Being the Best You Can Be. A Guide on Personal Development for Managers

214 Pages·2006·1.04 MB·English

by  Ian Hunt (Auth.)

Being the Best You Can Be Being the Best You Can Be
INSTITUTE OF LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT (ILM) INSTITUTE OF LEADERSHIP & MANAGEMENT (ILM)
THE PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHOICE FOR TODAY’S MANAGER THE PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHOICE FOR TODAY’S MANAGER
Founded over 50 years ago and now part of the City & Guilds Group, the Institute of Founded over 50 years ago and now part of the City & Guilds Group, the Institute of
Leadership & Management (ILM) is unique among professional bodies. As the largest Leadership & Management (ILM) is unique among professional bodies. As the largest
awarding body for management-related qualifications with over 75,000 candidates each awarding body for management-related qualifications with over 75,000 candidates each
year, the ILM recognises and fosters good management practice. As a professional body, year, the ILM recognises and fosters good management practice. As a professional body,
ILM also offers informal personal and professional support to practising leaders and ILM also offers informal personal and professional support to practising leaders and
managers across all disciplines and at every career stage. managers across all disciplines and at every career stage.
20,000 members have already found that ILM membership gives them the strategic, ongoing 20,000 members have already found that ILM membership gives them the strategic, ongoing
support they need to fulfil their aims, enabling them to enhance their skills, add to their support they need to fulfil their aims, enabling them to enhance their skills, add to their
professional expertise and to develop a wider network of valuable business contacts. professional expertise and to develop a wider network of valuable business contacts.
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Being the Best You Can Be Being the Best You Can Be
A guide on personal A guide on personal
development for managers development for managers
IAN HUNT IAN HUNT
Chandos Publishing Chandos Publishing
Oxford · England Oxford · England
Published in association with Published in association with
Chandos Publishing (Oxford) Limited Chandos Publishing (Oxford) Limited
Chandos House Chandos House
5 & 6 Steadys Lane 5 & 6 Steadys Lane
Stanton Harcourt Stanton Harcourt
Oxford OX29 5RL Oxford OX29 5RL
UK UK
Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email:
Preface Preface
Could a spare thirty minutes of reading revitalise your ways Could a spare thirty minutes of reading revitalise your ways
or working, thinking and living? or working, thinking and living?
I think so. I think so.
In this volume I have gathered the best parts of my In this volume I have gathered the best parts of my
knowledge of management techniques to provide managers knowledge of management techniques to provide managers
in all walks of life with a reference manual that is also in all walks of life with a reference manual that is also
designed as a day-to-day working tool. My aim is to pass on designed as a day-to-day working tool. My aim is to pass on
thought processes and skills that will revitalise your way of thought processes and skills that will revitalise your way of
working, thinking and living. working, thinking and living.
I have been delivering courses in management techniques I have been delivering courses in management techniques
for over 12 years to a wide range of businesses and I am for over 12 years to a wide range of businesses and I am
always delighted to see the impact they have on people who always delighted to see the impact they have on people who
not only want to improve themselves but also help their not only want to improve themselves but also help their
people to enjoy their work through effective delegation and people to enjoy their work through effective delegation and
motivation skills. motivation skills.
However, when the invitation came to write a book, However, when the invitation came to write a book,
I hesitated to apply as I have no previous experience as an I hesitated to apply as I have no previous experience as an
author. Then I realised that ‘writing a book’ was one of my author. Then I realised that ‘writing a book’ was one of my
‘things that I want to do’ and I have had it written down on ‘things that I want to do’ and I have had it written down on
my ‘wish list’ for about five years now, so I knew that this my ‘wish list’ for about five years now, so I knew that this
was my time. was my time.
I have enjoyed the process of distilling my knowledge of I have enjoyed the process of distilling my knowledge of
management skills and selecting the best nuggets for this management skills and selecting the best nuggets for this
book. I hope you enjoy reading it and, as a bonus, benefit by book. I hope you enjoy reading it and, as a bonus, benefit by
continuing to refer to it whenever your management skills continuing to refer to it whenever your management skills
(or your morale) need a boost. (or your morale) need a boost.
