January 2002

2002 begins with good news and bad news. Even though the three major stock market averages have fallen for the past two consecutive years and unemployment rose again last month, most pundits believe that the economy is poised to rebound within the next year. So, we greet this rare palindromic year (it reads the same backwards and forwards) with optimism and renewed commitment.

A NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE FROM EDWARD T. REILLY, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF AMA
On behalf of all AMA employees and faculty members around the world, I want to wish you and your family a healthy, peaceful and prosperous year 2002.

As an AMA Executive Member, you have already decided that continuous learning and professional development are important to your business life. To support you, AMA’s goal is to provide the learning options and resources you need to expand your capabilities, sharpen your skills, and achieve greater personal and professional success. In that spirit, we’re pleased to announce that:

• All Executive Members now receive this monthly newsletter in either printed or electronic form
  
• We are introducing a new benefit—a quarterly print publication that addresses current issues that will impact your future
  
• We are continuing our popular Breakfast Briefing Series that you can attend free of charge (see below for details)
• MWorld, the member website, is being revamped to make it easier for you to tap into our rich resources.
  

Please let us know how we’re doing and how we can do things better. E-mail us at mworld@amanet.org.

PARTICIPATE IN AMA’S CURRENT
ECONOMIC CONDITIONS SURVEY
Is recession still lingering, or are we at a turning point? Do you think the economy will continue to decline, has stabilized, or is improving? Voice your opinions by completing this short questionnaire.

We’ll give you the results on the AMA Website and in future editions of ExecutiveMatters. This is the first in a series of monthly surveys in which we are asking you to participate. All participants will be eligible to win a free AMA seminar of their choice through our semi-annual Executive Member Survey drawings.

HOW DO YOU RATE AS A LEADER?
Bad economic times prompt rumors. Rumors wreak havoc on organizations. Savvy managers control rumors by beginning regularly scheduled meetings with the question, “What rumors have you heard lately?” That's just one of The 108 Skills of Natural Born Leaders, by Warren Blank. According to Blank, savvy leaders know not only when to squelch untruthful rumors, but also when to confirm truthful ones. He writes, “Couched as rumors, they remain speculative. People then can fail to take action because, after all, it’s just a rumor.”

Want to find out about the other 107 skills of natural born leaders?

MWORLD SPECIAL SERIES ON SMALL BUSINESSES
Did you know that today, small businesses employ 51% of all private sector workers and provide 75% of new jobs? To help better meet the unique needs of this vital sector of the economy, MWorld presents its first Special Series for Small Business Owners:

1. The 10 Key Principles of Smart Entrepreneurship—For starters, you’d better have stamina and connections, and know how to recognize an opportunity when you see it.
   
2. Diary of a Small Business Owner—Real-world advice from a successful entrepreneur who left the corporate world behind to start her own profitable marketing company.
   
3. Recognizing and Rewarding Employees During Lean Times—creative, low- and no-cost ways to help employees feel valued and appreciated, even in the face of shrinking budgets.
   
4. The Riskiest and Safest New Businesses—Hint: consider surveying services, avoid livestock breeding.

LEADERSHIP COMPLEMENTS MANAGEMENT;
IT DOESN’T REPLACE IT
Today, much is written about the importance of strong leadership, but experience has shown that strong leadership coupled with weak management just doesn’t cut it. In his book, John Kotter on What Leaders Really Do, the professor of leadership from Harvard contends that leadership is about coping with change, especially, in recent years, in our more competitive, volatile marketplace. Good management brings order and consistency to critical dimensions like quality and product profitability. Without it, organizations would become chaotic in ways that would threaten their very existence.

AMA offers more than 160 practical, action-oriented seminars, on-site and customized learning solutions and a wide array of training resources.

THE THREE “C’S” OF LEADERSHIP:
COMMUNICATION, COOPERATION AND COORDINATION
Especially during tough times, Communication, Cooperation, and Coordination are the three strategies that leaders need to win over a leadership team, gain followers, and overcome resistance, overt or covert, to leadership. If you cannot communicate effectively, you cannot lead. It is crucial to communicate effectively and frequently with everyone involved early in the leadership process. This is a process of one-on-one discussions, presentations to organizations and groups and communication by every medium possible.

EMPLOYER SURVEY: LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT SALARY OR MERIT INCREASE IN 2002?
According to a New Employer Survey, Don’t Count on It!
Cost-containment is the new buzzword for 2002. According to a recent survey by Towers Perrin, employers are greeting the New Year by trimming their merit pay increase budgets for all categories of employees, including executives, and by pursuing a wide variety of workforce strategies to contain HR costs.

Overall, cost management is a leading area of focus—84% of respondents cited it as most critical to address now to execute business strategy, and 65% say it will be a priority in the future as well.

AMA EXECUTIVE MEMBER BREAKFAST BRIEFINGS—
SPRING 2002 SCHEDULE
Now, more than ever, workers, executives, and policy makers seek guidance to lead our businesses and our world safely and successfully into an often uncertain future. To help in that search, AMA announces our Spring 2002 Executive Member Breakfast Briefing Series.

The Breakfast Briefings, free to all AMA Executive Members, will be held at AMA’s Executive Conference Centers around the country. Continental breakfast will be served at 8:30 a.m. Presentations, including Q&A, will take place from 9:00—10:30 a.m. To register, please call 1-800-313-8650.

Anticipate the Upturn by Preparing to Grow Again
Robert K. Tomasko, April 11, 2002—AMA Executive Conference Center, Washington, D.C.

Outrunning the Economy: Improving Your Company’s P&L
Lee Epstein, April 18 2002—AMA Executive Conference Center, San Francisco

Change...Do You Have the Talent to Get to the Future?
Charles H. Bishop, Jr., April 18, 2002—AMA Executive Conference Center, Chicago

Why Strategies Fail, and How to Make Sure Yours Succeed
Richard Treitel, April 18, 2002—AMA Executive Conference Center, New York City

Managing Cash Flow and for Survival and Growth
Bernard Marino, May 23, 2002—AMA Executive Conference Center, Atlanta

MEMBERS SAVE BIG ON AMA SEMINARS!
Register for any session—and bring your boss, colleague, or team member, for 50% off. Just register anytime between now and March 30, 2002 to take advantage of this offer.
Savings range from $500 to $1000 and more. Call 1-800-262-9699 for full details.

LEARN BY DAY—SLEEP FREE AT NIGHT IN THE BIG APPLE! Every one of AMA’s more than 160 seminars is offered in AMA’s New York Executive Conference Center, conveniently located in Times Square. And now, for a limited time only, when you sign up for a seminar in New York City, AMA will pay for your hotel.

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