Management 13th Edition by John Schermerhorn,Daniel Bachrach

Exercise 2

MAKE DATA YOUR FRIEND
"It doesn't matter what industry you're in. People have blind spots about where they are weak."
Managers May Overestimate Their Managing Skills

A survey by Development Dimensions International, Inc., finds that managers may be overestimating their management skills. "It doesn't matter what industry you're in. People have blind spots about where they are weak," says DDI vice president Scott Erker. These results are from a sample of 1,100 first-year managers:
72% never question their ability to lead others.
58% claim planning and organizing skills as strengths.
53% say they are strong in decision making.
50% say they are strong in communication.
32% claim proficiency in delegating.
Skills rated as needing most development were delegating, gaining commitment, and coaching.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Would you, like the managers in this survey, overestimate your strengths in management skills What might explain managers' tendencies toward overconfidence What would you identify as being among the skills on which you most need improvement What might account for the fact that 72% of managers never question their ability to lead others