Manager Tools
Episodes
Post-Resignation Team Meeting - Part 2
21 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance on how to have a brief meeting with your team immediately after you resign.
Post-Resignation Team Meeting - Part 1
14 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance explains how to have a brief meeting with your team immediately after you resign.
The Collaborative Manager - Chapter 2 - Tell Some To Wait
07 Jul 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends asking your assertive communicators to wait to contribute, and to reinforce what you want with feedback.
Ordering Multiple Interviews - Part 2
30 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our recommendations for how to set up the order of interviews you conduct for a day of in-person interviews of a candidate.
Ordering Multiple Interviews - Part 1
23 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
Our recommendations for how to set up the order of interviews you conduct for a day of in-person interviews of a candidate. This guidance is part of o...
Increasing Team Input Strategies Chapter 1 – Measure It
16 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends measuring the input proffered from quieter team members, to increase their contributions and collaboration.
Questions To Ask Candidate References - Part 2
09 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends what questions to ask of a job candidate’s references, if you progress to that stage.
Questions To Ask Candidate References - Part 1
02 Jun 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends what questions to ask of a job candidate’s references, if you progress to that stage.
One On One Development Analysis Check
26 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends evaluating directs’ performances by the content of what they bring to their One on One with you.
Measuring Feedback Chapter 2 Overweight Top Performers - Part 2
20 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance recommending giving more positive (and then negative) feedback to a manager’s top performers, rather than trying to s...
Measuring Feedback Chapter 2 Overweight Top Performers - Part 1
12 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends giving more positive (and then negative) feedback to a manager’s top performers, rather than trying to spread feedback out ...
Politics 101 - Chapter 3 - The Myth Of The Just World (Part 2)
06 May 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our recommendations on professionals abandoning their belief in the myth of a just world and 'play politics'.
Politics 101 - Chapter 3 - The Myth Of The Just World (Part 1)
28 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends professionals abandon their belief in the myth of a just world and "play politics".
The Collaborative Manager - Chapter 1 - More Ideas
22 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance helps managers be more collaborative by getting more input from their team members.
First Meeting With A New Direct - Ask Questions
14 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance continues our recommendations about topics to cover with new directs, encouraging them to ask questions about everything they don’t un...
Project Management Basics - Now And Later Tasks
08 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to quickly assign tasks in a project without getting bogged down in details.
Lists And Agendas In One On Ones
01 Apr 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes if and how to use lists and agendas during your One on Ones.
Diffusing Disagreements
25 Mar 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends a straightforward way to diffuse tension around, and overcome, objections others have to your ideas.
Email Three Times A Day - Part 2
18 Mar 2013
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance recommending doing email three times a day. ONLY three times a day.
Email Three Times A Day - Part 1
11 Mar 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends doing email three times a day. ONLY three times a day.
Never Step Out Of The Middle
04 Mar 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends managers never willingly allow their boss to talk to a skip directly.
Dealing With Vague Feedback - Part 2
25 Feb 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance completes our discussion on how to respond to vague feedback from your boss or others.
Dealing With Vague Feedback - Part 1
18 Feb 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance explains how to respond to vague feedback from your boss or others.
Politics 101 - Chapter 2 - Meeting Prep: Who Wants What
11 Feb 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance tells you how to prepare for meetings where politics are going to play a role (which is to say, ALL of them).
Thank You For The Bad News
03 Feb 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance tells you what to do when directs bring you bad news.
Negative Feedback Before Its Time
28 Jan 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends what to do when a direct would get negative feedback but it’s not yet time for it in the Trinity Rollout Process.
Positive Feedback Before Its Time
21 Jan 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends what to do when a direct would get positive feedback but it’s not yet time for it in the Trinity Rollout Process.
Overcoming Trinity Pushback - Chapter 1 - "One on Ones Are Micromanaging"
14 Jan 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance tells you what to do when directs resist One on Ones because they are a form of "micromanaging."
How To Do Succession Planning - Chapter 4 - The Delivery Meeting
07 Jan 2013
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance tells you how to structure your briefing to your team around Simple Succession Planning.
Rules of Politics – Chapter One – Count Your Votes
31 Dec 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends knowing where decision makers and influencers stand on proposals and decisions that matter to you and your team.
Calendar Management Details – Chapter 2 Priorities In The Morning
24 Dec 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends proactively scheduling time for your key responsibilities in the morning, versus afternoon or early evening, "when every...
Your Directs' Resumes
17 Dec 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes when we recommend a manager consider their directs’ resumes.
