Skills for New Managers

Introduction ix
About the Author xiv
1. The Perfect New Manager 1
Who’s Your Model? 1
Rating Your Leadership 3
Drafting Your Own “Management Credo” 5
Paying the Price of Success 8
“Use” Your Employees—Without Making Them Feel Used 9
Testing Your Assumptions 11
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 1 13
2. Piercing Six Myths of Management 15
Myth 1: You Must Call All the Shots 16
Myth 2: You Can’t Trust Anyone 18
Myth 3: You Must Remain Objective at All Times 19
Myth 4: You Must Defend Your Staff 20
Myth 5: You Cannot Back Down 22
Myth 6: You’re the Best Teacher 24
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 2 26
3. Building Momentum in a New Job 27
Consistency Counts 27
Love at First Sight? 29
Score a Quick Win 32
Unclog “Input Channels” 34
Are You Ready for Anything? 37
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 3 39
4. Managing to Listen 41
Tapping the Power of Silence 43
What’s to Learn? 44
The Three Steps of Listening 46
Fighting Off the Defensive Reflex 49
How’s Your Body Language? 51
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 4 52
5. Speaking Like a Leader 55
A Voice That Roars 55
Packaging Your Points 58
Pruning the Deadwood 60
Asking the Right Questions 63
Make Your Words Sink In 65
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 5 67
6. The Art of Motivation 69
Press the Right Buttons 70
Moving Beyond Money 75
Knowledge: The Ultimate Motivator 77
Motivating the “Unmotivatable” 80
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 6 82
7. Dishing Out Criticism 83
Focus on Performance, Not Personality 85
Express Criticism as a Question 88
Connect Past to Future 91
Avoid Criticism That Bites Back 92
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 7 95
8. Discipline That Pays Off 97
What’s at Stake? 97
Disciplining the Uncooperative Pest 99
How to Play Referee 100
When to “Write Up” an Employee 102
Getting Personal 105
Discipline That Sticks 108
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 8 109
9. The Organized Manager 111
Are You Running on Time? 112
Maximizing Each Hour 113
Banishing Time Wasters 116
Showcasing Your Organizational Skills 120
Making Meetings Work 121
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 9 123
10. Delegating the Right Way 125
Loosening Your Grip 126
Giving Good Directions 128
Choosing With Care 130
Managing a Breakdown 133
Bottom-Up Delegation 135
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 10 137
11. Managing the Boss 139
Upward Communication Traps 140
Caught in the Middle 142
Pick the Right Personality 144
The Magic of “Underpromise/Overdeliver” 147
Giving Progress Reports 148
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 11 150
12. Cultivating a Network 151
Maximize Social Media 151
Enliven Your Presence 154
Make the First Minute Count 154
Tracking Your Progress 156
Who Knows About You? 158
Fighting Off Fears 159
Mingling with Outsiders 161
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 12 164
13. Leading Teams to Triumph 165
Manage Your Message 166
Give Everyone Equal Attention 169
Confront Conflict Head-On 170
The Truth About Brainstorming 172
Know What You Don't Know 174
New Manager’s Checklist for Chapter 13 177
14. Five Tests Every Manager Faces 179
1. Managing Contract Workers 181
2. Supervising People You Can't See 183
3. Managing Peers 185
4. Spying on Workers 187
5. Combating Workplace Violence 189
New Manager's Checklist for Chapter 14 191
Index 193

PROVEN TIPS TO HANDLE EVERYDAY MANAGEMENT SITUATIONS --ALL IN A FAST-MOVING, EASY-TO-REFERENCE FORMAT

Managing people is one of the most demanding yet career-enhancing and rewarding skills you can have. Skills for New Managers, Second Edition, provides everything you need to excel as a manager from day one. From hiring productive employees to developing mentoring, leadership, and coaching skills, this fast-paced, easy-to-understand guide is your blueprint for managing your staff to success.

• Getting results by knowing when to speak up--and when to listen
• Motivating your staff to exceed expectations
• Delegating tasks and dealing with crises
• Running meetings that are organized and focused

Briefcase Books, written specifically for today's busy manager, feature eye-catching icons, checklists, and sidebars to guide managers step-by-step through everyday workplace situations. Look for these innovative design features to help you navigate through each page:

• Clear definitions of key terms and concepts
• Tactics and strategies for managing your staff
• Tips for executing the tactics in the book
• Practical advice for minimizing the possibility of error
• Warning signs for when things are about to go wrong
• Examples of successful management tactics
• Specific planning procedures, tactics, and hands-on techniques