Fundamentals of Effective Management

Delivered in Chicago several years ago...it's a candid and informational look at a few essentials to effective management.

For information on additional topics for keynotes and training seminars, go to: http://www.joanncorley.com/Topics.html

Are You Prepared For 21st Century Leadership?

There has been a study released conducted by the well respected Center for Creative Leadership, where this question was posed, “Do the leaders within your organization have the skills they need to be successful in the future?”  Several thousand leaders participated in the study, the results of which produced a list of key skills necessary for leadership success.

Here they are:

1. Leading people: directing and motivating people.
2. Strategic planning: translating vision into realistic business strategies, including long-term objectives.
3. Managing change: using effective strategies to facilitate organizational change.
4. Inspiring commitment: recognizing and rewarding employees’ achievements.
5. Resourcefulness: working effectively with top management.
6. Doing whatever it takes: persevering under adverse conditions.
7. Being a quick learner: quickly learning new technical or business knowledge

I would say no matter what level of leadership and management you hold, the ability to do these things well will make a difference in your leadership success.

This is pretty cut and dry and I wanted to post the list for your self assessment and reference.  YET, the other critical and essential question that must be asked in conjunction to this question is this: “Do your leaders have the qualities (different than skills) to effectively lead your organization now and into the future?”

Revealed in the study referenced above are answers to this question, though the question was not posed in my way.  What was recorded were other qualities leaders felt that they had that were valuable, but  considered not as important though necessary.

• building and mending relationships,
• compassion and sensitivity,
• cultural adaptability,
• respecting individual differences,
• composure,
• and self-awareness.

WHAT!…not as important…ghez!  This study again reveals the great disconnect between qualities, functional skill and effective leadership.  In fact the very qualities listed about are EXACTLY what is needed to execute the original list with some measure of success.

We’ve got to begin to see that business IS behavior and the qualities that drive it.  To expand on this, please download my expanded article The Behavior of Business. For those who do get it, you will set yourself apart and help lead your company to greater profitability no matter what role you have!
Get here: http://www.joanncorley.com/uploads/The_Behavior_of_Biz_-_c.pdf

Special Announcement - New Book Release - The 1% Edge

The 1% Edge - Power Strategies to Increase Your Management Effectiveness
Authored by JoAnn R. Corley

Buy here: https://www.createspace.com/3467099

In the years that I've conducted seminars across the country, I've come to this conclusion: relevant knowledge can come in small packages. It could be one quote, one principle that when applied can gain significant results.

I once coached a derailing executive where it was determined that the most essential action to turning around his performance was taking the time to plan.

You mean it was something as simple as applying one principle - taking the time to plan was the initial targeting solution? Believe it or not - yes! The simple act of planning his week and in that mapping in his schedule the most critical, non-negotiable actions got immediate, necessary results. In fact, within a few weeks, his direct report saw a complete turn around in his performance.

Awh....there's the formula - one simple principle applied generated a significant, meaningful, intended result.

There in lies the premise of this book. I've taken many of my "small package" simple tips, principles, and how-tos and laid them out in a compact book format for your consideration. This is targeted learning for busy people. Targeted learning is getting at the meat or essence of something quickly...so it can be used just as quickly.

Also this book is compact enough you can carry it with you. Consider this your portable coach!

The tips are broken up into categories; areas that you may want to target for development. Each is what I consider a "high-impact" area. High-impact means if there is growth in that area, there will be a greater measure of satisfying results.

This book is also designed for self-coaching. There is space on each page for notes, a draft action plan, and a names of those with whom you'll want to share the information. When you share information with others, it's reinforced within yourself.

The mantra of this book? Learn, plan, act, and pass it on.

If you'd like to participate in an ongoing dialogue for how to get and maintain your 1% for your management and/or career success go to the 1% blog: www.the1percentedge.com

Or join the newly forming community on Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/pages/JoAnn-Corley-The-1-Edge/121451387909734

The Key To Professional Success - Be People Wise

This blog is underwritten by Management-in-Minutes, a portable learning resource for the busy professional that uses "laser learning" to accelerate building a knowledge base. The lessons are short (usually 2-4 minutes) and on each lesson page there is an audio clip with it's text version and an mp3 download link for portability.

