Unite the Tribes: Leadership Skills for Technology Managers, Second Edition

Unite the Tribes: Leadership Skills for Technology Managers, Second Edition

by Christopher Duncan
Released September 2013
Publisher(s): Apress
ISBN: 9781430258728

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Book description

Every day, customers see the results of divided companies. Regardless of the manner in which their company's fractures manifest themselves, however, corporate leaders must find a way to rid their workplaces of the divisions that threaten to undermine their company's productivity, profits, and survival. That's why, in Unite the Tribes, bestselling author Christopher Duncan provides corporate leaders with a ten-step plan for joining their company's divided ranks together in a way that helps employees achieve their goals while also accomplishing those of the company.

Using the metaphors of the company as empire and the disparate groups that form within companies as tribes, Duncan explains that the formation of tribes within an empire is unavoidable, and to some extent, it may even be natural. After all, regardless of the situation in which they find themselves, human beings are social creatures that have aligned themselves with those whose goals and motivations match their own for centuries. The job of corporate leaders, however, is to build a cohesive, powerful, and enduring empire—which is why, in Unite the Tribes: Leadership Skills for Technology Managers, Duncan reveals:

  • How to build alliances and a spirit of unity across all levels of a company in order to achieve higher employee morale, greater profits, and increased productivity;

  • How to effectively communicate to employees the reality that their long-term prosperity as individuals operating within a company depends upon the long-term prosperity of the company itself;

  • The many forms of conflict that can form both within and without a organization;

  • How to discover what truly fulfills employees of a company and help them acquire it;

  • And much more.

    • With Unite the Tribes as their guide, corporate leaders will learn that the way that great empires of the past have been established has been through the efforts of visionary leaders who understood that they could prevail only when they were able to convince their tribes of a simple but crucial truth: Alone, you are weak and vulnerable. United, you are invincible.

    What you'll learn

    Readers of Unite the Tribes will learn:

  • Practical, down-to-earth approaches to problem solving and productivity that make sense to corporate leaders who have to do real work in the real world.

  • How to arrive at a plan for uniting the disparate groups that operate within their company when faced with the daily reality of office politics, maneuvering, ambition, incompetence, and short-term thinking.

  • How to convey the company's purpose to employees in a way that is realistic and meaningful so that all workers can contribute to the company's greater good.

  • How the Ten Pillars of the Empire (Vision; Leadership; Organization; Mobility; Competitiveness; Persuasion; Strategy; Brilliance; Morale; Unification) can help their employees and their company achieve their individual and joint goals.

    • Who this book is for

    Regardless of the industry in which their company operates, those serving in leadership or managerial capacities (i.e., those overseeing one or more employees) at workplaces plagued with division and dysfunction will find the solutions they need to rally their employees to join forces in Unite the Tribes. In addition, leaders and managers of companies whose cohesion is still healthy yet is being threatened with fracture will be provided with real-world strategies for reinforcing the glue that holds their company together in this practical, applications-driven guide.

