Book Description

Finally, a book on leadership for senior executives in the investment world. As the investment landscape changes in profound ways-the movement to passive, fee pressures, disappearing alpha, heavy compliance-leaders are faced with the task of upgrading their skills. As the book's subtitle suggests, most of these leaders either don't want to or don't think they need leadership lessons. Enter Jim Ware, a practitioner (analyst and Portfolio Manager) for twenty years and a consultant for the next twenty years. Author of four prior books on investment culture and leadership, he knows the landscape well and has devoted his career to helping investment leaders manage very clever professionals, who don't want to be managed. The book is written in an amusing and practical style, precisely for busy leaders who want the information delivered efficiently and painlessly. Filled with research and examples from the consulting firm he founded, Focus Consulting Group (FCG), Ware covers topics like: Culture, Accountability, Teamwork, Emotional Intelligence, Trust, and Managing Difficult People. Readers can expect to takeaway useful ideas on:* Defining and aligning around a culture that supports the mission and vision of the firm* Describing the essence of their culture to employees, clients, and owners* Decreasing the level of toxic behaviors found in many cultures* Developing and maintaining high performing teams* Receiving and delivering feedback in an effective way that contributes to results* Developing an approach to accountability that increases the productivity of staff and avoids creating a blame culture* Creating and measuring a cognitively diverse team. And managing the different personalities.* Defining and providing exercises for improving Emotional Intelligence, which begins with self-awareness* Specifying the six key factors that define trust and how team members can build and repair trust with colleagues* Managing the talented and clever people who populate investment firmsWare provides metrics developed by FCG to benchmark and manage the various aspects of leadership, such as managing the self, the team, and the firm. Assessments for culture, 360 evaluations, team scorecards, trust levels, psychometrics, and the like are described. The book is appropriate for new and long-time leaders, as it provides approaches designed for the New Era in the investment industry.