personal example. Through examples from consulting practices, accounting firms, investment banks, and other professional service organizations, industry veterans DeLong, Gabarro, and Lees show how this model works to: align your firm's culture and key organizational components; satisfy your clients' needs without sacrificing essential managerial responsibilities; and address matters of size, scale, and complexity while maintaining the qualities that make professional services firms unique. A valuable new resource, this book redefines the role of leadership in professional services firms.
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Thomas, D. A., and John J. Gabarro. Breaking Through: The Making of Minority Executives in Corporate America. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press, 1999.

Gabarro, J. J., ed. Managing People and Organizations. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press, 1992.

Gabarro, John J. The Dynamics of Taking Charge. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1987.

Schlesinger, Leonard A., Robert G. Eccles, and John J. Gabarro, eds. Managing Behavior in Organizations. New York: McGraw Hill, 1983.

McCaskey, Michael B., John J. Gabarro, and Louise Cahill-Dettrich. Teaching Interpersonal Behavior. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1979.

Athos, Anthony, and John J. Gabarro, eds. Interpersonal Behavior. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1978.

Published Papers

DeLong, Thomas J., John J. Gabarro, and Robert Lees. "Why Mentoring Matters in a Hypercompetitive World." Special Issue on HBS Centennial. Harvard Business Review 86, no. 1 (January 2008).

DeLong, Thomas J., John J. Gabarro, and Robert Lees. "Juggling Isn’t the Same As Leading." The American Lawyer (December 2007): 124-130. (Excerpt from the book When Professionals Have to Lead.)

Gabarro, John J., and John P. Kotter. "Managing Your Boss." Managing Up, 2nd Edition (HBR Article Collection). Harvard Business Review 85, no. 5 (May 2007). Abstract

The best way to make a major impact in your organization? Forge a strong relationship with your boss. You'll get the support and resources you need to put your great ideas into action. But "managing up" isn't easy. For example, if you're reporting to a new CEO, you stand a good chance of finding yourself out the door. In this unique situation, it's vital to make the right first impression and swiftly establish your value. Equally challenging, it's not always clear what actions and attitudes your boss expects from you--or how he prefers to communicate and make decisions. This Harvard Business Review collection provides the guidebook you'll need to build a positive bond with your boss. You'll find suggestions for starting off on the right foot with a new supervisor, demonstrating the behaviors he expects, and discerning his work-style preferences. "Managing up" isn't manipulation. It's the surest route to giving your boss the cooperation he needs--and getting the resources you need to excel on the job.
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Gabarro, John J. "When a New Manager Takes Charge." HBR Classic. Harvard Business Review 85, no. 1 (January 2007).

Gabarro, John J., and John P. Kotter. "Managing Your Boss." HBR Classic. Harvard Business Review 83, no. 1 (January 2005).

Gabarro, John J., and John P. Kotter. "Managing Superiors in Leadership for New Managers." Special Issue on Business Fundamentals. Harvard Business Review (2001).

Hill, Linda A., J. J. Gabarro, and J. Kotter. "Leadership for New Managers." Business Fundamentals as Taught at the Harvard Business School (1998).

Gabarro, John J., and J. P. Kotter. "Retrospective Commentary on: 'Managing Your Boss'." Harvard Business Review 72, no. 1 (January-February 1994).

Gabarro, John J., and John P. Kotter. "Managing Your Boss." Harvard Business Review 71, no. 3 (May-June 1993): 150-157.

Gabarro, J. J. "Retrospective Forty Years Later of Roethlisberger and Roger's Barriers and Gateways to Communication." Harvard Business Review (1993).

Gabarro, John J. "Managing Your Boss: People are Your Most Important Asset." Harvard Business Review 68 (1990). (Special Issue.)

Loveman, Gary W., John J. Gabarro, and Jay W. Lorsch. "The Managerial Implications of Changing Work Force Demographics: A Scoping Study." Human Resource Management Journal 4, no. 4 (1989).

Gabarro, John J. "When a New Manager Takes Charge." Harvard Business Review 63, no. 3 (May-June 1985): 110-123.

