Management research and information resources will help your management team become as effective as possible. Managing different personality types is always a bit of a challenge, but having a good supply of information on management helps managers to navigate the terrain.

When you provide your management team with all of the management research information they need, you'll have fewer problems with employees. Additionally, productivity is likely to increase.

Some other good reasons to provide managers with reference materials on the management industry are:

1. Managers that have the latest information on the management industry are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. When you provide the materials they need, they are more loyal to your company.

2. Management reference materials will help managers deal with problem employees in the most effective way. Different personality types respond to different methods and it's important to know which approach is best to take.

3. Effective management techniques will help your business grow due to employee satisfaction levels and general productivity.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Send managers to seminars to learn the latest information on management

Training seminars help managers learn the skills they need to successfully perform their job. This can be especially beneficial if you have several managers working for your company. By sending them to the same seminar, you can be sure that everyone is working on the same page.

I recommend: The American Management Association is a leader in management research and information resources. They put on several conferences and seminars throughout the year. Some of these are by webcast, so you don't have to make travel arrangements. The Supervisory and Management Training Institute also offers several training courses in areas such as leadership skills and team building.

Subscribe to a variety of magazines that discuss information about management research

Magazine subscriptions provide you with regular, up-to-date information on the latest industry news. Many people prefer magazines to books because the articles are shorter and easier to read.

I recommend: Subscribe to Workforce Management Magazine, which frequently gives analysis of current trends in management. Sales and Marketing Management is another excellent magazine that provides the tools that managers need. You may also consider subscribing to a management magazine that is unique to your industry.

Start a small library of management research and reference materials

Having reference materials works best when your managers have easy access to it. Set aside a space in your office to act as a library. Then stock the library with a wide range of materials, from books on the history of management to the latest theories and techniques.

I recommend: Purchase History of Management Thought by Daniel A. Wren. It is an excellent primer on management techniques throughout the years. You may also be interested in getAbstract, which provides summaries of the most popular business books. They have corporate solutions to help you set up a program in your office.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't just supply managers with management research and information resources. Let them schedule the time they need to learn from the materials you provide.