The First-Time Manager

241 Pages·2012·1.17 MB·English

by  Loren B. Belker

THE
FIRST-TIME
Sixth Edition
Loren B. Belker
Jim McCormick
Gary S. Topchik
American Management Association
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Belker,LorenB.
Thefirst-timemanager/LorenB.Belker,JimMcCormick,andGaryS.Topchik.
—6thed.
p. cm.
Includesindex.
ISBN-13:978-0-8144-1783-6
ISBN-10:0-8144-1783-3
1.Supervisionofemployees. 2.Officemanagement. I.McCormick,Jim. II.Topchik,
GaryS. III.Title.
HF5549.12.B453 2012
658.3(cid:2)02—dc23
2011033261
(cid:2)2012,2005,1997,1993,1986,and1981AMACOM,adivisionofAmerican
ManagementAssociation,NewYork.
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PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
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Contents
PrefacetotheSixthEdition vii
Acknowledgments viii
Introduction 1
PART ONE
SO YOU’RE GOING TO MANAGE PEOPLE 3
1. TheRoadtoManagement 5
2. StartingOut 9
3. BuildingTrustandConfidence 17
4. ShowYourAppreciation 21
5. BeinganActiveListener 24
6. TheNewManager’sJobandPitfallstoAvoid 29
7. DealingwithYourSuperiors 33
8. ChoosingaManagerialStyleofYourOwn 39
PART TWO
TACKLING YOUR NEW DUTIES 43
9. BuildingaTeamDynamic 45
10. ManagingProblemEmployees 50
11. HiringandInterviewing 56
12. TrainingTeamMembers 66
13. ManagingChange:DealingwithResistance 72
iii
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iv Contents
14. DiscipliningtheEmployee 75
15. ‘‘OhMyGod!ICan’tFireAnyone!’’ 84
16. HavingaLegalAwareness 93
PART THREE
WORKING WITH PEOPLE, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS,
AND MANAGING RISKS 99
17. NoSecrets 101
18. TheHumanResourcesDepartment 104
19. TheCurrentStateofLoyalty 107
20. IsThereSuchaThingasMotivation? 109
21. UnderstandingRiskInclination 116
22. EncouragingInitiativeandInnovation 121
23. ImprovingOutcomes 126
24. TheGenerationGap 131
PART FOUR
JOB DESCRIPTIONS, PERFORMANCE APPRAISALS,
AND SALARY ADMINISTRATION 135
25. WritingJobDescriptions 137
26. DoingPerformanceAppraisals 140
27. SalaryAdministration 152
PART FIVE
IMPROVING AND DEVELOPING YOURSELF 157
28. HavingEmotionalIntelligence 159
29. DevelopingaPositiveSelf-Image 162
30. ManagingYourOwnTime 179
31. TheWrittenWord 187
32. TheGrapevine 191
33. YourBestFriend:Delegation 193
34. ASenseofHumor 197
35. Managing,Participatingin,andLeadingMeetings 200
36. TakingCenterStage:TheRoleofPublicSpeakinginYour
Career 207
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Contents v
PART SIX
THE COMPLETE PERSON 213
37. CopingwithStress 215
38. HavingBalanceinYourLife 219
39. ATouchofClass 222
Conclusion 224
Index 227
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To all managers who aspire to advance
their skills for the benefit of themselves
and those they lead.
Preface to the Sixth Edition
MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO THIS BOOK WAS WHEN AMACOMBooksapproached
me about updating it. Upon reading this classic, I arrived at four conclu-
sions. The first was that this book is a fantastic resource that has clearly
helpedcountlessnewmanagers.Thesecondwasthatitwouldbeimpossible
for people to read this book and not improve their ability to manage well,
regardlessofhowlongtheyhavebeenmanaging.ThethirdwasthatIwould
havethoroughlyenjoyedsittingdownwithLorenBelkerandGaryTopchik
becausebothourphilosophiesofmanagementandourgeneralapproaches
to life are so well aligned. My final conclusion was that improving this
extraordinaryresourcewouldbeadauntingchallenge.IfeltasthoughIwas
beingaskedtopolishanalreadybrilliantgem.
HavingneverhadtheopportunitytomeetLorenorGaryledmetofeel
an even greater obligation to bring their work forward respectfully, add
somenewinsights,andnotdiminishthevaluetheyhaveprovidedbytheir
writings.ToparaphraseSirIsaacNewton,ifIhave providedvalue‘‘it isby
standingontheshouldersofgiants.’’
Respectfully,
JimMcCormick
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Acknowledgments
I WOULD LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANAGERS I have encountered and
observedthroughoutmycareer.Theirskillshaverangedfromextraordinary
tohorrendous,thoughIhavelearnedfromallofthem.Totheteammembers
I have had the privilege to lead I say thank you. You have all been sources
ofenjoymentandlearning.TotheaspiringmanagersIhavehadtheopportu-
nitytoteach,Iapplaudyouforyourthirstforknowledge.Thankyoutomy
editor, Christina Parisi, for entrusting me with the legacy that is this book.
Andfinally,Ithankmyagent,MaryannKarinch,whoknowsmyskillsbet-
terthanI.
—JM
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Introduction
BY OPENING THIS BOOK, youhavesetyourselfapartandmadetheclearstate-
ment that you desire to improve your management ability. This book was
createdforyouandtoassistyouinthateffort.
Justasyoucannotleadaparadeifnooneisfollowing,youcannotman-
ageifyoudon’thaveateamtolead.Engrainedinthisbookisthebeliefthat
a well-led team will always achieve results that are superior to those of an
individual.Consistentwiththatconviction,thisbookhasbeenwrittenbya
team.Threeofushavetakenupthechallenge—atdifferenttimesandinour
ownways—ofseekingtoprovideyouwiththebestguidancewecanmuster
for a new manager. The results of this joint effort are better because of our
collaboration.Thesamewillbetrueforyouifyoutaketohearttheinsights
youwilldiscoverinthisbook.
Summarizing thousands of words and hundreds of pieces of advice is
nearlyimpossible.Ifforcedtosummarize,webelievetheadviceinthisbook
centersaroundtwooverarchingmessages:bethoughtfulinyouractionsand
alwaysconductyourselfwithclass.Youwillneverregreteither.
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