Focus on Them

Perfect the Skills to Excel as a Manager

An engagement crisis, a management skill shortage, a retention problem—call it what you will, today’s research and workplace insights emphasize that many employees leave managers. . . not companies.

Good managers know they need to deliver results to be successful. But great ones? They understand the essence of managing encompasses something more: making connections, embodying the right skills, and developing their direct reports. They also realize managing well takes practice. With Focus on Them, you’ll get the tools and know-how to excel as a manager.

Edited by the Association for Talent Development’s own management authority Ryan Changcoco, research expert Megan Cole, and content developer Jack Harlow, this book explores ATD’s new management framework—the ACCEL model. Each chapter, written by a leader in management and talent development, focuses on one of the five skills all managers need:

Accountability (Timothy Ito) Communication (Ken O’Quinn) Collaboration (Winsor Jenkins) Engagement (Hunter Haines) Listening and assessing (Michele Nevarez)

By investing in your own development—boosting your ACCEL skills—you signal to your employees that you’re serious about their development and learning, too.

Becoming a manager isn’t climbing a mountain. By focusing on the basics, you can transform from a results-oriented manager to the super people manager your employees need.