Description
Book SynopsisIn increasingly competitive, 'knowledge worker' environments, people working at all levels prize their freedom and resist direction. The challenging job of leading them can often feel like the business of 'herding cats'. Herding Professional Cats offers advice and insights to leaders in the professions about tackling the classic 'cats' dilemma - how to manage intelligent, opinionated, independent and frequently difficult people without losing the competitive edge a professionalised workforce can bring. "This is a gem of a publication." Geoffrey Green, formerly Senior Partner, Ashurst LLP, London "This is one of the best business books I have read! The way you have structured the book really resonates with me. It was a joy to read, and offers some great insights." Satu Aavikko, Team Leader, Accenture Ltd, Sydney Herding Professional Cats is a new edition of the authors' 2010 bestselling book Herding Cats. It draws on their own top-level leadership experience and contains the information current leaders might wish they had known when they set out on their leadership careers. Davies and Garrett combine wisdom from senior academic and research colleagues around the world with new insights from experienced and perceptive leaders in a variety of professions, from lawyers, accountants and architects to consultants, doctors, journalists, public servants and even politicians. Herding Professional Cats covers key management and leadership themes, including: ~ Governance and ethics ~ Motivating performance ~ Work-life balance ~ Making tough strategic choices ~ Social Media ~ Leading change effectively ~ Communication excellence "Herding Professional Cats is a 'must read' book. I will describe my impression in one word. Brilliant!" Dr Ramesh Mashelkar FRS , President, Global Research Alliance & Board Member; Reliance Industries Ltd; Tata Motors Ltd, Mumbai
Trade Review"This is a gem of a publication." Geoffrey Green formerly Senior Partner, Ashurst LLP, UK "This is one of the best business books I have read! The way you have structured the book really resonates with me. It was a joy to read, and offers some great insights." Satu Aavikko Team Leader, Accenture Ltd, Sydney, Australia "What a triumph! It's informal, racy, brief. I loved the many quotes, but most importantly it is WISE!!! Sir Gus Nossal FRS formerly Director, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne, Australia "Herding Professional Cats is a 'must read' book. I will describe my impression in one word. Brilliant!" Dr Ramesh Mashelkar FRS President, Global Research Alliance; formerly Director General, CSIR National Laboratories, India "HPC is even more inspiring and instructive than its inspiring predecessor." Prof Bai Chunli President, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China "What a delightful day I've had, reading the manuscript of your new book - a fine text, and a wonderful extension of what was already a fine project." Dr Ian Steadman Director of Development, Oxford Brookes University, UK 'HPC is a lovely book ... many pearls of wisdom. I found myself constantly thinking 'That is so true' ." Sheridan Ash Director, PwC, UK
Table of ContentsContents AUTHORS' FOREWORD 7 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 9 HOW TO USE THIS BOOK 15 HOW THE BOOK WORKS 17 INTRODUCTION 19 A: UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE 21 1. Aspects of the CULTURE 22 2. On CONFLICT 29 3. The difficulty of COLLABORATION and boundary crossing 33 B: GETTING THE JOB DONE 39 4. Taking CHARGE 39 5. COMPOSURE under pressure and the implementation imperative 60 6. COMMITTEES and meetings 68 7. Managing the CASH 76 C: MANAGING THE PEOPLE 82 8. COLLEAGUES not subordinates ("It's all about the people") 82 9. COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION, COMMUNICATION 103 10. Giving CREDIT 115 D: LEADING STRATEGICALLY 121 11. Strategy is about CHOICE 121 12. Leading and managing CHANGE 130 POSTSCRIPT - A CLOSING THOUGHT 139 ABOUT THE AUTHORS 142 INDEX 145
