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The Manager's Dilemma - How to Empower Your Team's Problem-Solving
Managers tend to excel at problem-solving while not thinking too much about their ability to develop their team's problem-solving skills.
The Manager's Dilemma explores this tension and it's impact on you, the manager, and your team. We also uncover the valid reasons for escalation along with the steps of problem-solving.
Then we help Lisa figure out where each of her team members are getting stuck and coach her to identifying appropriate ways to develop each of her team members.
We finish off by explore the manager's problem-solving mindset and plan out how to introduce the new approach to the team, all the while considering how much better your life will be along how each member of your team's lives will also benefit.
A high-performing team, more time for you and increased opportunities..start reading now!
The Manager's Dilemma explores this tension and it's impact on you, the manager, and your team. We also uncover the valid reasons for escalation along with the steps of problem-solving.
Then we help Lisa figure out where each of her team members are getting stuck and coach her to identifying appropriate ways to develop each of her team members.
We finish off by explore the manager's problem-solving mindset and plan out how to introduce the new approach to the team, all the while considering how much better your life will be along how each member of your team's lives will also benefit.
A high-performing team, more time for you and increased opportunities..start reading now!
180 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 3, 2021
70 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
About the author
Irial O'Farrell
3 books6 followersHi there and welcome to my author page. As I write management and leadership books, I have a confession to make. I'm a bit of a "people geek". Since my very first job in Sydney, Australia, I've been fascinated with what inspires people to work hard and what demotivates them.
This fascination has led me on a merry dance, from Sydney to Boston to Dublin, Ireland (where I was born). My career also evolved from Financial Services operations into management onto learning and development, where it evolved into executive coaching, organisation design and strategy.
My curiosity about people, coupled with high aptitude for abstract reasoning, allows me to make sense of what is happening with performance within organisations, and it's not always what it seems!
I published my first book, Values - Not Just for the Office Wall Plaque in 2012, then life "happened" but I'm back in the saddle, raring to go with my second book, SMART Objective Setting for Managers.
This fascination has led me on a merry dance, from Sydney to Boston to Dublin, Ireland (where I was born). My career also evolved from Financial Services operations into management onto learning and development, where it evolved into executive coaching, organisation design and strategy.
My curiosity about people, coupled with high aptitude for abstract reasoning, allows me to make sense of what is happening with performance within organisations, and it's not always what it seems!
I published my first book, Values - Not Just for the Office Wall Plaque in 2012, then life "happened" but I'm back in the saddle, raring to go with my second book, SMART Objective Setting for Managers.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 23, 2021
This book can definitely improve your managerial skills. I liked the way it is written - with situations that can actually happen. Overall, I think the book is worth it.
September 21, 2021
The book is a gem for sure. The examples and all the materials in it are exactly how a guide should look like. I think I'll adopt some of the advice in my career.
May 21, 2022
Excellent read. Outlines what many manager / leaders have experienced especially those that have come up from the ranks. They have been there and done what their teams are doing. For the recent managers this is a learned skill that you will development over time. For seasoned managers this is reinforcement of how to lead, how to coach, and how to grow your team to be self-reliant.
As stated in book teams should come to mangers with issue for three reasons.
1. They have tried to resolve the issue and have not made progress; they are coming to leadership for guidance.
2. They want to keep manager informed of a situation and this is them sharing a heads-up as they proceed to resolve the issue
3. Happens all too often, they want someone to tell them what to do they want the answer without putting in the effort. This is not a reason to bring issues to a manager.
This is where leaders can coach and guide the team into how to resolve issues and how to think / act for themselves.
I suggest for this 3rd reason we do not answer what to do but engage in the discussion and have the teammate find a direction and go forward to resolve the issue. Solving the problem for your team without them engaging in the resolution does not teach them how to grow and improve.
Utilize the eight steps of problem solving it is a good way to validate the teammates work effort to resolving the issue.
This as outlined in the book is the manager dilemma. Fight against solving issues for everyone instead work to teach the team, coach them, how to resolve issues in their own, this allows the teammate to grow and prosper well into the future.
Enjoy the read.