Gabarro, John J., and John P. Kotter. "Managing Your Boss." Harvard Business Review 58, no. 1 (January-February 1980).

Gabarro, John J. "Socialization at the Top: How CEOs and Subordinates Develop Interpersonal Contracts." Organizational Dynamics 16, no. 2 (winter 1979).

Lewicki, Roy, and John J. Gabarro. "Organizational Behavior for Executives." Exchange: The Journal of Teaching in Organizational Behavior 4, no. 4 (1979).

Gabarro, John J. "Preface." Special Issue on Leadership. Harvard Business Review 3 (1979).

Gabarro, John J. "Diagnosing Organization-Environmental Fit." Education and Urban Society 6, no. 2 (February 1974).

Derr, Brooklyn C., and John J. Gabarro. "An Organizational Contingency Theory for Education." Educational Administration Quarterly 20, no. 2 (spring 1972).

Book Chapters

Gabarro, John J. "When a New Manager Takes Charge." In Harvard Business Review on the Tests of a Leader. Harvard Business School Press, 2007.

Gabarro, John J. "Prologue: Emerging Modern Law Firms." In Managing the Modern Law Firm, edited by Laura Empson. Oxford University Press, 2007.

Gabarro, John J. and John P. Kotter. "Managing Up." In Managing Yourself. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Publishing, 2005.

Gabarro, J. J. "Managing Relationships with Superiors." In Encyclopedia of Career and Work Issues, edited by L. Jones. Phoenix: Oryx Press, 1992.

Gabarro, John J., and Anne Harlan. "Understanding and Influencing Group Process." In Managing People and Organizations, edited by John J. Gabarro. Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press, 1992.

Gabarro, John J. "The Development of Working Relationships." In Intellectual Teamwork: Social and Technological Bases of Collaborative Work, edited by C. Egido, J. Galesher and R. E. Kraut. Hillsdale, N.J.: Bell Labs/Lawrence Erlbaum, 1990.

Gabarro, John J. "Taking Charge." In Designing and Managing Your Career. 1st ed. Edited by Harry Levinson. Boston: Harvard Business School Press, 1989.

Gabarro, John J. "Executive Leadership and Succession: The Process of Taking Charge." In The Executive Effect: Concepts and Methods for Studying Top Managers, edited by Donald C. Hambrick. New York: J.A.I. Press, 1988.

Gabarro, John J. "The Development of Working Relationships." In The Handbook of Organizational Behavior, edited by Jay W. Lorsch. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1987.

Gabarro, John J. "Communication in One-to-One Relationships." In Managing Behavior in Organizations, edited by Leonard A. Schlesinger, Robert G. Eccles and John J. Gabarro. New York: McGraw Hill, 1983.

Harlan, Anne and John J. Gabarro. "Observing Group Process Dynamics." In Managing Behavior in Organizations, edited by Leonard A. Schlesinger, Robert G. Eccles and John J. Gabarro. New York: McGraw Hill, 1983.

Schlesinger, Leonard A. and John J. Gabarro. "Some Preliminary Thoughts on Action Planning." In Managing Behavior in Organizations, edited by Leonard A. Schlesinger, Robert G. Eccles and John J. Gabarro. New York: McGraw Hill, 1983.

Gabarro, John J. "The Social Motives." In Managing Behavior in Organizations, edited by Leonard A. Schlesinger, Robert G. Eccles and John J. Gabarro. New York: McGraw Hill, 1983.

Gabarro, John J. "Stages in Management Succession." In Research and Course Development Profile, Boston, Mass.: Harvard Business School Press, 1983.

Gabarro, John J., and Cyrus F. Gibson. "Managing Communications and Conflict in Interpersonal Relationships." In Managing Organizational Behavior, edited by C.F. Gibson. Homewood, Ill.: Richard D. Irwin, 1980.

Gabarro, John J. "The Development of Trust, Influence and Expectations." In Interpersonal Behavior, edited by Anthony Athos and John J. Gabarro. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall, 1978.

