Manager Tools
Episodes
Overcoming Trinity Pushback - Chapter 2 - No Time For One on Ones - Part 1
01 Jun 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Some directs will tell you they don't have time for One on Ones. They're wrong, for all kinds of reasons. Here's what to say to get them over the hu...
How To Go On Vacation - Part 2
25 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 of our series on how to plan for and take an effective vacation.
Manager Tools Effective Manager Video Course
20 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
More details about the Effecive Manager Video Course.
How To Go On Vacation - Part 1
18 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
How to plan for and take an effective vacation.
What To Do When Your Direct Complains About The Company - Part 2
11 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our series on how to tell when complaining from a direct about the company is becoming malignant, and how to address it.
What To Do When Your Direct Complains About The Company - Part 1
04 May 2015
Contributed by Lukas
How to tell when complaining from a direct about the company is becoming malignant, and how to address it.
Managing a High C - Dangers - Part 2
27 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Managing a rule-following, process focused perfectionist can be infuriating if you don't share their interest in details and data. How can you help a...
Managing a High C - Dangers - Part 1
20 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Managing a rule-following, process focused perfectionist can be infuriating if you don't share their interest in details and data. How can you help a...
Manager Tools Effective Manager Video Course Announcment
17 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Announcing the Effecive Manager Video Course.
Conversational One on Ones
13 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Our guidance on how to make One on Ones more conversational.
Hall of Fame: One on Ones - Part 1
06 Apr 2015
Contributed by Lukas
The inaugural episode of our Hall of Fame Series: Our guidance on One on Ones.
How To Respond To a Request For A Raise - Part 3
30 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance on how to respond to a request for a raise.
How To Respond To a Request For A Raise - Part 2
24 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
The second part of our guidance on how to respond to a request for a raise.
How To Respond To a Request For A Raise - Part 1
16 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Our guidance on how to respond to a request for a raise.
Too Full Calendar Solutions - Back To Back Meetings, Part 2
08 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance on how to regain control of a calendar that is regularly full of back to back meetings.
Too Full Calendar Solutions - Back To Back Meetings, Part 1
02 Mar 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Our guidance on how to regain control of a calendar that is regularly full of back to back meetings.
Too Full Calendar Solutions - Meeting Attendance Delegation - Part 2
23 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance on how to delegate meeting attendance, to address a chronically overbooked calendar.
Too Full Calendar Solutions - Meeting Attendance Delegation - Part 1
16 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Our guidance on how to delegate meeting attendance, to address a chronically overbooked calendar.
I Didn't Get The Title/Raise - Part 2
09 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our series on how to handle the situation where you got a "promotion" but didn't get the title/raise that should have gone with it.
I Didn't Get The Title/Raise - Part 1
02 Feb 2015
Contributed by Lukas
How to handle the situation where you got a "promotion" but didn't get the title/raise that should have gone with it.
The Unspoken Commitment - Our 500th MT Cast
25 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
Our guidance on your obligation to proactively communicate when your projects or tasks are at risk in some way.
Meeting Notes - Dead Simple
19 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
How to take meeting notes and distribute them within 30 seconds of a meeting.
Phone Trees
12 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
We recommend you create, maintain, and periodically test a telephone alert system or "Phone Tree" for use in exigencies.
Sending a Direct to an Industry Conference - Part 2 (Corrected)
05 Jan 2015
Contributed by Lukas
How to get the most out of sending a direct report to an industry conference.
Sending a Direct to an Industry Conference - Part 1
29 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How to get the most out of sending a direct report to an industry conference.
Calendar Soup
23 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Your calendar is not a puzzle, with perfectly interlocking pieces. It’s a soup.
Effective Relationships - I’m a D, My Direct is a C - Part 4 (Updated)
16 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Part 4 of the example of our Effective Relationships Series - How to work with a direct who is a High C, if you are a High D.
Effective Relationships - I’m a D, My Direct is a C - Part 3
08 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Part 3 of the example of our Effective Relationships Series - How to work with a direct who is a High C, if you are a High D.
Effective Relationships - I’m a D, My Direct is a C - Part 2
01 Dec 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 of the example of our Effective Relationships Series - How to work with a direct who is a High C, if you are a High D.
Effective Relationships - I’m a D, My Direct is a C - Part 1
24 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
An example of our Effective Relationships Series - How to work with a direct who is a High C, if you are a High D.
How To Turn Down a Job Candidate - Part 2
18 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
There are effective and ineffective ways to notify a candidate you've interviewed that you won't be offering them.
