30 Key Questions That Unlock Management

This book is structured around the 30 questions referred to in the title, grouped into five sections which relate to how do I manage my team, my boss, my self, my reputation and my growth.

Here are some examples from the book for each section.

Team - how do I delegate work for maximum impact?

Delegation should be about growing subordinates and creating space in your diary. When delegating, start with the outcome and brief fully, ensuring that the employee has the appropriate skill and will to do the task. Take your hands off but keep your eyes open and never be tempted to take the job back.

Boss - how do I deal with a boss who has an alien communication style?

The impact of poor communication, where employees do not properly understand what their boss is asking of them, is not just frustration and disappointment; it eventually leads to impaired credibility and reputation on both sides. Usually the boss assumes it's the other person's fault, and therefore their responsibility. Instead, the authors say, you must distinguish competence from style. Just because someone thinks and processes information differently does not make them stupid or incompetent. Take time to understand any differences in language and logic structures and different approaches to problem solving.

Self - how do I make the best use of my time?

Most people don't analyse where their time goes; this approach in relation to money would be called reckless spending! Some key things to do:

• avoid procrastinating - do the jobs you resist first to free your time and energy
• be decisive - use the 80/20 rule when gathering information
• operate a one-book system so that all notes are in one place
• chunk tasks - group similar tasks together and do in a group
• learn to say 'no' - be realistic, fair and consistent rather than giving false hope by saying things like 'if I can fit it in' or 'I'll do my best to do it'

Reputation - how can I learn to play the political game while still maintaining my integrity?

Political acumen is a key skill for anyone wanting to build their reputation - and like it or not, politics is an integral part of corporate life. Often organisational politics is characterised as being about personal agendas, win/lose, secrecy, subterfuge and mafiosi tactics. Instead the authors suggest thinking of it in terms of having the choice as to engaging in a positive or negative way. A positive view would be to see organisational politics being about:

• influence
• collaboration
• building relationships
• openness and honesty
• being street-wise
• win-win

Growth - how can I get better at conversing on a wide range of subjects?

Open, enquiring dialogue is a driver of both organisational and personal growth. Yet many people lose the opportunity for growth either by being afraid to contribute because they fear they have nothing of value to say or by being overly opinionated. Instead, cultivate the art of really listening and asking questions, seeking to find the overarching big ideas and being genuinely interested in what others' perspectives are.

"The biggest problem with communication is
the illusion that it has been accomplished"