As stated in book teams should come to mangers with issue for three reasons.
1. They have tried to resolve the issue and have not made progress; they are coming to leadership for guidance.
2. They want to keep manager informed of a situation and this is them sharing a heads-up as they proceed to resolve the issue
3. Happens all too often, they want someone to tell them what to do they want the answer without putting in the effort. This is not a reason to bring issues to a manager.
This is where leaders can coach and guide the team into how to resolve issues and how to think / act for themselves.
I suggest for this 3rd reason we do not answer what to do but engage in the discussion and have the teammate find a direction and go forward to resolve the issue. Solving the problem for your team without them engaging in the resolution does not teach them how to grow and improve.
Utilize the eight steps of problem solving it is a good way to validate the teammates work effort to resolving the issue.
This as outlined in the book is the manager dilemma. Fight against solving issues for everyone instead work to teach the team, coach them, how to resolve issues in their own, this allows the teammate to grow and prosper well into the future.
Enjoy the read.
September 26, 2021
If you manage people, you HAVE to read this book!
Scrap that, I think EVERYONE should read this book - people managers, individuals (to broaden their perspective of the challenges a manager faces) and those who work with people leaders.
The book sets out one of the core issues that managers face; that the team come to them with their issues expecting the manager to solve them. This is such a common problem and takes time, energy and costs the business money.
The book is a practical guide on how to deal with this common issue, illustrating the (only) three reasons an issue should be escalated, and outlining the eight (!) steps in the problem-solving process.
The book is easy to read and chock full of case studies, real examples, using a coaching approach, and prompts for managers to apply the learning to their own situation. It not only deals with the skills required in order to make these necessary changes, but also the mindset required to achieve results.
I feel this book has left no stone unturned when it comes to this issue - all aspects are considered. Taking on board the practical application outlined in this book will lead to a high-performing team!
Scrap that, I think EVERYONE should read this book - people managers, individuals (to broaden their perspective of the challenges a manager faces) and those who work with people leaders.
The book sets out one of the core issues that managers face; that the team come to them with their issues expecting the manager to solve them. This is such a common problem and takes time, energy and costs the business money.
The book is a practical guide on how to deal with this common issue, illustrating the (only) three reasons an issue should be escalated, and outlining the eight (!) steps in the problem-solving process.
The book is easy to read and chock full of case studies, real examples, using a coaching approach, and prompts for managers to apply the learning to their own situation. It not only deals with the skills required in order to make these necessary changes, but also the mindset required to achieve results.
I feel this book has left no stone unturned when it comes to this issue - all aspects are considered. Taking on board the practical application outlined in this book will lead to a high-performing team!
September 13, 2021
The manager’s handbook and GPS for navigating challenging issues
The author has a training and management background which provides a great foundation for her book. By using the same team of people all the way through, she helps with what drives promotions vs getting things done after that manager promotion. This will help every new manager and many existing managers with how to do problem resolution and issue tracking. The reader will learn how to educate themselves and their team on how and when to escalate to the manager. The “when” is one of the hardest things to learn because it’s out of the comfort zones at the beginning.
But once the reader gets through all the situational education, it will improve day to day management and communications among the manager and the team.
There is use of tables, summaries, examples, and a couple of worksheets to guide the reader and manager. All in all, this is a terrific guide for managers.
The author has a training and management background which provides a great foundation for her book. By using the same team of people all the way through, she helps with what drives promotions vs getting things done after that manager promotion. This will help every new manager and many existing managers with how to do problem resolution and issue tracking. The reader will learn how to educate themselves and their team on how and when to escalate to the manager. The “when” is one of the hardest things to learn because it’s out of the comfort zones at the beginning.
But once the reader gets through all the situational education, it will improve day to day management and communications among the manager and the team.
There is use of tables, summaries, examples, and a couple of worksheets to guide the reader and manager. All in all, this is a terrific guide for managers.
February 6, 2023
Found this book very interesting and quite easy to follow, since it was mainly scenario based.
Highly recommend, have learnt quite a few tricks to apply at work as well!
Highly recommend, have learnt quite a few tricks to apply at work as well!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews