If you were to ask 1,000 people “What makes a good manager?,” you’d get just as many different answers: “A good manager is participative and democratic.” “No, a good manager is firm and decisive.” “Actually, it’s a person who listens really well but isn’t afraid to make tough decisions.” “It’s someone who can manage the details and make the trains run on time.” “A good manager is a visionary, can spot opportunities, and get others to act on them.” “A good manager produces results.” You get the idea.

If you were to read the most cited management literature, you’d see that there are myriad definitions and some confusion about what constitutes good management (theory X, Y, Z, participative, autocratic, etc.) and how varying approaches have evolved over time. In many ways, the differences in interpretation makes sense. Many of them have to do with context – the time, setting, and surrounding conditions which impact what it means to manage and do it well. There’s also the obvious fact that human beings are complex individuals attempting to manage complex situations. Naturally, each of us must attempt to deal with our complicated selves, others, and situations with limited resources and awareness.

But what if you could work with a universal theory of management that lays a foundation for all the rest? A theory that defines the underlying principles of all human endeavors and interactions and could really explain what it means to manage anything? Like a talented engineer works at the underlying causes of an engine’s performance, such a theory would help you work at the underlying causes of organizational behavior and manage its performance too.

In this guide, I’m going to share how you can work with a singular, meta-level management theory that is simple, effective, and all-encompassing in its scope. This framework governs and explains the behavior of all organizations — from individuals and families to corporations. In fact, all aspects of organizational management can be understood through this lense, including the tasks being performed, the management styles of the people involved, the behavior of subgroups, and even how the organization relates to its environment.

Think about that for a moment. This one theory explains all the rest. It’s universal. It applies equally to a team in Bangalore and one in New York. It applies to your marriage and it applies to your management style. In the following posts, I will explain how it works and show you how to use it simply and effectively. With a little practice, you’ll find that your skills as a manager of anything will improve and lead to much better outcomes for you across the board.

Once you know the principles, you can look at any aspect of an organization — from the actions of the individuals involved to the performance of an entire company in the marketplace — and understand how it got to be that way. You will also be able to anticipate its future behavior and work with the underlying causes to change that behavior. This meta-model is powerful, pervasive, and universal.

To learn this universal model to management, bookmark this page. Then click on each link below in sequence. As you read each section, you’ll build your knowledge of the elements of effective management step by step. Ultimately, you’ll have a powerful new perspective and tools that you can immediately apply to better manage anyone and anything.

The Management Guide

1. The Secret to Managing Everything
2. The Four Styles of Management
3. The Producer Style
4. The Stabilizer Style
5. The Innovator Style
6. The Unifier Style
7. The Key to High Performing Teams
8. Getting from PSIU … to Really Good Management