How joining AIM helps managers

This is an edited summary of Talking Tips interview  with Lillian Lesueur, General Manager, ACT Region, Australian Institute of Management, NSW and ACT.

Contact details for AIM. www.aim.com.au. For details of current management issues see Management Today, July 2007.

What is the role of AIM

The role is to provide professional support for managers at all stages of their career, the new manager as well as the experienced manager.

Are there many public servants in the ACT Region membership?

The ACT has 1000 personal members of whom about 400 are public servants. AIM also has Corporate Partners and they cover 70,000 public servants.

If I’m a relatively new manager, what would I gain from joining AIM?

• Access to professional development events, including Special Interest Groups. These are free to members and cover a range of management topics.
• Breakfast meetings and Management Masters Series with national and international speakers like Professor Martin Seligman and Edward de Bono.
• A range of training courses, including managing and leading.
• Networking with a cross section of public and private sector managers
• Management library and book shop.

Has the focus swung too much in favour of leadership to the detriment of management?

Leadership has become a bit of a buzz word and has to some extent taken over from management. This is not to downplay the importance of leadership however good management is critical to organisational success. You can have a great vision but poor management. As the management expert Mant says, management and leadership are opposite sides of the same coin.

What does AIM regard as key management issues?

A survey of members identified these key issues:

• Pressure to achieve outcomes with fewer resources
• Work/life balance
• Skills shortage
• Managing organisational culture
• Developing leaders.

What career management support does AIM offer?

AIM offers a career coaching service to members. Career coaching is designed to stimulate the way you think about your career progression, staying marketable. With portfolio careers, career management is critical. Coaching helps people to reflect on their interests, motives, values, what they want to do. People can call the Membership Manager at AIM. They will match the person with a career coach. Career coaching does require a high level of commitment as it involves action planning.

Dr Ann Villiers, learning guide, professional speaker and author, is Australia's only Mental Nutritionist® specialising in mind and language practices that help people build flexible thinking, confident speaking and quality connections with people. Visit www.mentalnutrition.com to learn more about Mental Nutrition. Visit www.selectioncriteria.com.au for free resources unlocking the mysteries of public service jobs.