Managing Oneself by Peter Drucker

Year read: 2019
How strongly I recommend it: 10/10

(See my list of books I've read, for more.)

Go to the Amazon page for details and reviews.

Managing a team always comes back to better managing yourself. Communication between your team is key. You must communicate your goals and tasks to your team. It is also your responsibility to understand what your team and company are working on. Ask questions, try to understand what they are working on and why.

  • Ideas are only as good as their execution.
  • Each works his or her way, not your way.
  • What matters is whether they perform and what their values are.
  • Communication is of most importance. Your job is to communicate what you’re working on at your company and ask questions to better understand what your company is working on.
  • It is your job to understand the goals of your team and other teams. It is also your job to communicate your team’s goals.
  • “And what do I need to know about your strengths, how you perform, your values, and your proposed contribution.” Ask this of everyone you work with.
  • Taking responsibility for relationships is, therefore, an absolute necessity.
  • Manage people how they work best. Each person works their own way. Forcing people to work in ways they are uncomfortable with does not produce good work or make happy employees. You need to foster how your team members work to get the best results out of them and keep them happy.
  • What matters is the results your team produces and not necessarily how they get there.
  • Ask questions when unclear – never worry about seeming stupid.
  • Take responsibility for relationships is a necessity as a manager.

Go to the Amazon page for details and reviews.