In any organization of size, there are usually three distinct levels of management. No matter how many managers there are, or layered the levels, there are still only three. Each layer has a critical strategic function to perform and in… Read More ›
Managing & Leading
THE FINE ART OF HIRING
Most managers who have logged a few years of experience hiring employees will tell you that it is harder than you might think. If lucky, a few of those hires have been spectacular successes. Most hopefully have turned out OK…. Read More ›
THE APPROPRIATE FOCUS OF MANAGEMENT CONTROL
Most of us at some time have experienced the downsides of over-controlling management. Micromanagement discourages subordinate initiative, damages organizational morale, and inexorably leads to less than optimal subordinate performance. Managers who try to exercise control over everything their subordinates do,… Read More ›
YOUR HALLWAY FILE
If you work for an organization of some size, chances are you have an official personnel file housed in HR. Management reviews these files periodically and they may play an important role in some of your career decisions, especially when… Read More ›
THE PERSON THAT GETS UNDER YOUR SKIN
At some point in everyone’s work life we encounter that person — boss, peer, senior manager, or subordinate that simply “gets under our skin”. There is something about them — their style, voice, mannerisms, daily behavior, attitude, routine commentary, or… Read More ›
MANAGING WITHOUT “MANAGING”
Recently a good friend and former boss of mine and I were exchanging emails. The subject of management came up and he suggested that I write a blog about managing without “managing”. As I read on in his email I… Read More ›
DEMEANING SUBORDINATES IS NEVER OK
If you have ever received a highly personal verbal attack from a boss, you know how embarrassing, demoralizing, emotionally traumatic, and infuriating that can be. It’s even worse if it was done in public If you have spent any time… Read More ›
THE COST OF UNNECESSARY ORGANIZATIONAL SECRECY
You wonder what’s going on at work? Things just don’t seem right. You called your friend top-side who works with the boss and they told you there have been a lot of behind-closed-door discussions among the managers of late but… Read More ›
GOOD MANAGERS EXCELL IN ALL VENUES
Bruce Bochy is a good manager. His profession is baseball. He is not a household name even among true baseball fans and he does not win championships every season. But this year his team, the San Francisco Giants, won the… Read More ›
YOUR COMMITMENTS MUST MEAN SOMETHING
I am often asked how one recognizes a really great manager. Well, in almost all of the articles I have included in the site, I have addressed some form of behavior that tends to separate certain managers from the pack…. Read More ›
What Best Mnagers Know & Do 