By Tarun Khanna, Harvard Business School, Stanford University. Graduate School of Business
How does a general manager operate successfully when the responsibilities of the job are often in conflict? What does it mean to choose to be a leader? Stationed at the crossroads between the corporation and the operating units, middle managers are measured on their ability to motivate others to perform. In this presentation, Professor Joseph Bower provides practical guidelines for becoming a successful manager in the middle. General managers must be strong leaders and strategists, organization builders, and performers. They must learn which battles to fight, while developing and maintaining positive working relationships. In order to expand their jobs, they must understand the limits of the territory while taking aggressive risks. Shouldered with a challenging mix of financial and process management responsibilities, the middle manager must create an environment where staff can succeed. The complete general manager is a leader who is at ease in an imperfect world; is diplomatic, energetic, self-confident, and fun. Are you ready to choose to lead?
