Focus on Them Become the Manager Your People Need You to Be

Perfect the Skills to Excel as a Manager

An engagement crisis, a management skill shortage, a retention problem-call it what you will, today's research and workplace insights emphasize that many employees leave managers. . . not companies.

Good managers know they need to deliver results to be successful. But great ones? They understand the essence of managing encompasses something more: making connections, embodying the right skills, and developing their direct reports. They also realize managing well takes practice. With Focus on Them, you'll get the tools and know-how to excel as a manager.

Edited by the Association for Talent Development's own management authority Ryan Changcoco, research expert Megan Cole, and content developer Jack Harlow, this book explores ATD's new management framework-the ACCEL model. Each chapter, written by a leader in management and talent development, focuses on one of the five skills all managers need:

• Accountability (Timothy Ito)
• Communication (Ken O'Quinn)
• Collaboration (Winsor Jenkins)
• Engagement (Hunter Haines)
• Listening and assessing (Michele Nevarez)

By investing in your own development-boosting your ACCEL skills-you signal to your employees that you're serious about their development and learning, too.

Becoming a manager isn't climbing a mountain. By focusing on the basics, you can transform from a results-oriented manager to the super people manager your employees need.