Category Archives: Management Development

“Can You Imagine It?” Developing Your Vision and Strategy

Posted by on February 15, 2010 Comments Off
Share

by Tara Powers

Tara PowersThere is continuous talk in business about having a compelling mission and vision for your company but who really cares? Well, you should. Whether you are a large corporation or a small business owner, having a vision is essential to be able to communicate a picture of the future of your business that others can see, understand, and support. A vision helps motivate people into action. A vision engages, excites, and empowers people to move forward in a consistent direction together. A vision makes people more willing to make small sacrifices today for the hope of a better future. A vision helps people know what to do.

Convinced yet? I thought so. Then read on to develop an effective vision for your business with 7 key characteristics to include in your visioning strategy discussion.

7 Key Characteristics to Developing an Effective Vision

  • Be sure your vision tells a story that people can imagine. Can they see it? Can they see themselves in the story? Read more »

Five Secrets to New Manager Success

Posted by on May 18, 2009 Comments Off
Share

Tara Powersby Tara Powers

It doesn’t take very long for most new managers to become disenchanted with their new role. In many cases, I have seen extremely capable “would-be” STAR managers ask to be demoted or quit because there was no plan in place to set them up for success. If you are promoting from within — good for you! Just be sure you follow these important steps to help your new managers get rockin’ in their new role!

  1. Schedule regular check ins. Offer to role-play with them when they have to handle their first difficult performance situation.
  2. Provide them with internal support such as a mentor, coach, or monthly roundtables with other new managers. Present real business case studies where they can discuss and brainstorm ideas on how they would handle. Read more »

From Lawyer to Manager: Essential Skills for Managing Attorneys

Posted by on October 1, 2008 Comments Off
Share

Anna Conradby Anna Farber Conrad with contributions from Elizabeth A. Weishaupl

As lawyers approach partnership status at a firm, they frequently are given greater levels of responsibility in firm management, including serving as a department or group supervisor. Despite the important role supervisors and managers play in the workings of law firms, firms often fail to train new supervisors or give them guidance regarding management methods or techniques. Management of firm resources, including employees, is vital in controlling the bottom-line costs of any business. Training in this aspect of law firm management is critical in maintaining a business’s solvency.

Developing a few key skills can help the supervising attorney optimize associate productivity, assimilate the new associate quickly into the firm, and create associates who may stay with the firm for many years. This article provides tips and techniques for three essential management skills needed for attorneys who supervise others: (1) giving feedback; (2) coaching; and (3) delegating.

Effective Feedback

Communicating well and providing constructive counsel are essential skills for legal professionals. However, we frequently fall short in using these skills to manage our own employees. Most associate attorneys likely are unfamiliar with the logistics of practicing law and may be unfamiliar with the law firm culture into which they were hired. Coherent, effective feedback by management is critical for productive development of the associate. Here are a few tips to follow when giving feedback to a new associate. Read more »

Would Strategic Planning Benefit Your Municipality?

Posted by on September 1, 2008 Comments Off
Share

Penny McDanielby Penny McDaniel and Anne Neal

What is strategic planning? And what do you need to know about the process to determine how strategic planning could benefit your municipality? This article provides a brief overview of strategic planning—the benefits, process, obstacles, and strategies for insuring accountability and follow-through.

Strategic planning is a systematic process where you identify why your local government exists, whom it serves, benefits derived from the services you provide, and your administration’s vision for serving its citizens. Your strategic plan serves as a blueprint for how your local government will achieve its vision, and it answers three basic questions: “Who are we?” “What do we want?” and “How are we going to get what we want?” At each stage of the process you will need to involve various people and groups, and this is where the power of strategic planning comes into play.

Does strategic planning sound like a long, drawn-out process?  Well, it can take a while to do it right.  What’s the old saying?  “Anything worth doing, is worth doing right.”  This may be quite true, but we think there needs to be a lot of benefits for embarking on a time-consuming and sometimes difficult process.  Participants in previous strategic planning workshops determined a number of benefits for undergoing this process: Read more »

Better Tag Cloud