Managing People
Simon Birkenhead provides a systematic guide to the fundamental mechanics of middle and senior management within modern corporate structures. The book outlines practical methods for handling the transition from individual contributor to team leader, focusing on measurable performance metrics and the psychology of professional feedback. It details specific protocols for conducting one-on-one meetings, delegating technical tasks without losing oversight, and navigating the recruitment process to build balanced teams. Birkenhead explains how to balance administrative accountability with the human requirement for motivation, offering clear instructions on resolving workplace conflict and maintaining clear lines of communication during periods of organizational change.
New managers and aspiring department heads read this book to build a repeatable toolkit for office leadership. It serves as a manual for those who need to move beyond technical expertise into the social and strategic complexities of supervising others. Readers walk away with concrete scripts for difficult conversations, structured templates for performance reviews, and a clear understanding of how to manage upwards to their own directors while protecting their direct reports from burnout.
Insights from Managing People
Your mood sets the tone for the whole office. If you come in stressed, everyone else will be on edge. You have to perform even when you're tired.
Hiring is where you win or lose. One bad hire will drain your energy for months. Most bosses rush this and regret it forever.
Firing people is the hardest part of the job. Keeping a low performer is unfair to the high performers. You owe it to the rest of the group to act.
“The best managers are the best listeners.”
Listen way more than you talk. Most managers love the sound of their own advice. Your team usually knows the answer already.
- Published
- 2021
- Publisher
- Penguin UK
- ISBN
- 9780241513477
- Language
- EN
