Due to the nature of their work and personalities, many professionals prefer to do things on their own, in their own way. A firm#s best talents may not take too kindly to being told what to do and when to do it. They may resist being managed, and be unenthusiastic about working in a team. Whatever category they fall into # highly qualified, creatives, knowledge workers, or conceptualists # they usually prefer to rely heavily on their own expertise to get a job done. In Leading the Professionals, Geoff Smith gives much-needed advice to those who have to lead teams of such individuals, whether in law and accountancy firms, advertising agencies, design businesses, TV production units, architectural practices, R&D, education or public sector organizations. He shows how to meet the challenge of fostering and maintaining a well coordinated high performance team capable of achieving clear business objectives. The key, he says, is in a light touch; encouraging and supporting rather than directing and controlling. Drawing on first-hand interviews with high-profile leaders and team members, this highly readable and practical book is full of questionnaires, exercises, direct quotes, cases and revealing examples. Leading the Professionals will prove invaluable in helping both existing and aspiring leaders to motivate and inspire everyone in the team. INDICE About the author Acknowledgements Introduction Part One: Basics 1. Leadership, management and self-awareness 2. What leaders of professionals do: An overview 3. Devoting the time and energy to lead successfully Part Two: Leading professionals # the keys to success 4. Direction: Objectives, values, strategy and change 5. Communications: Getting the message across, listening and creating the right climate 6. Motivation: Creating the conditions for outstanding performance 7. Coaching: Helping team members to get the best out of themselves 8. Teamwork: Getting the best out of people working together 9. Difficulties: Resolving po