Think about the most effective and well-respected manager at your workplace. You already may know the tenets of effective people management, but good managers know that there is always room for improvement. As a corporate consultant, I have found that employees are often promoted to management positions because they have excelled at particular skills, such as writing, making widgets or developing computer software.
Chances are, however, they have little understanding of how to successfully manage people.
To complicate matters, organizational life has changed drastically during the past decade. A more collaborative environment has replaced hierarchical organizational charts. People at all levels now share in the planning, implementation and control of products or services. Getting involved in the details will keep you from seeing the big picture, and will rob your staff of the chance to learn and grow. Even if many decisions are made collaboratively at your workplace, others will still be your responsibility.