Successful Manager's Handbook: Development Suggestions for Today's Managers

This handbook is like having a management development consultant at your side to provide advice on development activities specifically suited to you and others you are coaching. It offers a collection of on-the-job development suggestions and stretch experiences in a format that is easy to understand and use. The Handbook also lists public seminars and their providers, and books related to each skill area.

From Chapter 1: When Ed Jones took over a new division, his staff was impressed by his leadership abilities. Ed quickly and accurately assessed problems and made sound decisions.

As the months went by, however, Ed's staff became less enthusiastic. Because Ed lacked the necessary administrative skills, his decisions were not effectively implemented. His inability to develop effective processes for project completion, to form organizational structures that capitalized on the complementary strengths of his staff, and to structure his own time made it difficult for his staff members to perform their responsibilities effectively. As a result, everyone's productivity suffered.

As this case illustrates, an effective manager possesses a balance of leadership and administrative skills - leadership skills to identify what to do, and administrative skills to get things done.

This chapter stresses the administrative aspect of management. It presents development activities in the following areas to help you structure your efforts and those of others to attain maximum productivity.