Becoming an Outstanding Manager (Brian Tracy)

Becoming an outstanding manager – Brian Tracy.

I just finished the following Audiobook:

Becoming an Outstanding Manager
by Brian Tracy
2002 – briantracy.com

I would rate this book at a 5.9/14.0 and label it as decent.  It has sound tips to becoming / maintaing a successful management career of today.  Mostly focused on tried & true management techniques – little innovation.

Below are my notes from the book:

===============================================

RS NOTE: Most of these tactics are based on current management techniques.  This is NOT management innovation, but rather a plan to create successful managers of today.

21 Key Ideas for Management Success:

1. Clarity is essential: What am I trying to do? How am I trying to do it?  Vision is paramount.  Constantly bounce today off of your ultimate goals and envision how this day contributes – change it until it does.
2. Competence is Critical: You commit to excellence in everything you do.  Be the best in the critical areas that are most important to your customers.  From the point of view of the customer, what does competence look like?  Gather feedback and self-correct – look for ways to improve and add value.  What one thing (done excellently) would have the greatest impact on your life / company?
3. Identify Your Constraints: Between you and any goal there is some constraint that sets the speed at which you achieve that goal.  80% are internal to you/company à 20% are external.  What one constraint (eliminated) could help you achieve more?
4. Unlock Your Creativity: You are a potential genius.  Unlock it: (1) intensely desired goals, (2) pressing problems, (3) focused questions.  Write down your major goal down in the form of a question.  Write down AT LEAST *20* answers to this questions.  Go over the list, pick one good answer, and do it immediately!
5. Concentrate, Single-Mindedly: What are my highest valued activities? (do these)  Why am I on the payroll?  What can I (only I) that I can do well that will make a real difference?  What is the most valuable use of my time, right now?  Ask yourself these questions continuously.
6. Have the Courage of Your Convictions: Take risks – move out of the comfort zone.  Everyone is afraid.  Act in spite of the fear.  Do the things you fear – the death of fear follows closely.  What one great thing would you dare to dream if you knew you could not fail?
7. Develop Your Character: Integrity – be honest with all, including yourself.  Never compromise integrity for any reason.  Always do the right thing.

1. Plan Every Detail in Advance: Be very clear of results expected, make a list of everything that needs to be done to achieve those results, layout / prioritize / plan out these list items.
2. Organize Your Work Before You Begin: Resource management / planning / delegation / execution.
3. Staff Properly at Every Level: 95% of success as a manager is based on people you select.  Most are never trained in proper staffing techniques.  Write down all qualities, characteristics, and abilities you desire.  Bounce candidates off this list.  Most fear hurting feelings of very low performers – quickly replace with more capable person.
4. Delegate Effectively: Few managers are trained in this skill.  This is a key to successful management.  Keys: (1) thing through the task that needs to get done, (2) select person based on experience and abilities, (3) discuss task thoroughly with other person and get feedback, (4) offer to help in any way possible, (5) delegation is not abdication – you are still responsible.
5. Inspect What You Expect: Supervise people to ensure work is done on-time and on-budget.  Walk-around management – smile – praise.
6. Set Standards of Performance: What gets measured, get’s done.  Set clear, measureable goals, schedules, quotas, and reports.
7. Keep Everyone Informed: Keep everyone on the same page and deliver this information in the manner that they appreciate most (visual, audio-type person).
8. Focus on High Levels of Productivity: You are responsible for getting the job done.  Instill a culture of continuous improvement.  Constantly look for ways to make the company more efficient, better, cheaper, and quicker.
9. Dedicate Yourself to Customer Satisfaction: This is the age of the customer.  Clients, boss, co-workers, staff, etc. are all customers.  (1) Meet expectations è (2) Exceed expectations è (3) Delight Customers è (4) Amaze Customers.  All should aim for the Delight and Amazement of customers.
10. Strive for High Profitability: Continually look for ways to improve the bottom line in some way.  (1) Increase revenues while keeping costs constant or (2) decrease costs while keeping revenues constant.
11. Commit to Quality in Everything: Develop an area of excellence that makes you stand out from all others in the market / field.  Focus energies on key areas that are important to the customer.
12. Concentrate on Continuous Improvement: Describe the company in 5 years if it were perfect / best in the industry.  Use these as goals and work towards them.  If I were not doing this today (knowing what I now know), would I start it up again today?  Evaluate previously made goals based on what you know now – the reality principle: is it still feasible as is?  Do you want to be right or effective?
13. Innovate Continually: Invest time and resources into research, development, and ideas.  Hold regular brainstorming sessions: write down a purpose, spent some time gathering information on how to achieve that purpose, walk through the ideas.
14. Build Your People: Attract, build, and grow your people.  (1) Select carefully, (2) train thoroughly and continually, and (3) manage professionally.  Continual questions, feedback, improvement.