First Among Equals

In this guide to managing in professional environments, two renowned consultants show professional group managers lacking formal authority how to lead colleagues to peak performance. 15 tables.

Contents

Introduction

PART ONE

GETTING READY

1. CLARIFY YOUR ROLE

How, exactly, do you add value as a group leader?

2. CONFIRM YOUR MANDATE

Is there an explicit agreement about your rights and responsibilities?

3. BUILD RELATIONSHIPS -- ONE AT A TIME

What are the key skills you must have?

4. DARE TO BE INSPIRING

Do you know how to inspire people?

PART TWO

COACHING THE INDIVIDUAL

5. WIN PERMISSION TO COACH

How do you get people to accept your guidance?

6. LISTEN TO BUILD RAPPORT

Do people think you are a good listener?

7. DEAL DIFFERENTLY WITH DIFFERENT PEOPLE

How can you understand and respond to people's differences?

8. HELP UNDERPERFORMERS

How can you be useful to those who need assistance?

9. TACKLE THE PRIMA DONNAS

How do you deal with difficult people?

10. BUILD SUPPORT FOR CHANGE

How do you get people to buy into the need for change?

PART THREE

COACHING THE TEAM

11. CLARIFY GROUP GOALS

Does your group have specific, clearly articulated, shared objectives?

12. DEVELOP YOUR GROUP'S RULES OF MEMBERSHIP

What do members of your group owe to each other?

13. BUILD TEAM TRUST

What gets group members to trust each other?

14. THROW DOWN A CHALLENGE

Has your group selected an exciting challenge?

15. ENERGIZE YOUR MEETINGS

What are good meeting disciplines?

16. GIVE RECOGNITION

How do you acknowledge accomplishments?

17. RESOLVE INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS

What do you do when team members fall out?

18. DEAL WITH YOUR CRISES

How do you respond to dramatic events?

PART FOUR

BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE

19. NURTURE YOUR JUNIORS

How do you deal with your junior staff?

20. INTEGRATE NEW PEOPLE

How do you ensure the success of new hires?

21. CONTROL YOUR GROUP'S SIZE

How do you respond to the problems of size?

22. MEASURE GROUP RESULTS

How do you measure your group's success?

23. WHY BOTHER?

Why would you want to do all this?

Notes on Sources

Further Reading

Bibliography

Acknowledgments

Index