First, I've read a metric ton of these kind of posts, and Quotations from chairman Powell (http://govleaders.org/powell.htm http://govleaders.org/powell.htm) pr

First, I've read a metric ton of these kind of posts, and Quotations from chairman Powell (http://govleaders.org/powell.htm http://govleaders.org/powell.htm) pretty much sums up the best bits of all of them. If you nail those I don't think you need anything else. Second, this is mostly good stuff, other than the first. Some (many) have called me the best manager they've ever had. Which is nice, even though I see myself as a leader rather than a manager. That said, I dislike talking to people. I do only when I have to. What I do really well is to take the heat for my team. Anything (and I mean anything) goes wrong the blame stops with me. I also admit in front of my team and my managers when I'm wrong. Conversely, one of my peers is a spectacularly good talker. And he lays blame like nobody's business. He also never backs down when he's demonstrably wrong. Talking to people doesn't hurt, and I guess enjoying it is a bonus, but a good manager make it does not.