Manager Tools

The Horstman Curve

11 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

If you're trying to change things - and you should be - you're going to experience the Horstman Curve. So you ought to know what it is.

The Juggling Koan - HOF 2022

04 Jul 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our Hall of Fame guidance on our first ever management koan.

Giving Feedback To Remote Directs - Part 3

27 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 3 of our guidance on giving feedback to remote directs.

Giving Feedback To Remote Directs - Part 2

20 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on giving feedback to remote directs.

Giving Feedback To Remote Directs - Part 1

13 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on giving feedback to remote directs.

Performance Reviews Are Not Feedback - Part 2

06 Jun 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our response to a recent WSJ article that said annual reviews are a terrible way to evaluate employees.

Performance Reviews Are Not Feedback - Part 1

30 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our response to a recent WSJ article that said annual reviews are a terrible way to evaluate employees.

Interview With a Talent Manager

23 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our interview with a member of the Manager Tools community to help you understand as a manager, or potentially as an executive, about the kind of rela...

MTDISC Behavior Change Template - Part 2

16 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on using MTDISC to change your behavior.

MTDISC Behavior Change Template - Part 1

09 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on using MTDISC to change your behavior.

How To Roll Out MTDISC To Your Team - Part 2

02 May 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on how to roll out the MTDISC Behavioral Instrument to your team.

How To Roll Out MTDISC To Your Team - Part 1

25 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

This guidance describes how to roll out the MTDISC Behavioral Instrument to your team.

Maggie Tucker Interview

18 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our interview with Maggie Tucker, marketing executive and co-host of the friends on FIRE podcast.

Rules For Directors - Chapter 1 - Earning Trust (MT Version)

11 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Our chapter one guidance on Rules For Directors: Earning Trust.

The War Room - Part 2 (MT)

04 Apr 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of the executive "War Room" experiences of Trevor Woods, Chief Information Officer, University of Sydney.

The War Room - Part 1 (MT)

28 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of the executive "War Room" experiences of Trevor Woods, Chief Information Officer, University of Sydney.

MTDISC Launch

21 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

We have launched our own DISC Profile: MTDISC. Here's what it is, why we did it, and what its benefits are.

The Previous Boss Rule - Part 2

14 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on "The Previous Boss Rule".

The Previous Boss Rule - Part 1

07 Mar 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on "The Previous Boss Rule".

Managerial Economics 101, 102 and 103: Reporting, Delegation, and Coaching - Part 2

28 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on Managerial Economics.

Managerial Economics 101, 102 and 103: Reporting, Delegation, and Coaching - Part 1

21 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on Managerial Economics.

Top Interviewer Mistakes - Chapter 1

14 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

The average manager is a terrible interviewer. In this series, we cover the most frequent and egregious mistakes, and how to correct them.

Deadlines Are Commitments

07 Feb 2022

Contributed by Lukas

When most people miss a deadline, they prove they don't understand them.

My Feelings Are Hurt - Part 2

31 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on what to do when someone claims their feelings are hurt by someone else.

My Feelings Are Hurt - Part 1

24 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on what to do when someone claims their feelings are hurt by someone else.

Politics 101 - Chapter 7 - Compromise

17 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Politics are necessary, and that means the effective manager learns how to compromise. Here are some simple rules.

First Meeting New Direct Series - Family First - Part 2

10 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of the "family first" chapter of our continuing series on what to communicate to new directs.

First Meeting New Direct Series - Family First - Part 1

03 Jan 2022

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of the "family first" chapter of our continuing series on what to communicate to new directs.

Assumptive Goal Setting - HOF 2021

27 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our Hall of Fame guidance on how to think more creatively about annual planning goals.

How to Set Annual Goals - HOF 2021

20 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our Hall Of Fame guidance on how to start setting annual goals, and why we do not like "SMART" goals.

Hiring Is NOT An HR Process - Chapter 1

13 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Everybody thinks HR controls the hiring process. They don't.

Management Vs. Leadership - Army Vs. Navy

06 Dec 2021

Contributed by Lukas

In this special edition, Mark discusses management versus leadership with David Wallace, the Deputy Director of Leadership Eduction and Development at...

