HBR’s 10 Must Reads for New Managers by Harvard Business Review.
A good series of articles from HBR for managers. Lessons are timeless and this series is also a much needed refresher for season managers. Daniel Goleman’s article His What Makes a Leader? examines what distinguishes good from great leaders. The key skill is emotional intelligence, not tech skills, longevity, or even IQ.
Having read Daniel’s book Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ 25th Anniversary edition in 2022, I would recommend this book which expands upon his KPIs. He is identifying a group of five key skills that empower great leaders. This can be documented by yearly earnings goals. By focusing on the five skills, leaders can sharpen those which need to bring their levels of effectiveness higher. Perhaps his key message is if emotion intelligence be learned? This is a wonderful article that has stood the test of time.
Every manager must also understand how to influence your direct reports. The article “Harnessing the Science of Persuasion” by Robert Cialdini is very well written and clearly a necessary read for managers. So, at the end of the day, leadership is about getting things done. And frankly, persuasion is a key tool for any manager. Robert conveys clear principals that will empower managers. However, Robert suggests consistency is the key skill in persuasion.
Managing post pandemic
The article Managing the High-Intensity Workplace by Erin Reid and Lakshmi Ramarajan should be considered post pandemic, with a grain of salt. I would certainly welcome a refreshed article in 2024. While they expressed the expectations that your direct reports will always be available and completely committed to work, the now normal remote work demands also contribute to how people no longer conform to that ideal. To be fair, I found The Authenticity Paradox by Herminia Ibarra also addresses how managers must evolve to meet today’s demands. They do address how getting outside your comfort zone actually drives how we can learn the most about be effective in our roles.
In conclusion, this book is a very insightful read for any manager, new or seasoned managing teams across any marketplace. Lessons are timeless and provide insightful reminders for those well accustomed to managing teams.