    Table of contents

    1. Title Page
    2. Apress Business: The Unbiased Source of Business Information
    3. Dedication
    4. Contents
    5. About the Author
    6. Introduction
    7. CHAPTER 1: The Myth of Absolute Power
      1. Business Is War
      2. Within and Without
      3. True Power
      4. The Good of the Company
      5. Understanding Expectations
      6. The Art of Stopping Conflict
      7. Summary
    8. CHAPTER 2: Building the Future
      1. We Need Leaders
      2. The Lowest Common Denominator
      3. The Change Business
      4. Life Fights Back
      5. Why Good People Fail
      6. A Cause We Can Believe In
      7. Put On a Show
      8. Summary
    9. CHAPTER 3: Create an Invincible Empire
      1. Learning from the Best
      2. Management Styles
      3. Good versus Evil
      4. Tribal Tendencies
      5. Slaves, Drones, and Freedom
      6. Lessons from the Past
      7. Fast Forward
      8. Summary
    10. CHAPTER 4: Vision
      1. Picture the End Result in Fine Detail
      2. Plan like You’re Going to Live Forever
      3. Anticipate How People Will React
      4. Know the Character of Your Leaders and Allies
      5. Be Completely Prepared before Unveiling Your Ideas
      6. Give People a Reason to Care About Your Vision
      7. Present Practical Benefits for Long-Term Goals
      8. Integrate Short-Term Solutions into the Larger Effort
      9. Show How to Get There from Here
      10. Win the War, Not the Battle
      11. Summary
    11. CHAPTER 5: Leadership
      1. Show How Personal Efforts Map to Tangible Rewards
      2. Build a Sense of Ownership in the Cause
      3. Reward Every Person Who Contributes to Success
      4. Swiftly Remove Those Who Work against the Common Good
      5. Shield Your People So That They Can Be Brilliant
      6. Know the Work That You Lead
      7. Be One of Your People
      8. Lead the Charge Personally
      9. Give the Credit to Those Who Did the Work
      10. Take the Blame Yourself
      11. Summary
    12. CHAPTER 6: Organization
      1. Make It Easy for Good Ideas to Reach Decision Makers
      2. Resist Complexity That Brings No Tangible Benefit
      3. Eliminate Unnecessary Layers
      4. Use and Publicize a Common Language
      5. Build Clear and Simple Lines of Communication
      6. Make Each Unit Aware of What All Others Are Doing
      7. Maintain an Explicit Chain of Responsibility
      8. Give Leaders at Every Level Power and Autonomy
      9. Design Rules That Can Be Broken
      10. Never Create a Foolproof System
      11. Summary
    13. CHAPTER 7: Mobility
      1. Foster a Culture of Mobility
      2. Be Quick on Your Feet or Be a Target
      3. See Trouble Coming and Be Gone Before It Arrives
      4. Be In and Out before the Enemy Knows What Hit Them
      5. Maintain Flexible Structures
      6. Build a Collection of Small, Fast Units
      7. Have an Approach for All Seasons
      8. Keep an Eye on Your Supplies
      9. Continually Look for New Pursuits
      10. Never Leave One of Your People Behind
      11. Summary
    14. CHAPTER 8: Competitiveness
      1. Focus on a Common Enemy
      2. Harness Internal Power Struggles
      3. Be Bold with the Enemy but Humble with Each Other
      4. Sharpen Skills through Frequent Games
      5. Glorify All Who Compete, Not Just the Champions
      6. Cheer Each Other On
      7. Raise Supporting Positions to a Place of Honor
      8. Give Your People Heroes to Admire
      9. Celebrate Victories with Great Enthusiasm
      10. Always Look to the Next Conquest
      11. Summary
    15. CHAPTER 9: Persuasion
      1. Make a Friend
      2. Leave Your Emotions at the Door
      3. Speak the Other Person’s Language
      4. Think in Terms of Their Benefit
      5. Perfect Your Timing
      6. Ask for More Than You Want
      7. Give Them a Reason to Act Now
      8. Be Prepared for Objections
      9. Get an Agreement
      10. Believe
      11. Summary
    16. CHAPTER 10: Strategy
      1. Remember That Business Is War
      2. Know Your Enemy
      3. Build Strong Alliances
      4. Cultivate an Information Network
      5. Think Several Steps Ahead
      6. Always Have a Backup Plan
      7. Never Give Warning
      8. Improve Your Skills Daily
      9. Socialize Frequently to Brainstorm
      10. Share Everything You Learn
      11. Summary
    17. CHAPTER 11: Brilliance
      1. Foster Disdain for the Status Quo
      2. Forget How Others Have Done It
      3. Avoid Cleverness That Brings No Benefits
      4. Be Open to New Ideas from Anyone
      5. Celebrate the Power of Group Creativity
      6. Educate Everyone about the Big Picture
      7. Listen to the People Who Do the Work
      8. Create an Inspirational Environment
      9. Overcome Fear of Change
      10. Always Look to the Next Great Achievement
      11. Summary
    18. CHAPTER 12: Morale
      1. Remember That the People Are the Empire
      2. Keep the Goals Believable
      3. Emphasize the Victories, Not the Defeats
      4. Glorify Every Contribution
      5. Remove Drudgery with Spirit, Flair, and Artistry
      6. Realize That Enthusiasm Is Contagious
      7. Actively Eliminate Negativity
      8. Understand the Importance of Taking Breaks
      9. Socialize Frequently and Sincerely
      10. Believe That You Are Superior to All Other Empires
      11. Summary
    19. CHAPTER 13: Unite!
      1. The Power of Unity
      2. Nuts and Bolts
      3. Power from the People
      4. Be a Lightning Rod
    20. Index

    Product information

    • Title: Unite the Tribes: Leadership Skills for Technology Managers, Second Edition
    • Author(s): Christopher Duncan
    • Release date: September 2013
    • Publisher(s): Apress
    • ISBN: 9781430258728