book

Management Skills

by David Rohlander

December 2014

Beginner

368 pages

8h 49m

English

Alpha

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A Beauty and a BurdenPeople, Productivity, and ProfitsPeopleProductivityProfitsSuccess from the StartListening and ObservingAsking QuestionsFrom Worker to Manager Mind-SetThe Right AttitudeOthers’ MotivationBeware the PitfallsManaging Your EgoManaging Your EmotionsPracticing Self-DisciplineCreating BalanceExpressing KindnessCrushing Competitiveness
What Success MeansBe—Do—HaveFranklin’s VirtuesHabits, Good and BadQualities of a Good ManagerGood Managers Are Self-ImproversGood Managers Are RelatableGood Managers Are Organized and in ControlGood Managers Are ProactiveGood Managers Are FocusedGood Managers Are PlannersGood Managers Are CommunicatorsGood Managers Are DelegatersGood Managers Are ControllersGood Managers Are Executers
It Takes All TypesThe Value-Driven ManagerThe Political ManagerThe Results-Driven ManagerWhat Type Are You?You’re Not AloneManager as SpecialistManager as SupervisorManager as Supporter
Some Discomfort Can Be a Good ThingOvercoming Fears and DoubtsSuccessful Introvert and Extrovert ManagersDirective and DominantInfluencing and Interested in PeopleSteady and StableCompetent and CautiousWhich Style Is Best?Reading PeopleThe D’sThe I’sThe S’sThe C’sHazards to AvoidSpeak Softly, and People Will Listen
Watching Their BehaviorSetting Standards and ExpectationsEstablishing Open and Honest CommunicationBuilding TrustGiving RespectInspiring LoyaltyCreating Commitment

