Becoming A Top Manager: Tools and Lessons in Transitioning to General Management

MOVE UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF MANAGEMENT WITH CONFIDENCE

′Becoming A Top Manager asks and answers all the right questions when it comes to cultivating senior leaders! Kaiser, Pich and Schecter know exactly what it takes to make this journey from functional leader to GM. They outline a path fraught with complexity, but they don′t sugar–coat any part of it. So if you′re racing down the road to general management, make this book required reading and doing.′
Hal Gregersen, Executive Director of the MIT Leadership Center and co–author of The Innovator′s DNA

′In Becoming a Top Manager, Kaiser, Pich and Schecter skilfully and cleverly address the three vital pieces of this transformation: managing the business, managing others, and, most important of all, managing oneself. You will not read a book that addresses the transition to general management in a more astute and engaging way.′
Ricardo Ferrero, Global Marketing Lead, Baker Hughes

′A must–read for those who aspire to become successful GMs. Kaiser, Pich and Schecter have done an excellent job of articulating the essence of general management in a compelling, inspiring and entertaining way.′
Wopke B. Hoekstra, Partner, McKinsey & Company and member of Dutch Senate

′Becoming a Top Manager is essential reading for anyone making the transition from functional leader to general manager.′
Roger Benson, Cloud & Mobility Multinational Sales Director, Intel EMEA

′Kaiser, Pich and Schecter brilliantly show how to transform into a top manager by not only managing the business, but also managing others, and, perhaps most crucially, managing oneself.′
Lutz Finger, Director of Data Science & Engineering, LinkedIn

′Becoming a Top Manager is critical reading for those transitioning to general management or seeking to do so. The stories of the three fictional GMs allow one to really experience the transformation, supported by a unique combination of insights and acumen from the authors and their former students and all built upon the fundamental objective of creating value.′
Ross Evans, Group Manager, Exploration Appraisal & Development, Origin

Acknowledgements xi

Introduction 1

SECTION 1: MANAGING THE BUSINESS

Chapter 1: Embracing the Why 17

Chapter 2: Seeing the Implications 43

Chapter 3: Befriending the Numbers 73

SECTION 2: MANAGING OTHERS

Chapter 4: Leaving the Nest 101

Chapter 5: Bridging the Gap 127

Chapter 6: Walking the Talk 157

SECTION 3: MANAGING YOURSELF

Chapter 7: Taking the Reins 191

Chapter 8: Passing the Test 217

Chapter 9: Sustaining the Journey 243

A Final Word 265

About the Website 267

About the Authors 269

Index 273

KEVIN KAISER is Professor of Management Practice at INSEAD and Director of the Transition to General Management programme and Director of the ABN Amro Managing for Value Research Fund at INSEAD. He was formerly Visiting Adjunct Professor of Finance at Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.

MICHAEL PICH is Dean of Executive Education at INSEAD and was Director of its Transition to General Management Programme. He is a Senior Affiliate Professor in the areas of Technology and Operations Management, and Entrepreneurship and Family Business.

I.J. SCHECTER is an award–winning author and journalist, and CEO of The Schecter Group, a leading global communications firm serving Fortune 500 clients.