So you manage IT, manage technology, and mange people. Do you know what you are doing? No really do you? I guess it all depends on where you come from and your attitude. Some of US IT managers come from the techie side of the house and have no formal management training. Other’s of us come from the business side of the house and have a lot of training. Still the question remains, do you know what you are doing?

In a leadership role it is always important to act humble yet show a great deal of confidence. So that even if you don’t know what you are doing your team, peers, and your bosses should not know that. I also mentioned attitude earlier. Even if you really do know what you are doing, in your own mind you should always except the reality that there is always more to learn.

So how do you get from either not knowing what you are doing or needing more management knowledge to where you want and need to be? I would say experience would be number one, do it and do it all day long. The second most important thing you can do is to read. Read about management. Read books about technology managers. Read magazine about management. I will continue to read these book and periodicals and review them on this site. The first book I thought I would review is Successful Manager’s Handbook: Develop Yourself, Coach Others

This book is an outstanding reference tool for supervisors, managers, and executives. As a long time manager who dealt with organizational issues, growth, personnel matters, finance, and political influences, and one who teaches undergraduate and graduate school courses in management and leadership, I have experienced most of these issues. The author has done a remarkable job in the detail and accuracy of the work. The work is clear and understandable and organized in such as way as to allow easy access to information. To find such a compendium of information in one book instead of many is an additional benefit. Content is also ratified by the collective skills sets the authors bring.

I highly recommend this book as a desk reference for anyone in a leadership or management role, and highly recommend it for anyone aspiring to the job. The comprehensive nature of the material in the book provides the foundation for new managers. In addition, the reference material leads readers to many other sources, reducing the need for Internet surfing trying to find information, or visiting the local library. As a graduate school faculty member I would also state for the record that this would be a great textbook. The book is written by practitioners who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. This book is a must read. Well done to all the authors – you have provided a book any manager, supervisor, or teacher should have.

Successful Manager’s Handbook: Develop Yourself, Coach Others