Managing For Dummies: How To Reach The Top
George Purdy
The modern executive rarely believes in managing by the 'seat of your pants?, realizing that it is not practical in today's business world. Those who manage others need to have practical, working knowledge, and they need to get it from any relevant source, including training and the use of different management techniques. Many opt for management coaching courses, while others opt for business coaching in a one on one setting, while yet others prefer self study.
Nearly everyone is familiar with the "Dummies" instruction book series, covering topics as diverse as golf and trigonometry. Now, "Managing for Dummies" has been added to this always useful product line. Regardless of whether you are a rookie manager who is just getting your feet wet, or a seasoned veteran looking to sharpen your trouble shooting and management skills, "Managing for Dummies" has useful and well-organized information to help you excel.
Just like the rest of the "For Dummies" series, Managing for Dummies makes no assumptions about past experience and won't insult you for being new to the field. This book is a witty, well structured, and easily understood look at the major components of management and the keys to success in the managing world.
A problem that many managers experience is trying to do everything themselves rather than delegating. The book makes an excellent case for why successful managers need to manage carefully-chosen staffs which do the actual work. Integral parts of this managerial skill is in knowing how to find and hire well-qualified workers for their team.
Teamwork is the wave of the future as companies are discovering that more and more specific problems as well as the successful implementation of new or changed policies are handled better by team effort. Skill areas that are covered are conflict resolution, employee coaching, team development, and joint effort.
The book "Managing for Dummies" places a lot of emphasis on the importance of good communication skills. Without communicating effectively, the knowledge or innovative thinking of any manager won't amount to much. You can't motivate without communicating, and good communicators get great results in terms of performance from their employees.
Managers must have the flexibility to adapt rapidly to changes in critical deadlines. They must also have the managerial skills to help the members of their workforce go with the flow, no matter how rapidly it changes. The book includes discussions about developing standards for corporate ethics and ways to effectively deal with office politics.
Another important, hard skill for managers is evaluating how well the company and your employees are performing. How to go about doing this is also explained in the book. It will help you understand the value of constructive criticism, rewarding great performance, and also how and when to let go of people should their performance no longer live up to the needs and expectations of the company. Like with all "Dummies" books, it both offers a great way to learn the basics and to gain a fresh view on the topic.
Modern executives have recognized that management by the "seat of the pants" method is rarely enough in the current business world. People who manage others need every bit of training and savvy they can get, and now use many methods and techniques to get it. Many will take management coaching courses and some receive one on one business coaching from a professional coach as well, but some prefer to use or add self study. Nearly everyone is familiar with the "Dummies" instruction book series, covering topics as diverse as golf and trigonometry. Now, "Managing for Dummies" has been added to this always useful product line.
About the Author:
George Purdy is a well-known public speaker on management coaching and has written several articles on it. Look for more info on management coaching. More resources to help you at site: executive coaching.
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