How To Do Succession Planning Chapter 3 – The Simple Form
10 Dec 2012
Contributed by Lukas
How to create a dead-simple Succession Planning Form.
One on Ones While Traveling - Part 2
02 Dec 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance completes our recommendations on how to do One on Ones while you are traveling.
Effective Documentation - Part 2
25 Nov 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Part 2 of our guidance on how to document the performance of your directs and your communications with them.
Effective Documentation - Part 1
18 Nov 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Our guidance for how to document the performance of your directs and your communications with them.
How To Handle Meeting Killers – Chapter 6 Multitasking
12 Nov 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends how to address behaviors in meetings that reduce meeting effectiveness, based on a popular 2012 Wall Street Journal article. ...
Calendar Management Details Chapter 1 – Shorten Free Time
05 Nov 2012
Contributed by Lukas
How to improve your effectiveness by eliminating long open periods from of your calendar.
One on Ones While Traveling - Part 1
28 Oct 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends how to do One on Ones while you are traveling.
Inheriting A Poor Performer - Part 2
22 Oct 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance discusses how to manage those directs whom you didn’t hire and who have a history of poor performance.
Inheriting A Poor Performer - Part 1
15 Oct 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance discusses how to manage those directs whom you didn’t hire and who have a history of poor performance.
How To Handle Meeting Killers - The Rambler
08 Oct 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends how to address behaviors in meetings that reduce meeting effectiveness, based on a popular 2012 Wall Street Journal article. ...
Admit Your Mistakes
01 Oct 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends admitting your mistakes openly as a manager, to your team, to enhance candor and openness from your team members.
Never Ask A Question Of A Direct (Whose Answer You Don’t Intend to Honor)
23 Sep 2012
Contributed by Lukas
We recently published guidance recommending that managers ask directs for their efforts, rather than commanding. Can't they say "no"? Yes.
Executive Career Management - If Not You Who?
15 Sep 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes a simple way executive succession planning is often done, and the key to mastering it.
How To Handle Meeting Killers - The Silent Plotter
09 Sep 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends how to address behaviors in meetings that reduce meeting effectiveness, based on a popular 2012 Wall Street Journal article. ...
Work Family Balance - Chapter 1 - Go Home
02 Sep 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes the fundamental error in trying to achieve “Work-Family Balance” and how to solve it forever.
The Part After Feedback - Chapter One - Part 2
26 Aug 2012
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance on how to respond initially to a direct who pushes back in various ways to an instance of feedback.
The Part After Feedback - Chapter One - Part 1
20 Aug 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to respond initially to a direct who pushes back in various ways to an instance of feedback.
Ask For What You Want
12 Aug 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends asking your directs for work to be done - meaning requesting things in the form of a question – rather than stating your de...
How To Deliver A Shot Across The Bow Review
06 Aug 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to deliver an unofficial performance evaluation when your direct is failing and may either not realize it or is resisting ...
How To Deliver An Unofficial Review
30 Jul 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to deliver an unofficial performance evaluation when you need to communicate something that can’t go on an official eval...
How To Do Succession Planning - Chapter 2
23 Jul 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance tells you how to use performance evaluations to improve your basic succession planning.
How To Handle Meeting Killers - The Naysayer
16 Jul 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends how to address behaviors in meetings that reduce meeting effectiveness, based on a popular 2012 Wall Street Journal article. ...
Self Development Informal 360 Degree
08 Jul 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance tells you how to potentially get some informal self development guidance from your manager by asking three simple questions.
Common One On One Mistakes - Chapter One - Agenda Fascism
02 Jul 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance tells you how to avoid the mistake of “Agenda Fascism” in One on Ones.
How To Handle Meeting Killers - The Dominator
25 Jun 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends how to address behaviors in meetings that reduce meeting effectiveness.
How To Do One On Ones With Shift Workers
18 Jun 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance tells you how to do One on Ones with your directs who work a different shift than you do.
How To Do Succession Planning Chapter 1 – Ready Now, Ready Next
11 Jun 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends the 'Ready Now/Ready Next' Approach to Succession Planning.
The Morning Greeting
04 Jun 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends greeting all of your directs when you first interact with them each morning, and how to do it.
How To Handle Meeting Killers - The Jokester
28 May 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends how to address behaviors in meetings that reduce meeting effectiveness.
Big To Small Meeting Agendas
21 May 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance tells you how to structure meeting agendas around the biggest, most important items.
How To Address Social Media Abuse
14 May 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance tells you what to do when one of your directs spends too much time on social media.
