The modern executive rarely believes in managing by the ’seat of your pants’, realizing that it is not practical in today’s business world. Those who manage others need to have practical, working knowledge, and they need to get it from any relevant source, including training and the use of different management techniques. Many opt for management coaching courses, while others opt for business coaching in a one on one setting, while yet others prefer self study.

Nearly everyone is familiar with the “Dummies” instruction book series, covering topics as diverse as golf and trigonometry. Now, “Managing for Dummies” has been added to this always useful product line. Regardless of whether you are a rookie manager who is just getting your feet wet, or a seasoned veteran looking to sharpen your trouble shooting and management skills, “Managing for Dummies” has useful and well-organized information to help you excel.

Just like the rest of the “For Dummies” series, Managing for Dummies makes no assumptions about past experience and won’t insult you for being new to the field. This book is a witty, well structured, and easily understood look at the major components of management and the keys to success in the managing world.

A problem that many managers experience is trying to do everything themselves rather than delegating. The book makes an excellent case for why successful managers need to manage carefully-chosen staffs which do the actual work. Integral parts of this managerial skill is in knowing how to find and hire well-qualified workers for their team.

Additional topics that are covered include communications skills and technqiues, methods of inspiration and motivation, employee coaching, and conflict resolution. Team development and joint efforts are also stressed, since teams do better than individuals at integrating new policies and addressing specific problems.

“Managing for Dummies” puts particular emphasis on communication skills. The reason this is important is that a manager may be intelligent and innovative, but without good communication skills, it is difficult for them to motivate staff and get them to do an exceptional job.

Managers must have the flexibility to adapt rapidly to changes in critical deadlines. They must also have the managerial skills to help the members of their workforce go with the flow, no matter how rapidly it changes. The book includes discussions about developing standards for corporate ethics and ways to effectively deal with office politics.

One of the most important skills for a manager that the book explains is how to assess the performance of both the company and the employees, which can be difficult and awkward. The book helps prepare the manager, teaching about constructive criticism, how to reward outstanding performance, and how to choose whether or not an employee is further benefiting the company or not. Similar to other “Dummies” books, this is a great way for a manager to refresh on the basics and get a new angle on the topic.

Modern executives have recognized that management by the “seat of the pants” method is rarely enough in the current business world. Nearly everyone is familiar with the “Dummies” instruction book series, covering topics as diverse as golf and trigonometry. Now, “managing for dummies” has been added to this useful product line. Regardless of whether you are a rookie manager in need of business coaching, or a seasoned veteran looking to sharpen your trouble shooting through management coaching, this book has useful and well-organized information to help you excel. As with all of the ’Dummies’ line of books, this one gives fresh perspective on the basics of this topic.