Gabarro, John J. "Organizational Adaptation to Environmental Change." In Organizational Systems: General Systems Approaches to Complex Organizations, edited by Frank Baker. Homewood, Ill.: Richard D. Irwin, 1974.

Allen, Stephen, and John J. Gabarro. "Sociotechnical and Cognitive Models." In Organization Planning, edited by Jay W. Lorsch and Paul R. Lawrence. Homewood, Ill.: Richard D. Irwin, 1972.

Other Papers

Ira, Kay, and John J. Gabarro. "Executive Pay in a Crises Environment." Working Paper, 2009.

Gabarro, John J., Thomas J. DeLong, and Robert Lees. "Motivational Dynamics of Professionals." 2009.

Gabarro, John J., Thomas J. DeLong, and Robert Lees. "Organizational Alignment in Professional Services." 2009.

Gabarro, John J., Thomas J. DeLong, and Rob Lees. "The Producing Manager: A Double-Barreled Role." 2008.

Gabarro, John J., Thomas J. DeLong, and Robert Lees. "Practice Segmentation in Professional Services." 2007.

Gabarro, John J., Thomas J. DeLong, and Robert Lees. "Professional Service Firms: A Breed Apart." 2007.

HBS Course Materials

Gabarro, John J. "Acton-Burnett, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 476-018.

Gabarro, John J. "Aston-Blair, Inc." Harvard Business School Case 494-015.

Gabarro, John J. "Badger (Belgium) N.V. (A)." Harvard Business School Case 481-127.

Gabarro, John J. "Badger (Belgium) N.V. (B)." Harvard Business School Case 481-128.

Gabarro, John J. "Badger (Belgium) N.V. (C)." Harvard Business School Case 481-129.

Gabarro, John J., and John B. Matthews Jr. "Bradley Shaw." Harvard Business School Case 483-062.

Gabarro, John J., and Andrew P. Burtis. "Brainard, Bennis & Farrell (A)." Harvard Business School Case 495-037.

Gabarro, John J. "Brief Biographical Note on General George S. Patton." Harvard Business School Note 485-150.

Gabarro, John J. "A Brief Note on Social Motives." Harvard Business School Note 477-053.

Gabarro, John J. "Bull HN Brighton Facility." Harvard Business School Case 492-008.

Gabarro, John J., and Jay W. Lorsch. "Cambridge Consulting Group: Bob Anderson." Harvard Business School Case 496-023.

Gabarro, John J. "Chris Cooke at Holderness Corporation (A)." Harvard Business School Case 400-049.

Gabarro, John J. "Chris Cooke at Holderness Corporation (B)." Harvard Business School Case 400-050.

Gabarro, John J. "David O'Conner." Harvard Business School Case 495-054.

Beer, Michael, John J. Gabarro, and Michael L. Tushman. "Developing an Effective Living Group." Harvard Business School Note 406-051.

Beer, Michael, and John J. Gabarro. "Developing an Effective Living Group in the General Management Program." Harvard Business School Note 407-022.

Gabarro, John J. "Erik Peterson (A)." Harvard Business School Case 494-005.

Gabarro, John J., and Judith Maas. "Erik Peterson (A) - (E) and Richard Jenkins TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 496-046.

Gabarro, John J. "Erik Peterson (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 494-006.

Gabarro, John J. "Erik Peterson (C)." Harvard Business School Supplement 494-007.

Gabarro, John J. "Erik Peterson (D)." Harvard Business School Supplement 494-008.

Gabarro, John J. "Erik Peterson (E)." Harvard Business School Supplement 494-009.

Gabarro, John J., and Samantha Graff. "Ernst & Young United Kingdom (A)." Harvard Business School Case 495-061.

Gabarro, John J., and Samantha Graff. "Ernst & Young United Kingdom (A) (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 496-049.

Gabarro, John J., and Samantha Graff. "Ernst & Young United Kingdom (B)." Harvard Business School Case 496-010.

