(a) Many senior members of staff point out they have no formal management education or qualifications and emphasise the importance of experience on-the job.

Many organisations waste time and money on ‘fancy’ management development programmes.

(b) Technical competence can be learned easily and not everyone needs conceptual ability but someone lacking social and human skills will never succeed as an effective manager.

(c) The philosophy and actions of successful managers should include genuine acknowledgement of mea culpa, the open admission of responsibility for their failings and mistakes. This is a sign of strength not weakness.