Management fundamentals: framework + resources for leaders and managers

In today's ever-changing business landscape, the volatile and uncertain geopolitical as well as the economic environment, the job of a manager has become increasingly difficult. With high levels of manager burnout reported by Gallup, it's clear that many managers struggle to cope. To compound matters, middle managers are facing unprecedented challenges, making it even more critical for leaders to understand how to lead through hard times. While insights from psychology can help managers up their game, it's essential not to overlook the basics. Every manager needs to have a solid understanding of leadership and management fundamentals to be successful.

Today’s leaders are juggling competing priorities, feeling stretched beyond their limits, and sometimes not knowing what they should be doing. To overcome these challenges, managers need a way to prioritize and organize their roles into manageable categories to be able to make an impact, grow, achieve, and thrive.

Regardless of the industry, role, or level within an organization, every leader and manager operates in four domains: Leading Self, Leading Others, Leading the Organization and Leading the Industry?(and society).

1. Leading Self - actions and behaviors to grow as a professional, leader, and person: As a manager, you must lead by example. "Leading self" means investing in your own growth and development, personally and professionally. It involves developing a growth mindset, setting goals, and continuously learning.
2. Leading Others - activities and behaviors to be an effective leader of teams: Leading others is about creating a culture of trust and respect, fostering teamwork, and developing the skills of your team members. It also involves providing feedback, setting clear expectations, and coaching team members to help them achieve their full potential.
3. Leading the Organization - skills, behaviors, and mindsets to lead within the broader organizational context: To be an effective leader, you must have a clear understanding of the organization's vision, mission, and values. Leading the organization involves building strong relationships with stakeholders, developing strategic thinking skills, and managing change.
4. Leading the Industry (and society) - expanding one's reach to influence the industry positively (and even society more broadly): Leading the industry/society involves being a thought leader, building networks, and collaborating with others to bring about positive change. It means staying up to date with trends and developments in your industry and seeking out opportunities to share your expertise.

These four domains provide a solid framework for managers to prioritize and organize their efforts. By focusing on these essentials, managers can improve their fundamental skills and become more effective leaders.

I have compiled a list of resources corresponding to each of the four domains. While this list of resources is certainly not exhaustive (and I plan to update it periodically), I hope it offers a valuable starting point. Whether you're a leader, manager, talent development professional, coach, or anyone seeking to enhance their leadership skills, these resources can help you level up and achieve your goals.

1. Leading self

Self-assessments?

• Emotional Intelligence (EQ) assessments - Assessing Your Emotional Intelligence (HBR Professional Development) ?
• Strengths - ?Clifton Strengths assessment (Gallup/Clifton)
• Other self-assessments on various topics -?Surveys to discover your various preferences and style (Psychology Today)
• Basic burnout assessment - Burnout Self-Test

?Asking for feedback

• How to Ask for Feedback That Will Actually Help You (HBR)
• Top executives need feedback—here’s how they can get it (McKinsey)

Mindfulness and resilience

• Transforming Leaders into Mindful Leaders (Mindfulness Magazine)
• Deliberate Calm: How to Learn and Lead in a Volatile World (a book from the McKinsey experts)
• These 3 Words Improved My Resilience At Work (Hive)

Career and leadership skills development

• Ready For A Career Upgrade? Tidy Up Your Professional Life First (Forbes)
• How Managers Become Leaders (HBR)

Communication skills

• Communication Skills Every Manager Needs (Inc.)
• 11 communication skills every leader should have (BetterUp)
• Tips for Effective Communication in Leadership (CCL)
• How Great Leaders Communicate (HBR)

Time management

• Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time (HBR)
• Do You Really Need to Hold That Meeting? (HBR)
• Time management: A guide for managers (CultureAmp)
• One CEO’s Approach to Managing His Calendar (HBR)

Developing empathy

• How to Be More Empathetic (New York Times)
• 5 exercises to help you build more empathy (TED Ideas)

Learning and development

• The Best Leaders Are Constant Learners (HBR)
• 7 essential management training topics for every team leader (Big Think)
• Managing Oneself (HBR)?

?Fostering a growth mindset

• To Be a Great Leader, You Need the Right Mindset (HBR)
• The search for 'meaning' at work (BBC)

2. Leading others

Team leadership

One-on-one meetings ?