Delivering The Performance Review - HOF 2021

29 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our Hall of Fame guidance on delivering a performance review.

Preparing Performance Reviews - HOF 2021

22 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're re-releasing one of our Hall of Fame casts on how to prepare performance reviews.

The Basics Of Measures - Chapter 1

15 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our guidance on the rules for measuring.

When You Are "Required" To Do Panel Interviews - Part 2

08 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on what to do if you are required to conduct panel interviews.

When You Are "Required" To Do Panel Interviews - Part 1

01 Nov 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on what to do if you are required to conduct panel interviews.

Hybrid Office Meetings

25 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

How to make your meetings as effective as possible in a hybrid office.

One On Ones In a Hybrid Office Environment

18 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Continuing your Manager Tools One On Ones (MTO3's) in a hybrid office environment.

Back To The Office

11 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here's what your managerial responsibilities are when your company brings its office workers back to the office.

Coaching Is Self Development - Part 2

04 Oct 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on coaching is self-development. Managers play an important role, and managers can't make it happen without a willing direct.

Coaching Is Self Development - Part 1

27 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on coaching is self-development. Managers play an important role, and managers can't make it happen without a willing direct.

Performance Conversations Don't Lead To Career Conversations

20 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Performance conversations and career conversations are connected, but also completely different.

The Manager And The Vaccine

13 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Managers play a big role in vaccinations. It's just not what many think it is.

How To Train Your People - Chapter One - Introductions - Part 2

06 Sep 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance for how managers introduce training they send their people to.

How To Train Your People - Chapter One - Introductions - Part 1

30 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance for how managers introduce training they send their people to.

2021 Recruitment Update - Part 2 (MT)

23 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance for the 2021 employment market.

2021 Recruitment Update - Part 1 (MT)

16 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance for the 2021 employment market.

The Middleman Test Chapter 2 - Feedback

09 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

A lot of managers implement MTO3's and quickly swear by them. But lots of managers mistakenly talk themselves out of giving feedback. Here's one way t...

Never O'Clock Chapter One

02 Aug 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Never O'Clock Chapter One

The 95% Solution - Part 2

26 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on how to get more time to focus on your priorities.

The 95% Solution - Part 1

19 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on how to get more time to focus on your priorities.

Exploit Your Wiggle Room - Part 2

12 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance for managers who are hesitant to make changes.

Exploit Your Wiggle Room - Part 1

05 Jul 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance for managers who are hesitant to make changes.

The Sweet 16 Podcast

28 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

On our 16th Anniversary show, we talk about our origins and what's to come.

Why Experienced Directs Need One On Ones

21 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Here's what to say to experienced directs who don't want weekly One On Ones.

Communicating In Advance of A Miss - Part 2

14 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on how to communicate prior to missing a deadline.

Communicating In Advance of A Miss - Part 1

07 Jun 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on how to communicate prior to missing a deadline.

Trinity Pushback - One On Ones - Why Weekly? - Part 2

31 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on what to tell directs who want to have One On Ones less often than weekly.

Trinity Pushback - One On Ones - Why Weekly? - Part 1

24 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on what to tell directs who want to have One On Ones less often than weekly.

Meetings: Anything Else?

17 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

The common way to end meeting discussions, "Is there anything else?" is ineffective.

Effective Meetings - Part 3 - HOF 2021

10 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 3 of our Hall Of Fame guidance on effective meetings.

Effective Meetings - Part 2 - HOF 2021

03 May 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our Hall Of Fame guidance on effective meetings.

Effective Meetings - Part 1 - HOF 2021

26 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our Hall Of Fame guidance on effective meetings.

The Manager Tools Data - Feedback - Part 5

19 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 5 of our review of the data behind our guidance on feedback, which relies on tests we have run over the past nearly 30 years.

The Manager Tools Data - Feedback - Part 4

12 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 4 of our review of the data behind our guidance on feedback, which relies on tests we have run over the past nearly 30 years.

The Manager Tools Data - Feedback - Part 3

05 Apr 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 3 of our review of the data behind our guidance on feedback, which relies on tests we have run over the past nearly 30 years.

