Simple Facilitation - Choosing a Plan - Part 1
Part 1 of our guidance on how to lead a group from a blank slate to a choice on where to focus on future.
Manager Tools
Tired of management theory? Want to learn specific skills to help improve your management performance? Then Manager Tools is the podcast for you! Manager Tools is a weekly business podcast focused on helping professionals become more effective managers and leaders. Each week, we discuss specific actions for professionals to take to achieve their desired management and career objectives. Manager Tools won Best Business Podcast Award in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2012 as well as the People's Choice Award in 2008. Find more at http://www.manager-tools.com/
Episodes
The Written Review Scale - Less Absolute Value
You can and often should deliver a different message verbally than your written comments on a performance review. The key is to moderate your written comments with "Less Absolute Value."
How to Run Your Staff Meeting - Part 2 - HOF
Part 2 of our Hall of Fame guidance on running your staff meeting.
How to Run Your Staff Meeting - Part 1 - HOF
Part 1 of our Hall of Fame guidance on running your staff meeting.
A Professional Sense of Humor - Part 2
Part 2 of our guidance on what kind of jokes you can and can't tell as a manager and professional. And why.
A Professional Sense of Humor - Part 1
Part 1 of our guidance on what kind of jokes you can and can't tell as a manager and professional. And why.
Is This Normal? Episode 2
Is This Normal? Episode 2
Special Edition - The Wall Street Journal Features Manager Tools
In this bonus podcast, Mark comments on the recent Wall Street Journal article that featured Manager Tools.
Teach As If Teach Not Performance Communication
How to provide some guidance or corrective input when feedback might be more than enough, or to ease a less experienced direct into a performance culture.
Delivering The Performance Review - Part 2 - HOF
Part 2 of our Hall of Fame guidance on delivering a performance review.
Delivering The Performance Review - Part 1 - HOF
Part 1 of our Hall of Fame guidance on delivering a performance review.
Performance Reviews - Part 2 - HOF
Part 2 of one of our Hall of Fame casts on how to prepare performance reviews.
Performance Reviews - Part 1 - HOF
This week, we're re-releasing one of our Hall of Fame casts on how to prepare performance reviews (part 1).
Don't Vote! - How to Get Group Input on Decisions - Part 2
Part 2 of our guidance on effective ways to get input for decisions in meetings.
Don't Vote! - How to Get Group Input on Decisions - Part 1
Part 1 of our guidance on effective ways to get input for decisions in meetings.
No Surprises In Reviews
It's unprofessional to deliver new information to a direct in a performance review.
Never Rank Candidates
Don't rank candidates as you are interviewing, individually or collectively. It biases the hiring process.
Brainstorming - Part 1 - HOF
In today's fast and flat world, ideas are becoming critical competitive advantages. Managers - and many others - need to be good at getting the most and best ideas from themselves and their teams. This cast tells you how.
The Two Reasons To Fire Someone
There are two general reasons to consider firing someone. Only one of them is "job performance." The other is tearing down the team.
Trinity Frequently Asked Questions #1: Why Wait Three Weeks To Start?
Perhaps the most frequently asked question at conferences about rolling out the tools in the Management Trinity is why we recommend waiting three weeks. Here's why.
Is This Normal?
Our guidance regarding what is normal in professional and organizational life.
Eliminating Bad Attitudes - Part 1
How to define a direct's "bad attitude" in terms of behaviors, to encourage them to change them.
No Second Emails
Too many of us follow an unanswered email with another email. That's the definition of insanity: doing the same thing and expecting different results.
Politics: Have Nothing Bad To Say
How to handle the politically delicate moment when you're asked to talk about a difficult person or situation.
8 Positive Feedback Examples
Most managers have too high a standard for giving positive feedback. Here are some simple examples.
Feedback on Status Reporting - Nothing is "Fine"
The common response to questions about status is, "Fine." This isn't acceptable or effective.
Forgive First Mistakes When Interviewing
Even though great interviewers are looking for reasons to say no doesn't mean they aren't forgiving of mistakes in interviews.
Meeting Distractions - Don't Wait To Give Feedback
What to do when people are on their phones/laptops during meetings, or doing anything else counterproductive to the meeting.
No Panel Interviews
One of the biggest mistakes in interviewing candidates is using panel interviews. Here's why.
Leading Change - Model And Measure - Part 2
Part 2 of our series on change efforts. If you want your organization to follow you in change efforts - whether it's rolling out the Trinity or anything else - you've got to do 2 things at a minimum: model the behavior, and measure it.