Every so often a lesson will be posted in this blog for you to sample. This lesson is in the Sample Library, which you can access here: Sample Lessons

The Lesson: How People Operate
Would you like one of the best professional success tips? A key to success that will transcend any generation? Learn how and why people operate the way they do. The easiest way to lay a foundation for that knowledge is through the use of personality or temperament profiles....read on.

 

How People Operate

Audio Lesson –  Duration: 3 mins. 20 secs.

1. Double click arrow to LISTEN NOW! 

2.  Read along with the transcript below or print and read for later.

3.  Right click the MP3 FILE link MP3 to download and "save as"

     to your hard drive for continuous listening or to transfer to your mobile device.

4.  For additional lessons use the Search Box (top left) or the Download Library (top right).

 

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 Transcript 

How People Operate

WC: 408

Read time: 1-2 mins.

 

I remember when I got a new car several years ago and it had many new gadgets and functions I was not familiar with. For the first time in my adult life, I actually pulled out an owner’s manual for a car. I needed to learn how to operate every aspect of this vehicle to experience its full potential.

 

You know that really is the same when it comes to managers and their teams. I wish that when someone was promoted to management, they received a book entitled – How People Operate 101. Because in reality, that’s what managers are doing - operating people in the context of a process to obtain an outcome that results in profit for a company.

 

Yet, the majority of newly promoted managers receive little to no training and are thrown out to fin for themselves…(kinda like those parents who want to teach their kids how to swim and just throw them in the water and say, “Now…swim!”)

 

Knowing how people operate: what makes them tick, how they are wired, what motivates them, what skills they possess and how to engage them is essential to the effectiveness of a manager. That effectiveness directly impacts the bottom line of a company and this is where there seems to be what I call – THE BIG DISCONNECT….the very thing that impacts the profits of a company is the very thing companies spend very little time and money investing in.

 

So for those of you managers, who already feeling the pain of resulting from a lack of knowledge in this area, here’s what I recommend. Step 1 in how people operate 101 is to use a temperament or personality profile. There are great tools on the market that are easy to use.   Theses profiles provide a very useful framework to understanding people in the ways I listed above.

 

Here are some recommended resources:

Dr. Keirsey – book: Please Understand Me

The DISC Profile

Tony Alessandra - book: People Smart

Both books can be obtained at Barnes & Noble, Amazon…etc.

 

I believe having a working intimated knowledge of a personality profile is essential to a manager’s knowledge base.

 

You know many people talk about diversity training in our work cultures. I believe that in that context the single most important diversity issue today is not necessarily race or ethnicity…it is personality differences, of which employees get the least amount of training. Managers, let’s start with you!

  

 

 

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Solution to Less Women in the Sciences - Have Female Professors

In my previous post regarding the brain drain. There was a portion of the post that addressed our kids interest in math and science.

Now add to that another dimension...how this trend impacts women in business leadership - the ripple effect of women under represented in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) fields. There is a gap in executive leadership, particularly in these fields.

That dilemma is discussed in this incredibly interesting article that addresses a study about leadership succession.
Title: A Formula for Success - Want more women to study science? Hire more female professors.

So let me add to my previous suggestion of having teachers who are able to stir interest and continued curiosity. Looks as if we need a strategic effort to nurture and recruit more female professors in higher education as well.

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Google Success - A Reflection of Authentic Leadership

This article continues to affirm the reason I'm in the work that I am of management and leadership development...specializing in the "human side of enterprise." As I read through the article it's clear that what has made Google successful are the qualities and behaviors of it's founders....passion, focus, vision, and the way they treat those in their organization. These are qualities of the heart, mind and spirit. These qualities are not calculated on a balance sheet, but greatly effect one.

The bottom line? A successful business enterprise must have authentic leadership and is about behavior, human potential, motivation, values, judgement combined with a product or service that adequately meets the needs of their customers.

This article is a must read for those who are serious about their professional success! You can read the entire article here: Google Article