High Performing Investment Teams How to Achieve Best Practices of Top Firms

"Although most leaders agree teamwork is important, few businesses effectively build collaborative, synchronized teams. High Performing Investment Teams is an excellent guidepost for any manager striving to create a winning team and develop bench strength for the future."
—John W. Rogers Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ariel Capital Management, LLC

"Turning individual talent into team performance is the ultimate challenge for an investment organization, but also the key to building a sustainable investment franchise. Focus Consulting has captured the essence of how to leverage your intellectual capital for maximum and enduring success."
—Michelle R. Seitz, CFA, Principal, Head of Investment Management, Executive Committee Member, William Blair & Company, LLC

"Focus Consulting's work on behaviors of top teams is clear, effective, and practical. We recommend it highly for investment firms that are serious about world-class collaboration."
—Terry Toth, President, Northern Trust Global Investments

"Focus Consulting really understands that attracting and motivating talented people makes all the difference for asset managers. Their work is based on years of experience helping investment firms build strong cultures with productive behaviors."
—Scott Powers, Chief Executive Officer, Old Mutual Asset Management

"Focus Consulting understands the people aspect of the investment business. They know the investment business and how to make collaboration work."
—Harin de Silva, PhD, CFA, President, Analytic Investors

JIM DETHMER designs and delivers leadership training and coaching to investment professionals around the world. He has delivered speeches on this topic for the CFA Institute, Investment Advisors Association, and many leading investment firms.

JAMIE ZIEGLER has over twenty years' experience as a marketing consultant, specializing in branding and communications for investment management firms. She holds a BA in English from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA in finance from DePaul University.

FRAN SKINNER, CFA, CPA, has over twenty years' experience in the investment industry, specializing in measuring and incenting performance of investment industry employees. She earned her MBA in finance and marketing from the University of Illinois–Chicago.

Foreword vii

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xiii

About the Authors xvii

Introduction: The Elements of Greatness 1

Chapter 1 Investment Leadership: Building a Winning Culture for Long-Term Success 15

Chapter 2 Curiosity: Learning How to Learn 33

Chapter 3 Accountability Part 1: Taking Responsibility 45

Chapter 4 Accountability Part 2: Making and Keeping Agreements 67

Chapter 5 Candor: Revealing, Not Concealing 93

Chapter 6 Authenticity: Eliminating Drama 105

Chapter 7 Awareness: Using Emotional and Intuitional Intelligence 119

Chapter 8 Genius: Maximizing Your Contribution 139

Chapter 9 Appreciation: Shifting from Entitlement 159

Chapter 10 Fit: Investment Personalities and the Seven Behaviors 181

Chapter 11 Decision Rights: Establishing and Clarifying the Rules 197

Concluding Thoughts: Measurement, Behavioral Finance, Integrity, and an Invitation for More 203

Afterword 207

Endnotes 209

Index 213

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