Gabarro, John J., and Samantha Graff. "Ernst & Young United Kingdom (B) (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 496-050.

Gabarro, John J., and Andrew P. Burtis. "Eugene Kearney (A)." Harvard Business School Case 495-036.

Gabarro, John J. "Eugene Kearney (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 495-040.

Gabarro, John J. "Field Sales at Holderness Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 400-051.

Gabarro, John J. "Frank Mason (A)." Harvard Business School Case 476-019.

Gabarro, John J. "Frank Mason (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 476-020.

Gabarro, John J. "Geoffrey Stoughton." Harvard Business School Case 495-053.

Gabarro, John J. "Hollandsche Beton Groep N.V. (A)." Harvard Business School Case 485-181.

Gabarro, John J. "Hollandsche Beton Groep N.V. (B)." Harvard Business School Case 485-182.

Gabarro, John J. "Hollandsche Beton Groep N.V. (C): The Sale and Terms of the Social Plan." Harvard Business School Case 485-183.

Gabarro, John J., and Leslie Freeman. "Ian Woods at Wellington Peterson & Co." Harvard Business School Case 403-071.

Lorsch, Jay W., and John J. Gabarro. "Inland Steel Corp." Harvard Business School Case 413-058.

Khaire, Mukti, John J. Gabarro, and Lynda M. Applegate. "Jack Strang at SequenceLabs." Harvard Business School Case 806-088.

Gabarro, John J., and Andrew P. Burtis. "James Cranfield." Harvard Business School Case 495-035.

Gabarro, John J. "James Edwards (A)." Harvard Business School Case 474-221.

Gabarro, John J. "James Edwards (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 474-222.

Gabarro, John J., and Thomas M. Claflin II. "Jane and Gordon Simms." Harvard Business School Case 489-021.

Gabarro, John J., and Colleen Kaftan. "Konigsbrau-Hellas A.E. (B1)." Harvard Business School Case 482-117.

Gabarro, John J., and Colleen Kaftan. "Konigsbrau-Hellas A.E. (C)." Harvard Business School Supplement 482-119.

Gabarro, John J., and Colleen Kaftan. "Konigsbrau-Hellas A.E. (D)." Harvard Business School Case 483-005.

Gabarro, John J., and Linda A. Hill. "Leadership and Organizational Behavior (LEAD) 2000 Winter Term: Course Overview and Syllabus." Harvard Business School Note 498-048.

Gabarro, John J. "Leadership and Organizational Behavior (LEAD), Winter Term Course Overview and Syllabus." Harvard Business School Note 497-053.

Beer, Michael, and John J. Gabarro. "Leading a Discussion in AMP." Harvard Business School Note 403-124.

Beer, Michael, John J. Gabarro, and Michael L. Tushman. "Learning in the Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program." Harvard Business School Note 406-050.

Beer, Michael, and John J. Gabarro. "Learning in the Harvard Business School's General Management Program." Harvard Business School Note 407-026.

Gabarro, John J., and Linda A. Hill. "Managing Performance." Harvard Business School Note 496-022.

Gabarro, John J. "Maureen Frye at Quaker Steel and Alloy Corporation." Harvard Business School Case 496-024.

Gabarro, John J., and James G. Clawson. "Meeting of the Overhead Reduction Task Force." Harvard Business School Case 478-013.

Gabarro, John J., James P. Ware, and James G. Clawson. "Meeting of the Overhead Reduction Task Force, Video." Harvard Business School Video Supplements 884-502.

Gabarro, John J. "Nedco Groep (A)." Harvard Business School Case 482-120.

Gabarro, John J. "Nedco Groep (C)." Harvard Business School Case 483-060.

Gabarro, John J., and Dominik E.D. Zehnder. "Nicolas G. Hayek." Harvard Business School Case 495-005.

Gabarro, John J., and Dominik E.D. Zehnder. "Nicolas G. Hayek TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 495-006.

Gabarro, John J. "Note on Process Observation." Harvard Business School Note 477-029.

Gabarro, John J. "Nuclear Tube Assembly Room (A) (Condensed)." Harvard Business School Case 477-070.

