The Accidental Leader
What to Do When You're Suddenly in Charge
Published on 1. February 2004
208 pages
978-0-7879-7175-5 (ISBN)
Description
It could happen today. You are called into the office, and the bosstells you that due to unforeseen circumstances, starting today youwill be in charge of a team, a project, an office, a committee, ora business unit. Without any warning (or preparation on your part)you've become an accidental leader.
If you have been thrust into a position of suddenresponsibility, you need The Accidental Leader. This book isa first aid kit that gives you the information and inspiration youneed to
* Know what you bring to the challenge-- your pluses andminuses
* Define success and achieve it
* Get other people on your side
* Overcome your natural shortcomings
* Get organized-- right now
* See through the apparent system to the culture within
* Direct people and get them to act
The Accidental Leader is your lifeline to leadershipsuccess. It is filled with practical answers to the many leadershipquestions that you will face.
Reviews / Votes
"... many nuggets of wisdom..." (Professional Manager, May 2004)More details
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
11/2003
1st Edition
Jossey-Bass
€24.00
Shipment within 10-20 days
Persons
Harvey Robbins is a psychologist, business consultant, trainer, andauthor. He has consulted to numerous organizations includingAmerican Express, Allied Signal, General Dynamics, AT&T, 3M,Honeywell, Johnson & Johnson, Nabisco, Target, and US West.
Michael Finley is a prolific author and journalist whose work hasappeared in hundreds of publications. He is well known for hiswriting on technology, and was chosen as one of the "Masters of theWired World" by the Financial Times. Robbins and Finley havewritten several books together, including the best-selling WhyTeams Don't Work, which won the Financial Times/Booz-Allen& Hamilton Global Business Award in 1995.
Content
Who gets called to accidental leadership? Just about anyone.
Introduction: What's an Accidental Leader?
Part One: Managing Oneself.
Three ways to cope with leader's anxiety.
1. Coming to Terms with Responsibility.
Three steps to establish where you are--and where you needto be.
2. The First Day.
Seven things you need to learn about your team members and theyneed to know about you--and two warnings.
3. Meeting the Team.
Ten ways to feel better about your leadership.
4. Deciding What Kind of Leader to Be.
Eight things you can do to negotiate your own learningcurve.
5. Becoming a Quick Study.
Four tough questions you need to ask yourself.
6. The Perfect Person for the Job.
Part Two: Managing the Technical Side.
Five things to spend at least a week learning about.
7. What They Expect You to Know, and What You'd BetterFigure Out on Your Own.
Five measures of planning success.
8. Planning to Succeed.
Six stages of bringing an idea to completion.
9. How a Little Orderliness Can Extend Your ShelfLife.
Nine things you can do to bring people into your circle.
10. Who You Can Turn To.
Seven ways to get out of the box, and stay out.
11. Set Fire to Your Credenza.
Six ways to create a learning environment.
12. Leading by Learning.
Part Three: Managing People.
Six things to remember when your team is hovering on the brinkof dysfunction,
13. Living with Teams,
Five rules for successful succession,
14. Packing Up Your Predecessor,
Seven truths about effective team process,
15. The Right (and Wrong) Way to Make Up Your Mind,
Ten el-cheapo ways to motivate people.
16. Motivating People.
Five ways to effect change in the face of resistance.
17. Locating the Levers of Change.
Nine ways to break an ice-jam in negotiations.
18. Learning to Negotiate.
Four kinds of people, and how to work with each.
19. Dealing with Other People.
Three ways to give people information so it is real to them.
20. How to Give Feedback.
Three ways to make empowerment work--and make your teambless you.
21. Set Limits to Freedom.
Five rules for dealing with conflict.
22. The Importance of Being Frank.
Five broad characterizations of the working generations.
23. Bridging the Age Gap.
Four of the worst and six of the best ways to communicate badnews.
24. How to Discipline and Fire.
Nine parting shots of managerial wisdom.
25. Confession and Conclusion.
Appendix: Best Books.
Acknowledgments.
The Authors.
Index.
