Introduction -- Management is more difficult, but it's not mission impossible -- The first ingredient: Keep things under control -- The second ingredient: Establish expectations -- The third ingredient: Run interference -- The fourth ingredient: Develop the people.- Conclusion: Coping when you're poorly managed; and why management jobs are still worth the bother.

This book shows that in today’s business world managers can only successfully lead with the active cooperation and consent of their staff. It presents a practical, four-pronged approach to successful management, drawing on the authors’ combined research, consulting and managerial experience in more than twenty countries. Once a manager gets the four main ingredients right – (1) getting things under control; (2) establishing expectations; (3) running interference; and (4) developing people – everything else falls into place. Far from being unpleasant and stressful, managing others becomes rewarding and even fun. The book concludes by explaining how to use the four ingredients to ensure that your own manager is also managing you effectively.