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About the author About the author
Ian Hunt is a professionally qualified facilitator with a Ian Hunt is a professionally qualified facilitator with a
unique training style that relaxes people and helps them to unique training style that relaxes people and helps them to
enjoy the workshops that he runs. His specialist subject is enjoy the workshops that he runs. His specialist subject is
‘motivation’ skills and this involves motivating oneself ‘motivation’ skills and this involves motivating oneself
before attempting to motivate others. before attempting to motivate others.
Ian works with many public and private companies, Ian works with many public and private companies,
across different sectors, and he finds that the subject of across different sectors, and he finds that the subject of
People Management is a common requirement for all types People Management is a common requirement for all types
of businesses, so feels confident that he can help any type of of businesses, so feels confident that he can help any type of
business with ‘people challenges’. business with ‘people challenges’.
Ian has worked primarily in hospitality, initially in Ian has worked primarily in hospitality, initially in
management positions within Thistle Hotels, as Senior management positions within Thistle Hotels, as Senior
Training Advisor with the Hotel & Catering Training Training Advisor with the Hotel & Catering Training
Company and latterly as Tourism Training Manager at Company and latterly as Tourism Training Manager at
Scottish Enterprise. Scottish Enterprise.
He became self-employed in 1992, and under the trading He became self-employed in 1992, and under the trading
name of Training Solutions has delivered many management name of Training Solutions has delivered many management
courses, first under the umbrella of the NEBSM (National courses, first under the umbrella of the NEBSM (National
Examinations Board for Supervisory Management) and now Examinations Board for Supervisory Management) and now
the ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management). the ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management).
Ian delivers training courses throughout Britain and Ian delivers training courses throughout Britain and
works closely with a number of Scottish Enterprise Local works closely with a number of Scottish Enterprise Local
Enterprise Companies. Enterprise Companies.
In addition to management courses, Ian delivers a number In addition to management courses, Ian delivers a number
of courses, including Trainer Training (one-to-one skills and of courses, including Trainer Training (one-to-one skills and
group training skills), Customer Service and Assertiveness group training skills), Customer Service and Assertiveness
Techniques. Techniques.
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Being the Best You Can Be Being the Best You Can Be
Ian believes that training and personal development is all Ian believes that training and personal development is all
about ‘energising and enabling positive change’. about ‘energising and enabling positive change’.
The author may be contacted by telephone or e-mail: The author may be contacted by telephone or e-mail:
Tel.: [phone] Tel.: [phone]
E-mail:
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Introduction Introduction
Why do you want to be the best Why do you want to be the best
you can? you can?
That’s a good question to answer. Well, what is life all That’s a good question to answer. Well, what is life all
about? I have read lots of personal development books and about? I have read lots of personal development books and
they all seem to point at the same solutions. It is all about they all seem to point at the same solutions. It is all about
balance in your life, the desire for knowledge (on an ongoing balance in your life, the desire for knowledge (on an ongoing
basis) and making things happen. basis) and making things happen.
In his book How to be Brilliant, Michael Heppell explains In his book How to be Brilliant, Michael Heppell explains
that there are eight main areas in your life that you should that there are eight main areas in your life that you should
be considering on a weekly basis: health, close family, be considering on a weekly basis: health, close family,
money, relationships, contribution, vision, career and money, relationships, contribution, vision, career and
personal development. Michael explains that to be a well- personal development. Michael explains that to be a well-
rounded individual we should spend enough time on each rounded individual we should spend enough time on each
area so that our life balance stays in check. area so that our life balance stays in check.
This book does not claim to have all the answers to a This book does not claim to have all the answers to a
happy balanced existence; however it is likely that if you happy balanced existence; however it is likely that if you
consider the options that it covers and explores and then consider the options that it covers and explores and then
take positive action in some of these areas, you will have a take positive action in some of these areas, you will have a
happier and more fulfilled lifestyle. happier and more fulfilled lifestyle.
