Own Your Day: New light on the mastery of managing in the middle

Are you a manager, stuck between pressure from senior leadership and the needs of your team? Do you sometimes feel that you’ve been robbed of your power, your influence… and your ability to actually achieve anything?! It’s time to Own Your Day. This practical collection of simple tools and techniques will enable you to successfully navigate the current environment. Based on first-hand experience from hundreds of organizations, Own Your Day provides an easy-to-apply mix of real-life case studies and specific guidance on the things that matter most to managers. Balancing strategy and delivery Preparation vs planning Developing and using your influence Being your authentic self Getting the best out of yourself and others Implementing change successfully Reclaim your autonomy, step into your authority, and Own Your Day. DIANA MARSLAND is a coach, mentor, lecturer and researcher focused on organizational behaviour and the impact of digital technology in the workplace. Her varied career has included roles in organizations as diverse as Halifax plc, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, Fidelity Investments and the NHS. JULIE NERNEY is a serial entrepreneur, transformation expert, CEO, NED, Chair, lecturer and public speaker. With experience of every stage of organizational life, from start up through to disposals and acquisitions, she is a passionate advocate for authentic, purposeful leadership.

Table of Contents:
Table of Contents Our focus groups with a representative sample of managers across all sectors have identified the common challenges they face where practical support would be the most valuable. These have been organised into two primary themes, each containing the four most common challenges, an overview for which is provided below. Every section will include practical takeaways – tools, techniques, frameworks, experiential learning from case studies and, for those readers who want to find out more, signposting to other resources such as articles, podcasts or other publications. It will be prefaced by a foreword and finish with a master reference guide for the content. About the authors Our grateful thanks to… Preface Foreword PART ONE: OPERATING CLIMATE 1 TAKING OWNERSHIP AND CREATING A GROWTH MINDSET 1.1 Context is King 1.2 Your mindset, their perspective 1.3 Creating your own permission 1.4 Don’t Fear Mistakes – it’s all about the Learning 1.5 Recognising opportunities for change RESOURCES 2 PREPARATION VS PLANNING 2.1 Being Future Focused 2.2 Your Personal Clarity 2.3 Dealing with uncertainty and setbacks 2.4 Clarity of Purpose and Outcomes Resources 3 INFLUENCING FOR IMPACT 3.1 Old vs New Power 3.2 Knowing your Audience 3.3 Building Reputation and Visibility 3.4 Building a compelling argument 3.5 The Importance of Context and Timing RESOURCES 4 IMPLEMENTING CHANGE 4.1 Understanding the Why 4.2 The How trumps the What in successful change 4.3 Changing Behaviours RESOURCES PART TWO: PEOPLE PEOPLE CENTRED LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT 5.1 Authenticity 5.2 Self-awareness 5.3 Self-care RESOURCES 6 GETTING THE BEST OUT OF OTHERS 6.1 Let’s Start with Your Boss… 6.2 Trust as the glue 6.3 Creating a high performing team RESOURCES 7 HAVING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS 7.1 Feedback as the foundation 7.2 The Importance of Clear Expectations 7.3 Dignified exits: letting people go with clarity and kindness RESOURCES 8 MEETING MADNESS 8.1 Purpose 8.2 Preparation 8.3 Style RESOURCES 9. CONCLUSION…AND THE NEW NORMAL ENDNOTES INDEX

About the Author :
Diana Marsland MA, BA (Hons), FHEA Diana Marsland’s varied career has seen her work in marketing, project management executive roles roles in the corporate, public and third sectors including Halifax plc, the NHS, Action Medical Research and City University. She believes that managers’ abilities are vastly underrated and that they can flourish with support and encouragement. Julie Nerney, MBA, Chartered Director (CDir), Fellow of the Institute of Directors (FIoD) Julie Nerney is a serial entrepreneur, transformation expert, CEO, NED, Chair, guest lecturer and public speaker. With insights from working with hundreds of organisations across every sector, she is certain that how teams and leaders approach work is a far bigger driver of success than what they do. She is a passionate advocate for authentic, purposeful leadership.

Review :
Helpful management tool This book is a great resource for managers who are expected to implement constant change initiatives whilst grappling with the realities of managing delivery. The mix of theory & practice makes it easy to read & includes solutions to common issues - such as managing upwards as well as dealing with an uncertain work environment. I like the reflective questions which get me thinking about what I'm doing & the way I'm doing it. The research quotes from managers reassure me that I'm not alone!