The Manager Tools Data - Feedback - Part 2

29 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our review of the data behind our guidance on feedback, which relies on tests we have run over the past nearly 30 years.

The Manager Tools Data - Feedback - Part 1

22 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our review of the data behind our guidance on feedback, which relies on tests we have run over the past nearly 30 years.

Feedback 'Dialog' Is Stupid Guidance - Part 4

15 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 4 of our guidance on feedback dialog.

Feedback 'Dialog' Is Stupid Guidance - Part 3

08 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 3 of our guidance on feedback dialog.

Feedback 'Dialog' Is Stupid Guidance - Part 2

01 Mar 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on feedback dialog.

Feedback 'Dialog' Is Stupid Guidance - Part 1

22 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on feedback dialog.

Zero Week

15 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

For any project or initiative you're starting, announce it to your team before you start. Announce it during Zero Week.

How To Escalate - Part 3

08 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 3 of our guidance on escalation.

How To Escalate - Part 2

01 Feb 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on escalation.

How To Escalate - Part 1

25 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on escalation.

The Aunt Trap

18 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

When your boss's peer tasks you, or requires work from you, we call that the The Aunt Trap. It used to be The Uncle Trap, but we modernized the refere...

Zero-Based Reporting

11 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

If you're looking for efficiencies, cut out some of the reporting nobody reads anyway. Use Zero-Based Reporting.

Getting Your Goals From Your Boss - HOF

04 Jan 2021

Contributed by Lukas

Our Hall Of Fame guidance on how to get a better understanding of what your goals are from your boss.

Assumptive Goal Setting - HOF 2020

28 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Our Hall of Fame guidance on how to think more creatively about annual planning goals.

How to Set Annual Goals - HOF 2020

21 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Our Hall Of Fame guidance on how to start setting annual goals, and why we do not like "SMART" goals.

When a Direct Says No Repeatedly To Feedback - Part 4

14 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 4 of our guidance on what to do if a direct repeatedly says no to feedback.

When a Direct Says No Repeatedly To Feedback - Part 3

07 Dec 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 3 of our guidance on what to do if a direct repeatedly says no to feedback.

Delivering The Performance Review - HOF 2020

30 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Our Hall of Fame guidance on delivering a performance review.

Preparing Performance Reviews - HOF 2020

23 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

This week, we're re-releasing one of our Hall of Fame casts on how to prepare performance reviews.

When a Direct Says No Repeatedly To Feedback - Part 2

16 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on what to do if a direct repeatedly says no to feedback.

When a Direct Says No Repeatedly To Feedback - Part 1

09 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on what to do if a direct repeatedly says no to feedback.

Feedback: When Yes Means No - Part 2

02 Nov 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on what to do when a direct says yes to feedback, but you can tell they don't mean it.

Feedback: When Yes Means No - Part 1

26 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on what to do when a direct says yes to feedback, but you can tell they don't mean it.

Decisions, Not Choices - Part 2

19 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on decisions, not choices.

Decisions, Not Choices - Part 1

12 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on decisions, not choices.

Creating Organizational Hiring Criteria - Part 3

05 Oct 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 3 of our guidance on creating organizational hiring criteria. There's more to creating great questions for interviews. You've got to know what an...

Creating Organizational Hiring Criteria - Part 2

28 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on creating organizational hiring criteria. There's more to creating great questions for interviews. You've got to know what an...

Creating Organizational Hiring Criteria - Part 1

21 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on creating organizational hiring criteria. There's more to creating great questions for interviews. You've got to know what an...

After You Get Your Goals - Part 3

14 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 3 of our guidance on what to do after you get your goals from your boss or your org.

After You Get Your Goals - Part 2

07 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 2 of our guidance on what to do after you get your goals from your boss or your org.

After You Get Your Goals - Part 1

31 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Part 1 of our guidance on what to do after you get your goals from your boss or your org.

Make Your Case To a Network Relationship

24 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

You've kept your network warm by staying in touch. If you see an opportunity through them, reach out.

The Weekly Thank You

17 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Too many of us managers think that "someone just doing their jobs" isn't worthy of praise, or positive feedback, or even just a simple thanks. We're w...