The following chapter will look at organising yourself, The following chapter will look at organising yourself,
which seems a logical starting point. We have all heard the which seems a logical starting point. We have all heard the
phrase, ‘If you don’t know where you are going, then you phrase, ‘If you don’t know where you are going, then you
are unlikely to be successful.’ How many people do you are unlikely to be successful.’ How many people do you
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Being the Best You Can Be Being the Best You Can Be
know who are very successful and not organised? There will know who are very successful and not organised? There will
always be some, but normally there will be someone beside always be some, but normally there will be someone beside
them taking up the organisational role. them taking up the organisational role.
I feel that it is vital to know what you want and to I feel that it is vital to know what you want and to
organise yourself to go for what you want. Don’t just think organise yourself to go for what you want. Don’t just think
it, but actually do it. How often have you thought, ‘I must it, but actually do it. How often have you thought, ‘I must
develop my skills in delegation/PowerPoint skills/marketing develop my skills in delegation/PowerPoint skills/marketing
etc.’? etc.’?
How often have you carried that want through and How often have you carried that want through and
actually done anything about it? The reason for not actually done anything about it? The reason for not
following through is sometimes due to a lack of focus, a lack following through is sometimes due to a lack of focus, a lack
of organisation, a perceived lack of time, no energy, lack of of organisation, a perceived lack of time, no energy, lack of
prioritisation, etc. The list is endless; we are great at not prioritisation, etc. The list is endless; we are great at not
following through with certain tasks. following through with certain tasks.
Chapter 2 will look at ways of doing the right things at Chapter 2 will look at ways of doing the right things at
the right time and encourage you to start changing the way the right time and encourage you to start changing the way
you do things as from today. Why not? You gain the benefit you do things as from today. Why not? You gain the benefit
from now if you start to change now. Come to think of it, from now if you start to change now. Come to think of it,
everyone you come into contact with will gain the benefit of everyone you come into contact with will gain the benefit of
your new efficiency, your family, work colleagues, perfect your new efficiency, your family, work colleagues, perfect
strangers, etc. Everyone wins! strangers, etc. Everyone wins!
It has been written with your time limits in mind so the It has been written with your time limits in mind so the
subsections are no more than a couple of pages long. subsections are no more than a couple of pages long.
Everyone has time to read a few pages at one go. Everyone has time to read a few pages at one go.
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Organising yourself Organising yourself
Do you have a plan? Do you have a plan?
If you can dream it, you can do it. (Walt Disney) If you can dream it, you can do it. (Walt Disney)
If you have a plan then you have a chance of achieving a lot If you have a plan then you have a chance of achieving a lot
more than if you don’t. Do you know exactly where you are more than if you don’t. Do you know exactly where you are
going? On waking up each morning, do you have a clear going? On waking up each morning, do you have a clear
objective for the day? If you do, then doesn’t that make you objective for the day? If you do, then doesn’t that make you
feel great? Do you know what you want to be doing in a feel great? Do you know what you want to be doing in a
year’s time, five years’ time, ten years’ time? Do you have an year’s time, five years’ time, ten years’ time? Do you have an
overall vision for your future? overall vision for your future?
If you study successful people you will find that the most If you study successful people you will find that the most
successful all had (and have) a plan or vision, and they have successful all had (and have) a plan or vision, and they have
dedicated their lives to fulfilling that plan. The list of people dedicated their lives to fulfilling that plan. The list of people
who have succeeded as a result of a life focus is endless: who have succeeded as a result of a life focus is endless:
Mohammad Ali, Richard Branson, Margaret Thatcher, Neil Mohammad Ali, Richard Branson, Margaret Thatcher, Neil
Armstrong, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ernest Armstrong, Winston Churchill, Nelson Mandela, Ernest
Shackleton, etc. Shackleton, etc.
It is said that Neil Armstrong when he was a small boy It is said that Neil Armstrong when he was a small boy
told his mother he would walk on the moon when he was told his mother he would walk on the moon when he was
older. He told everyone that this was what he was going to older. He told everyone that this was what he was going to
do, and as he grew older, he kept this vision clearly in his do, and as he grew older, he kept this vision clearly in his
mind. He studied, worked hard and became a test pilot. mind. He studied, worked hard and became a test pilot.
After this he grabbed the opportunity of joining the US After this he grabbed the opportunity of joining the US
Space Program. With hard work and focus, he made his Space Program. With hard work and focus, he made his
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