The role of manager can be a daunting one, particularly if you have been thrown into the deep end and your organization is suffering from financial or performance problems. Becoming a competent manager is an ongoing process that requires distilling years of experience, lessons and wisdom - if only there was a definitive guide to success! Certainly this is something that the Bahamas Electricity Corporation's (BEC) management team will be asking following public criticism from former Minister of Works and Urban Development Neko Grant in the House of Assembly last week.
This is where 'The Essentials of Management' can help new, aspiring and even existing managers improve their effectiveness. The author, Andrew Leigh, is a business journalist and consultant who has worked with a range of high profile clients including Aviva, Barclaycard, DHL, KPMG, Ernst and Young and Visa. First published 30 years ago, this manual has been periodically updated, providing the comfort of knowing that its principles have been tried and tested over three decades.
Leigh divides 'The Essentials of Management' into three performance areas:
1. Manage self: Which covers subjects such as emotional intelligence, the importance of active listening, networking and delivering under pressure.
2. Manage others: Covering the key principles of leadership, team working, negotiation and effectively managing problem people.
3. Manage the organization: looking at the challenges of implementing change, cultural issues, decision making, creativity, innovation and recruitment. By mastering these three areas, Leigh explains that managers can realize the secret to success which is "to be assertive about managing personal energy".
In reality this translates into saying "no" to wasteful demands on your energy, keeping yourself fit and healthy and staying focused on your key tasks. In other words, operating efficiently so you don't end up working silly hours, (avoiding excessive overtime for example) and stopping yourself succumbing to unrealistic expectations and excess stress that will ultimately result in failure. 'The Essentials of Management' is crammed full of clever tips and know-how that seasoned, experienced and ultimately successful managers already know.
You will pick up effective ideas and learn the practical skills that will help you become a better and more productive manager who really delivers results. Many may argue that this would help alleviate BEC's financial problems and 'power' its drive to improved performance by 'switching on' to this management approach. o 'The Essentials of Management' by Andrew Leigh. Published by Pearson Prentice-Hall Prof and available from www.Amazon.com. o Keith Appleton JP, BA (Hons), N.Dip.M, MInstLM has extensive experience within an academic, managerial and strategic leadership role. He is a member of the UK Institute of Leadership & Management and can be contacted at KeithAppleton@Hotmail.co.uk or follow him at twitter.com/WritingRightNow.
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