• How to Make Your One-on-Ones with Employees More Productive (HBR)
• The ultimate one-on-one meetings guide for managers & employees (Officevibe)
• Five Ways to Make Your One-on-One Meetings More Effective (MIT)

Team and other meetings

• How to Lead Better Remote Meetings (Gartner)
• 12 tips on how to lead effective team meetings (Calendly)

Performance management

• Sample performance improvement plan?
• 3 Ways to Improve Performance Management Conversations (Gartner)
• Delivering an Effective Performance Review (HBR)
• 12 tips for managers on how to approach promotions (Fast Company)

Goal-setting with purpose

• Here’s How Managers Can Help Employees Set Meaningful Goals (SHRM)
• How To Set Team Goals in 2023 with Examples (Workhuman)
• What is Goal Setting and How to Do it Well (Positive Psychology)

Holding team members accountable

• Hold Your Team Accountable with Compassion, Not Fear (HBR)
• How to Hold Someone Accountable: 5 Accountability Tips (Master Class)
• Team Accountability is Important – Here’s How To Cultivate It (Hive)

Coaching and developing others

• How to coach your team to success: 5 key tips for managers (BetterUp)
• 6 Effective Coaching Strategies for Your Team (Entrepreneur Magazine)
• The Dynamics of Team Coaching (CCL)
• The Leader as Coach (HBR)
• Help your employees find purpose—or watch them leave (McKinsey)
• The Questions Good Coaches Ask (HBR)?

Team effectiveness

• Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing: Tuckman's Model for Nurturing a Team to High Performance (Mind Tools)
• The Secrets of Great Teamwork (HBR)

Hiring

• How to Hire the Right Person (New York Times)
• 10 Hiring Best Practices and Lessons (Wharton)
• Hiring Challenges In 2023: Are You Prepared? (Forbes)
• What Every Leader Needs to Know About Followers (HBR)

Supporting others’ mental health / leading with humanity + kindness?

• Managers impact employees’ mental health more than therapists and as much as a spouse or partner (Fortune)
• 8 Ways Managers Can Support Employees’ Mental Health (HBR)
• Good Leadership Is an Act of Kindness (HBS)

Working with the manager

• What You Need to Build a Good Relationship with Your New Boss (HBR)
• Six Keys to Successfully Working With Your Boss (ATD)
• Managing Your Boss (Mind Tools)?

3. Leading the organization

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

• 7 Drivers That Build Belonging in the Workplace (Great Places to Work)
• Diversity wins: How inclusion matters (McKinsey)
• Ensuring Workplace Inclusion for LGBTQ Employees (SHRM)?
• 4 Ways Managers Can Be More Inclusive (HBR)
• Inclusive Language Guidelines (APA)
• The coded language that holds women back at work (BBC)
• Diversity and Inclusion (McKinsey)
• In corporate America, Black senior leadership remains scarce (McKinsey)

Working with peers

• Contracting: How to Improve Your Work Relationships (Ohio State University)
• Understanding the Importance of Peer Relationships at Work (Wrike)
• Strategies for Working Smoothly with Your Peers (HBR)
• The All-Purpose Power Of Follow-Up And Follow-Through In The Recipe For Success (Forbes)?

Developing internal networks

• What Is Internal Networking? (Grammarly)
• Learn to Love Networking (HBR)
• How Leaders Create and Use Networks (HBR)
• Making Waves - Upward influence is an essential competency that leaders must learn (ATD)

Mentorship and sponsorship

• What’s the Difference Between a Mentor and a Sponsor? (HBR)
• Mentoring For The First Time? 14 Tips To Start Off On The Right Foot (Forbes)
• 7 Tips About How to Mentor Someone (ATD)
• Career Sponsorship Is a Two-Way Street (HBR)

Change management

• Managing Organizational Change (SHRM toolkit)
• Change Is Hard. Here’s How to Make It Less Painful (HBR)
• All Management Is Change Management (HBR)
• 6 steps to lead a successful change management initiative (Chief Learning Officer Magazine)

4. Leading the industry (and society)

Engaging with professional and industry organizations

• 3 Reasons to Get Involved in Professional Organizations (AICPA)
• Professional Associations: What They Are and Popular Organizations You Can Join to Advance Your Career (Glassdoor)

Making a difference

• How to Make the World a Better Place (New York Times)
• The Best Way to Boost Workers’ Mental Health Is to Give Them Good Managers (Scientific American)?
• From Ambition To Impact: How Business Leaders Can Accelerate The Green Transition (Forbes)?

?2023?R. Koshkina Coaching & Consulting, LLC