Readings

These readings require Adobe Acrobat Reader (free).  

Clarifying Line/Staff/Support Relationships
Who is accountable? This is a key question in sorting out the working relationships within a business. When friction arises between individuals or between departments, when corporate staff, support groups, and operating units are at odds, the problem is unclear lines of authority.

Delegation - The Art of
The basics of delegation have not changed. Delegation is the process for empowering workers with decision-making authority. Because organizations are moving to team-based structures, operating decisions are being pushed to lower levels. Therefore, understanding the principles, concepts, and mechanics of delegation is vital for today's professional manager.

Human Moment at Work
Email and voice mail are efficient, but face-to-face contact is still essential to true communication.

Leadership - The Art of
When all the rhetoric and preoccupation with leadership traits are boiled down, leadership is just about one thing - establishing an emotional connection with people who then follow. It is the ability to create a shared vision between what the organization requires and what employees want out of the work experience.

Listening, Supporting, Differing, and Commitment
Effective communication relies on four major factors to be successful. Listening, supporting, differing, and commitment. Each separate skill needs to be understood to eliminate conflicts and arrive at "win-win" decisions.

Management Effectiveness Survey
An easy way to determine if there is organizational alignment and an understanding of expectations between people and functions is to survey your work unit. This survey will determine the extent to which performance management exists—i.e. the planning and review process. The seven questions every employee needs management to answer are covered by this survey.

Planning Terms: Desired Results vs. Activities
Most organizations have a confusing array of planning terms. To help clean up the confusion, put them into two categories: those that define desired ongoing business goals and those that deal with one-time project activities.

Team Effectiveness Survey
An easy way to determine if there is alignment and an understanding of expectations between team members is to survey your team. This survey will determine the extent to which team effectiveness exists.

These readings require Adobe Acrobat Reader (free).