Gabarro, John J., and Andrew P. Burtis. "Old Colony Associates, The." Harvard Business School Case 495-034.

Beer, Michael, and John J. Gabarro. "Organizational Alignment Exercise." Harvard Business School Exercise 403-075.

Gabarro, John J. "Organizational Alignment, Performance, and Change in Professional Service Firms." Harvard Business School Note 908-416.

Gabarro, John J., and Linda A. Hill. "Orientation for Viewing the Cranfield-Kearney Performance Appraisal Interview." Harvard Business School Supplement 496-009.

Gabarro, John J. "Peter Olafson (A)." Harvard Business School Case 475-025.

Gabarro, John J. "Peter Olafson (B)." Harvard Business School Case 475-026.

Gabarro, John J. "Peter Olafson (C)." Harvard Business School Case 475-027.

Gabarro, John J. "Peter Olafson (D)." Harvard Business School Case 475-028.

Gabarro, John J. "Peter Olafson (E)." Harvard Business School Case 475-029.

Gabarro, John J. "Process Engineering Proposal." Harvard Business School Supplement 478-008.

Gabarro, John J., and Thomas J. DeLong. "The Producing Manager: A Double-Barreled Role." Harvard Business School Note 908-415.

Gabarro, John J. "Quaker Steel and Alloy Corp." Harvard Business School Case 480-063.

Gabarro, John J. "Quaker Steel and Alloy Corp., Action Plan." Harvard Business School Supplement 481-051.

Gabarro, John J., Herminia M. Ibarra, John P. Kotter, and Andrew P. Burtis. "Recruiting at Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co." Harvard Business School Case 494-071.

Gabarro, John J. "Reflective Technique in a Broader Perspective: Directive as Well as Reflective Leads and Responses." Harvard Business School Note 475-042.

Gabarro, John J., and Andrew P. Burtis. "Richard Jenkins." Harvard Business School Case 494-113.

Gabarro, John J. "Robert F. Kennedy High School." Harvard Business School Case 474-183.

Gabarro, John J. "Robert F. Kennedy High School, Teaching Note." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 479-021.

Gabarro, John J. "Some Notes on Action Planning and Implementation." Harvard Business School Note 478-027.

Gabarro, John J. "Sturdivant Electric Corp.: An Action Plan." Harvard Business School Note 480-071.

Gabarro, John J. "Thom Sailer (A&B)." Harvard Business School Case 475-098.

Gabarro, John J. "Thurgood Marshall High School." Harvard Business School Case 494-070.

Gabarro, John J. "Thurgood Marshall High School TN." Harvard Business School Teaching Note 494-087.

Gabarro, John J. "Tim Blanchard at Jones Mendel & Co." Harvard Business School Case 402-052.

Gabarro, John J., and Samantha Graff. "Transformation at Ernst & Young, United Kingdom." Harvard Business School Case 498-049.

Gabarro, John J., and Samantha Graff. "Transformation at Ernst & Young, United Kingdom (Abridged)." Harvard Business School Case 400-064.

Lorsch, Jay W., and John J. Gabarro. "TRW Systems Group (D)." Harvard Business School Case 413-066.

Gabarro, John J. "Understanding and Helping Another Person." Harvard Business School Note 475-039.

Athos, Anthony, and John J. Gabarro. "Understanding Another Person, Part I: The Individual Frame of Reference." Harvard Business School Note 473-009.

Athos, Anthony, and John J. Gabarro. "Understanding Another Person, Part II: Some Aspects of Self-Concept." Harvard Business School Note 473-008.

Gabarro, John J. "Understanding Communications in One-To-One Relationships." Harvard Business School Note 476-075.

Gabarro, John J. "William Jurgens." Harvard Business School Case 476-123.

Gabarro, John J. "Wolfgang Keller at Konigsbrau-TAK (A)." Harvard Business School Case 498-045.

Gabarro, John J. "Wolfgang Keller at Konigsbrau-TAK (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 498-046.