The best managers work smarter, not harder After conducting a unique global study of over 9,000 people, analysts at the world-leading sales research firm Gartner identified four distinct types of manager. Incredibly, they found one type consistently performs far better than the rest, and it wasn’t the one they were expecting. Connector Managers understand that it’s not enough for managers to just encourage and teach employees themselves, and that providing constant coaching to employees can actually be detrimental to their independent development. Instead, by connecting employees to others in the team or organisation, Connector Managers can help their employees develop a range of skills beyond their own areas of expertise. Although the four types of managers are more or less evenly distributed, employees with Connector Managers perform significantly better than others. Employees with Always-on Managers who provide constant feedback and coaching perform significantly worse. Drawing on their ground-breaking data-driven research, as well as in-depth case studies and extensive interviews with thousands of managers, you’ll discover what behaviours define Connector Managers and how you can use them yourself to build brilliant, powerhouse teams.

There are four distinct types of managers. One performs much worse than the rest, and one performs far better. Which type are you? Based on a first-of-its-kind, wide-ranging global study of over 9,000 people, analysts at the global research and advisory firm Gartner were able to classify all managers into one of four types: Teacher managers, who develop employees' skills based on their own expertise and direct their development along a similar track to their own. Cheerleader managers, who give positive feedback while taking a general hands-off approach to employee development. Always-on managers, who provide constant, frequent feedback and coaching on all aspects of the employee's performance. Connector managers, who provide feedback in their area of expertise while connecting employees to others in the team or organization who are better suited to address specific needs. Although the four types of managers are more or less evenly distributed, the Connector manager consistently outperforms the others by a significant margin. Meanwhile, Always-on managers tend to see their employees struggle to grow within the organization. Why is that? Drawing on their groundbreaking data-driven research, as well as in-depth case studies and extensive interviews with managers and employees at companies like IBM, Accenture, and eBay, the authors show what behaviors define a Connector manager, and why they are able to build powerhouse teams. They also show why other types of managers fail to be equally effective, and how they can incorporate behaviors of Connector managers in order to be more effective at building teams.

A game-changing approach to management Too often discussions of management practice focus exclusively on managing people and organizational issues. Rarely, however, do they incorporate a discussion about technology or address all three dimensions in a balanced way. When they do, the result is game changing. In our hypercompetitive environment, those managers who are outstanding at being plugged into their people, technology, and organizational processes simultaneously excel at coming up with effective business solutions. The Plugged-In Manager makes the case that being plugged-in—the ability to see choices across each of an organization's dimensions of people, technology, and organizational processes and then to mix them together into new and powerful organizational strategies, structures, and practices—may be the most important capability a manager can develop to succeed in the 21st century. Step by step Griffith shows you how to acquire this ability. Shows what it takes for business managers to succeed as technology and organizations become more and more complex Profiles exceptional leaders and organizations who are plugged-in, such as Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com Offers a fresh look at management issues Filled with compelling case studies and drawing on first-hand interviews, The Plugged-In Manager highlights this often neglected managerial capability and the costs of only focusing on one dimension rather than all three.

Newly updated and backed by decades of research, this classic guide will equip leaders and team members alike to unleash the power of teamwork. Never before in the history of the workplace has the concept of teamwork been more important to the functioning of successful organizations. Ken Blanchard, bestselling coauthor of Raving Fans, The One Minute Manager® and Gung Ho!, teams up with Donald Carew and Eunice Parisi-Carew to explain how all groups move through four stages of development on their way to becoming high performing teams—orientation, dissatisfaction, integration and production. The authors then show how a manager can help any group become effective quickly and with a minimum of stress.

Why getting results should be every nonprofit manager's first priority A nonprofit manager's fundamental job is to get results, sustained over time, rather than boost morale or promote staff development. This is a shift from the tenor of many management books, particularly in the nonprofit world. Managing to Change the World is designed to teach new and experienced nonprofit managers the fundamental skills of effective management, including: managing specific tasks and broader responsibilities; setting clear goals and holding people accountable to them; creating a results-oriented culture; hiring, developing, and retaining a staff of superstars. Offers nonprofit managers a clear guide to the most effective management skills Shows how to address performance problems, dismiss staffers who fall short, and the right way to exercising authority Gives guidance for managing time wisely and offers suggestions for staying in sync with your boss and managing up This important resource contains 41 resources and downloadable tools that can be implemented immediately.

Learn the relationship-building secrets that lead to lifelong clients, repeat customers, and endless referrals In today's commoditized marketplace, no matter what product or service you sell, there's probably someone somewhere able to offer it cheaper, faster, and maybe even better. So how do you differentiate yourself from your competitors? The Connectors shows that the only thing that truly sets you apart is the quality of your relationships with your clients and customers. Everyone knows that relationships are important in business. Yet most people would admit that their relationships could be better—but don’t spend time working on the underlying skills. This book explains how to develop better, more profitable connections—as illustrated proven by some of the world’s most successful professionals. Even if you're not a “people person,” you can dramatically grow your business or your career through a few simple approaches to relationship-building. The Connectors presents a five-step methodology that lead to lifelong clients, repeat customers, and endless referrals. Inside, you'll learn how to: Stop networking and start truly connecting Create an avalanche of referrals and an army of happy customers Become a "connector," even if you’ve never been a "people person" Find your social IQ—and improve it Put relationship-building principles to work daily Focus on others and reap the rewards yourself Ask the right questions—and sell without selling Differentiate yourself through the impact you have on others In The Connectors, Maribeth Kuzmeski, founder of Red Zone Marketing, LLC, and consultant to Fortune 500 firms, shows you how to build profitable, long-lasting business relationships.

FINALIST: Business Book Awards 2020 - HR & Management Category In a world of work where recruiters are constantly hearing that their role is at risk from AI, robotics and chatbots, it has never been more important to effectively attract and recruit the right people. Leveraging the power of social media and digital sourcing strategies is only part of the solution, and simply posting a job or sending a LinkedIn InMail is no longer enough. The Robot-Proof Recruiter shows you how to use the tools that reveal information that can be used to grab a potential candidate's attention among the overwhelming volume of material online. Full of expert guidance and practical tips, this book explains what works, what doesn't, and how you can stand out and recruit effectively in a world of technology overload. The Robot-Proof Recruiter will enable you to become the recruiter that candidates trust and the one they want to talk to. It contains essential guidance on overcoming obstacles - including how to recruit without an existing online presence, how to work effectively with hiring managers to improve the candidate experience, and how to use technology to support the candidate's journey from initial outreach, to application, to employee, and through to alumnus. This is an indispensable book for all recruitment professionals and HR practitioners who want to recruit the right people for their organization.