2008 Awards for Excellence
Article Type: 2008 Awards for ExcellenceFrom: Industrial and Commercial Training, Volume 40, Issue 7
The following article was selected for this year's Outstanding Paper Award for Industrial and Commercial Training
"Manage your boss"
Jo OwenLeadership Partnership, London. UK
Purpose - The purpose of this article is to identify how to manage bosses well.Design/methodology/approach -Structured interviews and surveys with over 1,000 managers at all levels across industry sectors in the UK: cross-checked with smaller survey groups in other countries to identify UK-specific cultural context. The research findings were then encapsulated in a new model and training approach which has been tested and validated with over 1,000 exceptional UK graduates on the Teach First leadership program.Findings - The research identified the major pitfalls and opportunities in managing upwards, and helped create a model for effective upwards management in organizations.Research limitations/implications - Some of the findings are UK specific, others appear to be universal. More research is required in different cultural contexts, and is currently in progress.Practical implications- The paper helps managers progress their careers by actively managing their managers, rather than being managed by them.Originality/value- Creation of a new tool for understanding management styles: the style compass.
Keywords: Careers, Management development, Management styles, Managers, Motivation (psychology), United Kingdom
This article originally appeared in Volume 39 Number 2, 2007, pp. 79-84, of Industrial and Commercial Training