How To Turn Down a Job Candidate - Part 1
10 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
There are effective and ineffective ways to notify a candidate you've interviewed that you won't be offering them.
There Is No Magic In The Word Feedback
03 Nov 2014
Contributed by Lukas
You don't have to say the word "feedback" to give feedback in the MT model. But we do recommend you ask first.
My Direct is Resigning Chapter 1 - Never Counter Offer - Part 3
27 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance to never make a counter-offer to an employee who has a competing offer.
My Direct is Resigning Chapter 1 - Never Counter Offer - Part 2
19 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 of our series on our guidance to never make a counter-offer to an employee who has a competing offer.
My Direct is Resigning Chapter 1 - Never Counter Offer - Part 1
13 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Never make a counter-offer to an employee who has a competing offer.
Expanded Email Guidance #1
06 Oct 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Part of our periodic series with rules about how to professionally handle email.
Welcome To They - Professional Subordination - Chapter 2 - Part 2
29 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When decisions are made you may disagree with, you must communicate the decision supportively both in public and in private.
Welcome To They - Professional Subordination - Chapter 2
22 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When decisions are made you may disagree with, you must communicate the decision supportively both in public and in private.
Adjusting Recurring Agendas
15 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How to adjust a standing agenda for a recurring meeting
Get Your Directs a Mentor - Part 2
08 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our series on why and how to get mentors for your directs.
Get Your Directs a Mentor
01 Sep 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Why and how to get mentors for your directs.
Feedback Step 3 - Emotions Are Okay
24 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
It's okay to tell your directs how you feel (within professional limits) when giving them feedback.
Have You Talked To Them?
18 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
When your directs want you to adjudicate a fight, start by asking, "Have you talked to them?"
Notes From The Field - Q3 2014
11 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
We answer recurring questions from the field.
Meeting Self-Facilitation - Part 2
04 Aug 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our series on how to manage the time you're given during a meeting.
Meeting Self-Facilitation
28 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How to manage the time you're given during a meeting.
Feedback Doesn't Preclude - Chapter 1
21 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Just saying, "Thank you," is an enormously powerful form of feedback.
Job Transparency For Development - Part 2
14 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
To better be able to delegate parts of your job, it's best to be transparent about your job.
Job Transparency For Development
07 Jul 2014
Contributed by Lukas
To better be able to delegate parts of your job, it's best to be transparent about your job.
Licensee Call HR Question
30 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
In this podcast, we answer the question, "How can HR improve Manager Tools' impression of them?"
Disaster Recovery Part 1 - Check On Your People
23 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The first thing an effective manager does when a disaster strikes is to check on the safety of your people. People trump all organizational and opera...
When Angry, Disengage
16 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Our recommendations on what to do when you are feeling angry with your direct.
No Meetings Monday Morning
08 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Don't schedule meetings on Monday mornings. Meetings slow people down.
Boss One-on-One Pushback
02 Jun 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How to respond if your boss tells you he/she doesn’t agree with you doing One on Ones.
The Corky Story - Part 3
26 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Part 3 of Dani's best management story about how she used the Manager Tools Trinity to terminate a poor performer in an organization where "you can't ...
The Corky Story - Part 2
19 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 of Dani's best management story about how she used the Manager Tools Trinity to terminate a poor performer in an organization where "you can't ...
The Corky Story - Part 1
12 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Dani's best management story about how she used the Manager Tools Trinity to terminate a poor performer in an organization where "you can't fire anyon...
Politics 101 – Chapter 5 – Favors Matter (Part 2)
05 May 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Doing "favors" for colleagues is an important part of the political/relationship culture in all organizations. It pays to give and to receive them.
Politics 101 – Chapter 5 – Favors Matter (Part 1)
28 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Doing "favors" for colleagues is an important part of the political/relationship culture in all organizations. It pays to give and to receive them.
THE Development Question
21 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Learn to ask your directs, "What do YOU think?" when they come to you with problems. THAT is the simple way to develop their skills – have them lea...
Span of Control Guidelines
14 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How many people the average manager can supervise, and what rules to apply when creating team sizes.
Don't Waste Your Vote - Part 2
07 Apr 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Don't vote against a plan or decision if you're the only one doing so, unless it's for ethics or principles (and it usually isn't).
Don't Waste Your Vote - Part 1
31 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Don't vote against a plan or decision if you're the only one doing so, unless it's for ethics or principles (and it usually isn't).