"But I LIKE Doing That Part Of My Job!"
07 May 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends how to address a direct who likes part of his/her job and won’t stop doing it, or won’t focus on other areas that are mor...
Aggregated Behaviors Are Performance - Part 2
29 Apr 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This cast concludes our recommendations on focusing on behaviors because behaviors are measurable and aggregated behaviors ARE performance.
Aggregated Behaviors Are Performance - Part 1
23 Apr 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends focusing on behaviors because behaviors are measurable and aggregated behaviors ARE performance.
Feedback From Your Directs - What To Say - Part 2
15 Apr 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This cast concludes our guidance on what to say when your directs say, “Can I give YOU some feedback?”
Feedback From Your Directs - What To Say - Part 1
08 Apr 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance tells you what to say when your directs say, "Can I give YOU some feedback?"
And Not But Meeting Ground Rule
01 Apr 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends a standing ground rule at all meetings: No “buts,” only “and”.
How To Use A RACI Matrix
26 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to use a RACI [Responsible, Accountable, Consult, Inform] Matrix when determining project responsibilities.
Ethics - Part 2
22 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance on ethical behavior.
How To Avoid Reverse Delegation
19 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to avoid having your directs give you work that you’ve already assigned to them.
Ethics - Part 1
15 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Our guidance on ethical behavior. Although this show was originally recorded as a Career Tools cast, we've included it for free for our Manager Tools...
Bench Evaluation Chapter 1: Probing
12 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to interview those colleagues on your bench…without interviewing them.
Delegating To The Floor
05 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to help individual contributors handle an overload in work.
The Fruit Bowl At Meetings
27 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to use a “Fruit Bowl” to eliminate cell phone distractions at meetings.
Internal Support Roles And Responsibilities - Part 2
24 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
The conclusion of our guidance on how to obtain the requirements you need when working as an internal support provider.
Do NOT Give Feedback To Your Boss
19 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how and why NOT to give feedback to your boss.
Internal Support Roles And Responsibilities - Part 1
17 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
We believe this podcast, while a Career Tools cast, is of particular interest to our Manager Tools listeners as well. So, we're providing this as an ...
Measuring Feedback Chapter 1 - Part 2
13 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This cast concludes our guidance on how to measure the amount of feedback you’re delivering to your directs.
Measuring Feedback Chapter 1 - Part 1
06 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to measure the amount of feedback you’re delivering to your directs.
The 45 Minute Meeting
29 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to schedule hour-long meetings, which are often back-to-back-to-back, in only 45 minutes.
The First Rule Of Probing In An Interview
22 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes the most important to ask further questions about during an interview.
Routine Town Hall Meetings - Part 2
15 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This cast concludes our guidance on how to run a Routine Town Hall Meeting for your organization.
Routine Town Hall Meetings - Part 1
08 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to run a Routine Town Hall Meeting for your organization.
New Direct - First Day Meeting (500th Cast)
02 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes the first meeting a manager ought to have with a new team member.
Ending A Bad Interview - Part 2
25 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance concludes our discussion on when and how to end an interview with a candidate you won't hire.
Ending A Bad Interview - Part 1
19 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes when and how to end an interview with a candidate you won't hire.
The Steel Cage Death Match Meetings - Part 2
12 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This cast concludes our guidance on how to prepare for Steel Cage Death Match Meetings.
The Steel Cage Death Match Meetings - Part 1
05 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to prepare for Steel Cage Death Match Meetings.
Project Status Reporting Simple Feedback - Part 2
28 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This cast concludes our guidance on how to give feedback on how you want projects reported on.
Project Status Reporting Simple Feedback - Part 1
20 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to give feedback on how you want projects reported on.
The Project Management Drumbeat Meeting - Part 2
14 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to manage work and decisions being done on a project.
The Project Management Drumbeat Meeting - Part 1
06 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to manage work and decisions being done on a project.
Taking Notes In Interviews - Chapter 1
31 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance recommends the best way to take notes during interviews.
Project Meeting Reporting - Part 2
24 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This cast concludes our guidance on how to have project statuses reported and discussed.
Project Meeting Reporting - Part 1
17 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to have project statuses reported and discussed.
One On One Note-Taking Recommendations
10 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes some simple improvements most managers can make to help them take better notes during their One on Ones.
Top And Bottom Performer Reporting
03 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This guidance describes how to be ready to talk with your boss about your team.
The Coaching Dilemma - Part 2
26 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This cast continues our discussion on whom to coach and develop on your team with your marginal time.