Have you ever wondered why some workgroups are more successful than others in similar situations? Why do some businesses expand, while others that appear to be in equivalent circumstances plateau and contract? Why do some people achieve while others fail? Are there certain behaviours and practices that lead on the one hand to success, growth and development, and on the other hand to frustration, stagnation and decline? Do the top performers know things that others are not aware of? Do they adopt different approaches? In many sectors of the economy competing companies appear to be offering similar products and services, and using the same or equivalent technologies, processes and systems. They recruit similar people, often from the same universities and business schools, employ the services of the same or similar consultants, and they invariably fall for the same management fashions and fads. Yet delve down to the level of particular workgroups such as bid and account teams and some are found to do much better than others, while over time some businesses prosper while others wither. Why is this? What do the leaders of successful companies - or winners - do differently from losers who struggle and fail? The author's continuing research programme has been considering the questions just posed for over 20 years. It examines areas that are critical to competing and winning such as improving performance, managing change, competitive bidding, building customer relationships and creating and exploiting know-how. The purpose of this research is to determine what boards and management teams need to do - and also what they should not do - to lead, innovate, pioneer, discover, compete and win. This book provides an overview of the major findings to date in areas critical to business success. It presents a compendium of concise summaries of research findings into the differing approaches of successful and unsuccessful companies for students, directors, managers and entrepreneurs with ambitions to build successful businesses and realize their full potential. It also shows how a new generation of support tools can be used to enable average performers to emulate the approaches of high achievers. The author's intention is to provide an authoritative, positive, realistic and inspiring 'go for it' book for ambitious directors, managers, business school students, entrepreneurs, and all those who want to achieve both commercial success and the personal fulfillment that comes from competing and winning.

'Developing Directors' is essential reading for chairmen and directors, consultants and trainers charged with the task of developing dynamic boardroom teams to lead the organisations of today. It provides practical advice on identifying the qualities, competencies and approaches needed for greater directorial contribution.