Understanding MotivationGiving Guidance and DirectionDefining and Setting GoalsWrite Down Your GoalsState Your Goals in Positive TermsShare Your GoalsSSMARTT GoalsCreating a Positive EnvironmentBuilding a Successful TeamDiversityCooperationEffectiveness
The Satisfaction Value ChainTake Care of Your PeopleMaintain Your Value ChainOne-to-One MeetingsCrafting Effective Performance AppraisalsThe Benefits of AppraisalsWhat to MeasureThe Importance of FeedbackRewarding for High Achievement
Categorizing PerformanceImprove Efficiency and EffectivenessWatch IndividualsBuilding Your PeopleChoosing a Positive AttitudeEncouraging Continual LearningKeep Them LearningKeep EncouragingBe Their CoachMeaningful Mentoring
Individualized ManagementMaking Friends of StrangersUnderstanding Generational DifferencesNurturing RelationshipsReach OutListen, Listen, ListenMake Better MeetingsEstablishing Your CredibilityEmbracing Diversity
Defining Your Ideal CandidateCrafting a Job DescriptionEvaluating Backgrounds and SkillsFactoring in Culture and CharacterAttracting the Best CandidatesLet the Hunt BeginWorking with Internal RecruitersHiring Employment Agencies
Meeting CandidatesUsing AssessmentsEmploying ExercisesHolding InterviewsAsking QuestionsMaking a DecisionMaking an Offer
The First ImpressionMeeting the MentorMaking IntroductionsMore First-Day To-DosYour Orientation PlanCompany PoliciesTrainingMonitoringEffective TrainingMistakes to AvoidUnclear ExpectationsOld HabitsLow Emotional IntelligenceInadequate FeedbackLack of Caring
What Matters MostListeningClaritySelf-DisclosureCommunicating via Written WordKeys to Writing WellEmail EssentialsPublic SpeakingFear Is NormalPerfect Your PresentationMaking Your Delivery Dynamic
Why Are You Meeting?Elements of Successful MeetingsPlanningAgendaDuring the MeetingBe Positive and EnthusiasticInvolve EveryoneAdd VarietyCircle BackFollow UpFundamental Meeting Guidelines
Do, Defer, Delegate, or Destroy?Should You Do or Defer?Should You Delegate?Should You Destroy?Making DecisionsMaintaining ControlAnalyzing the SituationTaking Appropriate ActionThe Best Way to DelegateHow to Do ItLevels of DelegationThe Results of DelegationAuthority and ResponsibilityBeware the RisksGiving and Receiving FeedbackRewards and Responsibility
People PlusThe Importance of LeverageThe Importance of the Knowledge WorkerSystems and ProcessesEstablished Systems and ProcessesYour Systems and ProcessesHow Do You Measure Results?Inspect What You ExpectProject PlanningFinancial EssentialsThe Value of Your Company and Your PeopleThe Cost of MoneyAccounting for DepreciationThe Problem with Cash FlowAccounting Fundamentals
The Best (and Worst) of EmailEmail Time ManagementEmail Best PracticesWeb ConferencingSocial NetworkingUnderstanding Your AudienceDo or Delegate?Making and Keeping ConnectionsListen and LearnDealing with ChangeEmbracing ChangeBecoming an Agent of Change
Change Starts with YouLeading ChangeHelping Others Deal with ChangeProperly Placing PeopleWho Are the Right People?Understanding Your EmployeesCapitalizing on TalentConsidering Behavior StylesConsidering Types of IntelligenceLocation, Location, LocationOrganizational RestructuringListen and LearnThe Importance of PowerCycles of Change
The What and Why of ConflictSuccessful Conflict ResolutionListenShareBuild BridgesExplore PossibilitiesNegotiate a Win-WinHandling Conflict with EmployeesDealing with an Out-of-Bounds EmployeeDealing with Performance ProblemsDealing with TroublemakersAvoiding Conflict with Your BossMaintain ProfessionalismWork on Your Own Referent PowerThe Inevitable Office Politics
Attaining Success and Significance—or Falling Short“You’re Fired”Building Your CaseGiving a WarningFiring an EmployeeConducting a LayoffWhen You Have to Fire Good PeopleKeeping the Keepers HappyLearning from This ExperienceIdentifying Mistakes MadeInterviewing Better
Up in the CloudAdvantages and Disadvantages of the CloudIs the Cloud for You?Managing Out-of-House EmployeesPlaying Beautiful Music TogetherThe Continuing Importance of Measurement
Your ResponsibilityTheir Reasons; Your ReasonsStaying FocusedHappy, Healthy WorkersFinding BalanceHow Can You Help?Friends and FamilyManager and FriendCoworker and RelativeDealing with Performance ProblemsWellnessNutritionExerciseSleepMental AlertnessEmotional Well-Being
Let’s Get RealDefining Your ValuesPrioritizing Your LifeApplying Your Lists to Your LifeMaking the Most of Your Personal TimeScheduling Time with FamilyParticipating in ClubsGathering with Like-Minded PeersGetting Away from It AllBeing Interested and InterestingShowing InterestMaking a Connection
To Have or To Be?Donating Your MoneyGiving Your TimeSharing Your IdeasLending Your TalentThe Importance of Corporate and Social ResponsibilitySharing Your KnowledgeServing Your Industry
Making It a CareerCreating a Winning Track RecordThinking About the Big PictureGetting a Bountiful Management HarvestTracking Your AchievementsStaying FlexibleThe Importance of Being PreparedBecoming a LeaderYour Future as a Manager
A Glossary

Overview

Being a manager is tough, and being a first-time manager is even tougher. Idiot's Guides: Management Skills is a hands-on guide to helping managers of all experience levels survive and thrive in the often murky and difficult world of management. Readers of all skill levels will benefit from this book. First-time managers will learn how to make the transition from peer to leader, how to formulate their own management style, the basics of managing people, how to recruit and hire key talent, and how to communicate constructively. Experienced managers will benefit from proven advice and techniques to help fine-tune their skills and deal with many of the most common problems that every manager is confronted with - from hiring and firing, to dealing with problem employees, to motivating and inspiring employees to be self-driven and successful. Along the way all readers will learn essential skills that will help them be more successful as a manager and employee.