Well, it is only a few weeks before we have a new president. And I must tell you, I have never been more excited about America’s futures. I know, everyday we hear bad news on the TV and read dire headlines in the newspaper. But I feel there is a resurgence of basic values that will extend into the business world. Companies will need to reassess how they deal with customers and how they can get the best “value” from their people.

That has always been a major priority for me and Performance Based Results. Investing in your people is probably the most advantageous thing you can do to make lean times work to your advantage. That’s why I wrote Top 10 Tips to Stay in Control When Your Market Feels Out of Control.

In the December 2008 edition of Vitality Magazine, Leonard Sandler, managerial consultant and president of Sandler Associates and author of Becoming an Extraordinary Manager: The 5 Essentials for Success (AMACOM, 2007), shared with Polly Turner his advice on how to become a truly exceptional manager and leader. Most employees are ordinary people; however, Sandler insists, “Some managers are able to perform miracles with these folks, others aren’t. The difference is usually not in the people but in the manager…It’s a myth that you have to be charismatic, or give great speeches. There’s absolutely no question that anybody can be an extraordinary manager.” To start honing your own managerial skills, Sandler suggests that you:

In a January 2009 Vitality Magazine article, Polly Turner interviewed Deborah Singer Dobson, co-author of Managing Up: 59 Ways to Build a Career-Advancing Relationship With Your Boss (AMACOM, 2000). Dobson says you’re more likely to be perceived as being of value to your organization if:

You’re competent. Sounds like a no-brainer, but whether you’re high or low on the organizational chart, you won’t be considered important or taken seriously unless you show that you’re competent at what you do. Dobson recommends setting high personal standards for your performance, and continually striving to exceed those standards.