Insist on Behavior When Assisting
24 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The best way to help colleagues and fellow managers with their employees is to insist on behaviors. But most managers don't think this way.
Documentation Basics - Part 2
17 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How To Document Performance - Part 2.
Documentation Basics - Part 1
09 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How To Document Performance.
Writing a Job Description - Part 2
03 Mar 2014
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our series on how to write a simple job description.
Writing a Job Description - Part 1
24 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
How to write a simple job description.
Assume Positive Intent
17 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Assume positive intent when analyzing the actions of others, especially directs.
Handling Special Emails
10 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Certain emails DO justify reading them with some urgency. The key is keeping a very short list.
Project Status is Never "Fine"
03 Feb 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Never ask how a project is going. You'll get information that isn't helpful…and it's your fault. Ask for status, and define what status is.
Flexible Coaching Deadlines
27 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends extending short coaching deadlines when your directs show that they can meet them, and keeping deadlines flexible based on pe...
Communicating Lateness
20 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to communicate lateness for one's responsibilities.
Resolving Relationships That Have Gone Sour
02 Jan 2014
Contributed by Lukas
Our guidance on restarting relationships which have gone sour.
You Might Want to Consider ...
30 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Executives are often vague or indirect in giving feedback. One way they do so is to say, "You might want to think about..."
Visual Record-Keeping - Part 2
23 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our recommendation of using Visual Record-Keeping for meetings that require collaboration and discussion about future plans and disc...
Visual Record-Keeping - Part 1
16 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends using Visual Record-Keeping for meetings that require collaboration and discussion about future plans and discussions (versus...
Don't Change Metrics
09 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes why not to change the metrics you use for your team's behaviors.
Horstman's Law Of Uncertainty
02 Dec 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes what to say when you don't have an answer to a question, even when it's urgent.
Three Strikes Delegation
25 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes what to do when a direct repeatedly says no to delegation asks.
My Direct Doesn't Want To Change
18 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to interact with a direct who resists or refuses more, new, or different work because they're "comfortable where they are"...
Politics 101 - Chapter 4 - Know Thine Enemies
11 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
How to be more effective by planning for your enemies' inevitable efforts to undermine you.
Horstman's Noon Rule of Scheduling
04 Nov 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes why your day "gets away from" you, and how to schedule more effectively.
Hiring "Overqualifieds" - Part 4
28 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance on how – and why – to hire "overqualified" candidates.
Hiring "Overqualifieds" - Part 3
21 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Part 3 of our guidance on how – and why – to hire "overqualified" candidates.
Hiring "Overqualifieds" - Part 2
14 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This cast continues our guidance on how – and why – to hire "overqualified" candidates.
Hiring "Overqualifieds" - Part 1
07 Oct 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how – and why – to hire overqualified candidates.
No Dropping Dimes - Part 2
30 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance recommending NOT announcing a colleague’s failure without a courtesy notification.
No Dropping Dimes - Part 1
23 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends NOT announcing a colleague’s failure without a courtesy notification.
Direct Internal Passport
14 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to help directs understand how to work across organizational boundaries.
Coaching Example - Interrupting (Part 3)
09 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our series on how to coach someone to stop interrupting, using the Manager Tools Coaching Model.
Coaching Example - Interrupting (Part 2)
02 Sep 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Another cast on our series on how to coach someone to stop interrupting, using the Manager Tools Coaching Model.
Coaching Example - Interrupting (Part 1)
26 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
How to coach someone to stop interrupting, using the Manager Tools Coaching Model.
Effective Interviewer Series - Logistics Clarity
19 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Our recommendations on how to communicate about logistics and schedules in advance of bringing a job candidate in for an interview. This cast is a pu...
First Meeting New Direct Series - Be Timely
11 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance continues our recommendations about topics to cover with new directs, encouraging them to be on time with themselves, their work, and th...
You Did Not Demonstrate - Part 2
05 Aug 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance on how to share shortcomings in evaluations like reviews and interviews.
You Did Not Demonstrate - Part 1
29 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance explains how to share shortcomings in evaluations like reviews and interviews.
Career Tools: Dealing With Objections - Part 2
24 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance on how to deal with objections. This Career Tools podcast is included as a special bonus for Manager Tools Listeners.
Career Tools: Dealing With Objections - Part 1
24 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Our guidance on how to deal with objections. This Career Tools podcast is included as a special bonus for Manager Tools Listeners.