Start with the collection that fits what's in front of you this week. If you're new to leading people, Leadership vs Management is a good first read, and if you'd like a set order to follow, start with Step 1 of the 10 Steps to Leadership Development.
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Leadership Articles for Managers
These leadership articles are written for working managers, and they're grouped into six collections so you can go straight to what you need. They come from more than 30 years of leading teams in financial services, and each one is written for the situations a working manager runs into.
Each article is a quick read, and most of them point to a free tool you can use the same week. Each one stands on its own and you can read them in any order.
The six collections apply to any manager of people, whatever your industry, and the 10 Steps series gives you a set order to follow if you'd prefer some initial guidance. Two of the collections focus on your own growth as a leader. The other four article sections cover specific parts of the job, including running the business side, building a team, leading a sales team, and serving customers.
A supervisor who was promoted last month might start with Leadership Development Articles, while an owner trying to get a handle on cash flow will likely find more in Business Management Articles.
Jump To: Collections | Where to Start | Example | FAQ
Leadership Article Collections
Each collection has its own page with a short description of every article in it.
Leadership Development Articles
Short reads on leadership traits, motivation and teaching leadership skills to kids.
10 Steps to Leadership Development
A ten-part series, from what drives you to lead to making time for life outside work.
Business Management Articles
Running the business side, from cash flow and funding to hiring and meetings.
Team Building Articles
Building a team that works well together, from hiring the right person to keeping spirits up.
Sales Management Articles
Leading a sales team, from recognition programs to courtesy calling scripts.
Customer Service Articles
Serving customers well, from handling an angry customer to keeping customers coming back.
Where to Start
If you're not sure which collection fits, one of these may match where you are:
- If you're new to leading people, start with Leadership vs Management, which looks at how the job changes when you move from doing the work to leading the people who do it.
- If you'd like a set order to follow, work through the 10 Steps to Leadership Development, one step a week.
- If you want something to use at your next team meeting, Leadership Traits has a talking point for each of the 14 traits.
- If you're putting a new team together, start with Team Building Articles.
How One Branch Manager Used These Articles
MARIA'S MONDAY HUDDLES
Maria took over a bank branch with a team of seven. She started a ten-minute huddle every Monday morning and used Leadership Traits to plan them, covering one of the 14 traits each week with the talking point from the article.
In her second month, a customer complained loudly about a fee at the teller line. The teller remembered when Maria shared an article on handling an angry customer from the Customer Service Articles section, and was able to de-escalate the situation with greater confidence.
Fourteen Mondays after the first huddle, the team had covered every trait, and Maria now passes the site along to other branch managers.
More for Leaders
The articles pair well with the free tools on this site, which are organized into three phases of leadership:
- Leading Self tools for your own goals, habits and development.
- Leading People tools for coaching, feedback and one-on-ones.
- Leading Teams tools for planning, priorities and team meetings.
Leadership Articles FAQ
The questions below address what leaders most commonly ask about these leadership articles.
Click on the (+) sign below to expand each question. Click the (-) sign to collapse it again.
What leadership article should I read first?
How are the leadership articles organized?
They're grouped into six collections. Leadership Development Articles and the 10 Steps series focus on your own growth as a leader, and the other four cover business management, team building, sales management and customer service.
Which leadership articles are best for new managers?
Leadership Development Articles and the 10 Steps series are the best fit, because they cover the move from doing the work to leading the people who do it. Leadership vs Management and Leadership Traits are two good places to begin.
Are the leadership articles free?
Yes. Every article and every tool on Leadership-Tools.com is free to read and download, with no sign-up required.
Who writes the leadership articles?
Richard Gorham, who has led teams in financial services for more than 30 years and still leads a team today. He founded Leadership-Tools.com in 2002.
Can I share these articles with my team?
Yes. You're welcome to send links to any article, and several of them include talking points or exercises you can use in a team meeting.
More Leadership Resources
Richard Gorham has led teams in financial services for more than 30 years, from retail branches and operations to investments and insurance, and he still leads a team today.
He founded Leadership-Tools.com in 2002 to give managers free, practical tools like the ones he used in his various leadership roles. Every tool here has been used in a real workplace and comes with a filled-in example you can follow.
Contact Information:
phone
(503) 970-9777
Email Customer Service
helpsupport@leadership-tools.com
Email Richard
richard@leadership-tools.com
By Richard Gorham
Leadership-Tools.com
2879 Riverwalk Loop, Eugene, Oregon, 97401
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