They are in companies that value expertise and are often themselves the top expert in their own discipline. They are very accomplished at reviewing and controlling the detail of their team's work. What they lack is the ability to motivate and develop their team members effectively.

Do you sometimes feel that you have the wrong people and that none of them are "management material"? Do they seem incapable of ever taking responsibility for dealing with customers (internal or external)?

Do YOU feel out of your depth and ill-prepared for your wider, management role? Especially dealing with those tricky, time-consuming "personnel" issues?

Have you found that training in communicating, influencing and presenting have not been successful? How about training in management and leadership skills? Do you wonder what else you can do to bring people on?

Does any of the following apply to you?

• High standards of excellence - Do you judge your team by the same standards you set for yourself? Do you challenge them enough?

• Valuing your people - You want to retain their skills by keeping them happy and fulfilled in their jobs.

• Want to broaden the technical stars to take bigger roles - A key feature in staff retention. You want to be able to promote them without risk.

• Concerned about management succession - You can't see any contenders for future leadership who have the complete set of management skills.

• Committed to people development - You understand that you have a responsibility for supporting and challenging your people. If they aren't stretched then you'll lose them.

• Aware of the emotional dimension to performance - You know that it's not just about technical knowledge. Increasingly we all have to become experts in fostering good working relationships and to be capable of dealing with emotions in others and in ourselves.

• Innovative thinking and prepared to try something new - It's part of your job to innovate - but what about innovation in the way you manage? Are you free-thinking enough to explore a new approach?

"We all have our own way of doing things that comes naturally, sometimes we need to go beyond this. Dave helped me to see how an outstanding colleague of mine achieved results with their team, which was the catalyst to move my own team on to greater performance. ... as a result some real stars have emerged." Jonathan Chappel, Team Manager - York, UK