Effective Management Skills for Technical Professionals

Younger and mid-career professionals often struggle with management skills, resulting in increased stress and potential layoffs. Ineffective management practices and resistance to change exacerbate these issues, particularly since senior roles demand strong management competence.

This book is ideal for younger and mid-career professionals who plan to work well into their 60s and beyond. It provides valuable insights into modern day management practices and techniques for sustaining a long and fulfilling career. If you are dedicated to a long-term professional journey, this book offers the guidance you need to navigate and thrive in the evolving workplace, ensuring that you remain engaged and productive throughout your extended career.

This book is also useful for those who plan to pursue an MBA after graduation as well. It is meant to provide them with the knowledge and skills that are on par with those of students who are starting an MBA program with a bachelor's degree in management or two to three years of work experience.

Time is valuable, and it is usually impractical for working professionals to read for extended periods. This book is structured to accelerate your learning curve effectively. Each chapter begins with a set of questions designed to assess your existing knowledge. If you can answer all the questions correctly, you may skip the chapter or quickly scan its contents. However, if you find that you cannot answer majority of the questions, it is recommended that you read the chapter thoroughly at your own pace.

The book is divided into two parts: Personal and Professional Development, and Organizational Management. Table of Contents is provided at the end. It covers the 21 essential management topics necessary for effectively managing oneself and others in practical, real-world situations.

All the chapters are concise, to-the-point, self-contained, and clear, allowing them to be read in any order without losing continuity. Case studies and examples provided in each chapter serve as excellent resources for grasping theoretical concepts and to enhance the reading experience.

The main goal of this book is to spark interest in management, encouraging you to delve deeper and master the subject.

TABLE OF CONTENT

PART 1: PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

1. Overcoming Procrastination

2. Time Management

3. Stress Management

4. Depression Management

5. Presentation Skills

6. Situational Awareness

7. Communication Proficiency

8. Motivation at Workplace

9. Six Thinking Hats

10. Creativity and its Blocks

PART 2: ORGANIZATIONAL MANAGEMENT

11. Conflict Management

12. Team Dynamics

13. Transactional Analysis

14. Johari's Window

15. Competency Mapping

16. Leading and Managing

17. Theory X and Theory Y

18. Polarity Management

19. Decision Making and Problem Solving

20. Effectiveness to Excellence

21. Return on Training Investment

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Pranab Kumar Das Gupta is a distinguished professional with over 35 years of expertise in Computer Science and HR management. He currently holds the position of Associate Director and Senior Scientist at the DRDO, India. Dr. Das Gupta holds an M.Sc., M.Tech, and Ph.D. in Computer Science. He has furthered his professional development through executive training at prestigious institutions such as IIT Kharagpur, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Kolkata and IIM Lucknow. In addition to his technical accomplishments, Dr. Das Gupta is a committed educator and mentor, and has trained more than 2000 students. He is also a first author, with 10 books to his credit.