The reasons and factors influencing business conversations are examined. The consequences of win/lose conversations, and how to develop win/win approaches are demonstrated and their advantages and disadvantages discussed.

The success of any manager is dependent on his/her ability to develop effective teamwork amongst the individuals who report to him/her. Effective managers develop both technical and interpersonal team management systems. Problem solving in groups is always a major issue. Five key steps which...

Conversation control is a skill. It can be learnt. It requires an understanding of the concepts and then regular practice. This article looks at the use of facts and opinions; how to open up and close down a conversation and how to diverge and converge, particularly in a work situation.

Consulting assignments go through various steps and stages. It is important to know what these are so you can identify what needs to be done, when and how. This article outlines the steps and stages seen occurring in most consulting work.

The differing levels of experience existing within career development require identification and differentiation in their training requirements. A model defining eight such levels, from initial training experience through to corporate and political experience, is useful, and some of the work...

Interpersonal skills are now key features of management courses. However, the principles of conversation have not been widely studied. Like any skill, conversation can improve with practice. First, it requires that you know what you are doing and then try out the various skills. Ten key points...

Traditional management education sessions are based upon the usual lecture inputs on concepts, ideas and research. They are followed up by historical standard case studies, together with experiential simulations, all supported by group discussions. The process of action learning confronts the...

The audit manager has a key task in being a managerial linker to ensure top team performance. This article highlights key points to guide professional practice and shows the use of a new instrument called the Team Management Index.

It is now twenty years since Peter Drucker alleged that personnel management was bankrupt. In the interim, the role of personnel management has developed steadily. It is ironic that today, when many large and small companies are going into liquidation that personnel management is far from...

Adapted from the author′s book, Managerial Consulting Skills , here he reflects on the unseen and occasionally amusing aspects of a consultant′s work. Most of the major problems can often occur before the assignment starts – and then unlikely events can intervene. The author recounts his...