Managers are expected to be leaders, innovators, magicians, dynamic motivators, stern but fair judges, diplomats, politicians, therapists, financial wizards, warriors, and saints. They must deliver on executive mandates, no matter how crazy. For some people, it's a breeze. They glide effortlessly through the hassles and politics, getting raises, promotions, results. They know the rules of management. Rules for managing a team-- and managingyourself. They're surprisingly easy to learn and live by. Richard Templar has brought them all together in one place: the quick, irreverent The Rules of Management. Templar covers everything from setting realistic targets to holding effective meetings; finding the right people to inspiring loyalty. Learn when and how to let people think they know more than you (even if they don't) -- and recognize when they really do! Discover how to adapt your style to each team member...get people to bring solutions, not problems...create your own private game plan for success, complete with Plans "B" and "C"...capitalize on luck...manage stress and stay healthy...get respect...and take charge.

Table of Contents:
Introduction. I. MANAGING YOUR TEAM. 1. Get Them Emotionally Involved 2. Know What a Team Is and How It Works 3. Set Realistic Targets-No, Really Realistic 4. Hold Effective Meetings-No, Really Effective 5. Make Meetings Fun 6. Make Your Team Better Than You 7. Set Your Boundaries 8. Be Ready to Cut 9. Offload as Much as You Can-or Dare 10. Let Them Make Mistakes 11. Accept Their Limitations 12. Encourage People 13. Be Very, Very Good at Finding the Right People 14. Take the Rap 15. Give Credit to the Team When It Deserves It 16. Get the Best Resources for Your Team 17. Celebrate 18. Keep Track of Everything You Do and Say 19. Be Sensitive to Friction 20. Create a Good Atmosphere 21. Inspire Loyalty and Team Spirit 22. Fight for Your Team 23. Have and Show Trust in Your Staff 24. Respect Individual Differences 25. Listen to Ideas from Others 26. Adapt Your Style to Each Team Member 27. Let Them Think They Know More Than You (Even If They Don't) 28. Don't Always Have to Have the Last Word 29. Understand the Roles of Others 30. Ensure People Know Exactly What Is Expected of Them 31. Use Positive Reinforcement to Motivate 32. Don't Try Justifying Stupid Systems 33. Be Ready to Say Yes 34. Train Them to Bring You Solutions, Not Problems II. MANAGING YOURSELF. 35. Get It Done/Work Hard 36. Set an Example/Standards 37. Enjoy Yourself 38. Don't Let It Get to You 39. Know What You Are Supposed to Be Doing 40. Know What You Are Actually Doing 41. Be Proactive, Not Reactive 42. Be Consistent 43. Set Realistic Targets for Yourself-No, Really Realistic 44. Have a Game Plan, But Keep It Secret 45. Get Rid of Superfluous Rules 46. Learn From Your Mistakes 47. Be Ready to Unlearn-What Works, Changes 48. Cut the Crap-Prioritize 49. Cultivate Those in the Know 50. Know When to Shut the Door 51. Fill Your Time Productively and Profitably 52. Have a Plan B and a Plan C 53. Capitalize on Chance-Be Lucky, but Never Admit It 54. Recognize When You're Stressed 55. Manage Your Health 56. Be Prepared for the Pain and Pleasure 57. Face the Future 58. Head Up, Not Head Down 59. See the Woods and the Trees 60. Know When to Let Go 61. Be Decisive, Even If It Means Being Wrong Sometimes 62. Adopt Minimalism as a Management Style 63. Visualize Your Blue Plaque 64. Have Principles and Stick to Them 65. Follow Your Intuition/Gut Instinct 66. Be Creative 67. Don't Stagnate 68. Be Flexible and Ready to Move On 69. Remember the Object of the Exercise 70. Remember That None of Us Has to Be Here 71. Go Home 72. Keep Learning-Especially from the Opposition 73. Be Passionate and Bold 74. Plan for the Worst, but Hope for the Best 75. Let the Company See You Are on Its Side 76. Don't Bad-Mouth Your Boss 77. Don't Bad-Mouth Your Team 78. Accept That Some Things Bosses Tell You to Do Will Be Wrong 79. Accept That Bosses Are as Scared as You Are at Times 80. Avoid Straitjacket Thinking 81. Act and Talk as If You Are One of Them 82. Show You Understand the Viewpoint of Underlings and Overlings 83. Don't Back Down-Be Prepared to Stand Your Ground 84. Don't Play Politics 85. Don't Put Down Other Managers 86. Share What You Know 87. Don't Intimidate 88. Be Above Interdepartmental Warfare 89. Show That You'll Fight to the Death for Your Team 90. Aim for Respect Rather Than Being Liked 91. Do One or Two Things Well and Avoid the Rest 92. Seek Feedback on Your Performance 93. Maintain Good Relationships and Friendships 94. Build Respect-Both Ways-Between You and Your Customers 95. Go the Extra Mile for Your Customers 96. Be Aware of Your Responsibilities and Stick to Your Principles 97. Be Straight at All Times and Speak the Truth 98. Don't Cut Corners-You'll Get Caught 99. Be in Command and Take Charge 100. Be a Diplomat for the Company End Game. Acknowledgments.