Manager Tools - The Year in Review
August 25th, 2007If you are a regular listener, you know that each week we focus on specific actions you can take to improve your managerial effectiveness (i.e., what to DO vs. a bunch of theory). Well, today’s show is different … there is nothing “actionable” in here.
Today, in this extra cast, we share our thoughts on the last year and what we have planned for this coming year [read as “share our plans for the coming year so you can hold us accountable” 
].
if you are a first time listener or fall into the category of “just want the bottom line recommendations without all the fluff”, please ignore this cast and accept our apologies for clogging up your hard drive. I know some of you don’t like ANY tangents we take during the podcast and THIS is one BIG tangent (about 60 minutes worth!).
For those of you interested in our thoughts and where we’re going with Manager Tools, this is the show! If not, we’ll see you in a couple of days on our normal weekly podcast.
You’ve been warned!
Stumble it!Trackback URL for this post: http://www.manager-tools.com/2007/08/454/trackback/
August 25th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Congratulations on another great year! Since you seemed so skeptical, I wanted you guys to know that at least one person made it all the way through the podcast…
August 25th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
I, too, couldn’t wait to listen to the special ‘cast - the Manager Tools annual report. I enjoyed listening to this one (as I did last year’s as well).
Kudos to you, Mark and Mike. Very awesome to hear about the conferences coming up in ‘08 as well as the other good stuff.
Mark me down for the Ontario meet-up. My wife and I will be there and she can’t wait to meet you guys in person.
August 25th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Thanks for the virtual “back lot tour”. Hoping to be able to make it to the Chicago Effective Manager Conference next year (and praying that there will be CPE credit). Also did I miss the update on Mark’s book?
August 26th, 2007 at 1:53 am
I also made it through the cast.
I can’t tell you how bummed I am that you meant Ontario California vs. Ontario Canada. Although the Chicago conference kinda perked me up!
August 26th, 2007 at 2:18 am
Hey guys, where you’ been?? I just stumbled over the Google line and there you were. Nifty, applicable, useful, SOMETIMES funny, witty, and — dare I say it — NOT mainstream. VERY refreshing !!
Adda boys !! Keep up da good work.
August 26th, 2007 at 6:07 am
Congratuations Mike and Mark!
Your ideas and plans are very impressive! Thanks for sharing them so openly and energetically.
I also want to thank you Mike. Thank you Mike for you hard work!
See you guys at the conference in 2008.
Best wishes
Yura-
August 26th, 2007 at 9:47 am
Mark and Mike,
Wow, 6 effective Manager conference in 2008, Great thinking. Clear evidence that people see huge value in what you preach.
Looking forward to linked in to one of those, hopefully.
The corporate approach is also great idea for customization to meet the bulk needs.
The review of the second year was great. Keep up the great work. Thanks for all the guidance.
Regards
Karthik.
Bangalore, India.
August 26th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Count me in for the meet up in Ontario, California. I would love to meet you and the other subscribers.
Bryan
Tustin, CA
Business Admin
August 27th, 2007 at 3:07 am
G’Day guys well done on another fantastic year! Once again I find myself on the search for a job so I’ll be busy reviewing all the interviewing ‘casts and related material…
Oh and hey, Pi is my lucky number so I’m looking forward to the ‘cast with Pi steps!
The Google based search will be fantastic - I just spent around 15 minutes trying to remember / search for where you had mentioned a phone answer machine greeting message - that time could have been saved!
Finally, I have blocked out all November in my 2008 calendar to make a visit to Sydney for the conference. Roll on Nov 2008!
August 27th, 2007 at 9:21 am
Just to thank you guys for helping me have a clue on management. 7 weeks in to a new job with a report who had a dreadful relationship with my predecessor makes for a challenging life. (How bad? They do not talk at all!) So far I’ve managed to get through her defensiveness with feedback that is just feedback - negative or positive (and I give plenty of both) - designed to change behaviour and processes to get the result I want. So she’s beginning to listen and react and be more effective.
I know that the many new skills she needs to acquire do not all have to be learned from me - I do not have the time to do all the training. Instead she has sought out other resources (I am one but only one) and your coaching principles have helped me here as I know to keep a strong check on how it goes and make sure she sticks with it.
I am trying to develop relationships with other departments to define their needs - but also to make them aware of the limitations on what we have the resources to provide. Not easy (IT Support never is) but already some who were rude are becoming more understanding and appreciative of what we can provide. I made sure that my first contact with them is a visit to fix a problem rather than a VNC session to introduce myself.
I have written notes on my report so I will be more effective when doing her appraisal without having to think back - noting examples for later consideration.
And the other day when I was chatting with an ex colleague (for I keep in touch as part of my network as well as my circle of friends) about having to give some negative feedback to my report he grinned and said “Aha time for Manager’s Tools feedback model - what can you do differently”.
Good to hear your ideas for continuing your support for us struggling on the front line. What would we do without you? Be less effective of course!!
August 27th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
Count me in for the Ontario meet-up. I even know of a great hole-in-the-wall pizza place not too far away, in Upland.
August 27th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Mike & Mark -
Really glad that I took the time to listen to this cast. After reminiscing over the last 2 years of podcasts I’ve listened to by you guys and listening to the plans for the future, I decided it was definitely worth the $200 (CDN…) to subscribe. I will say I’ve definitely received more value that this from your work and look forward to seeing the plans move forward as outlined in your podcast.
My only additional comment is, why don’t you come up to Toronto, Ontario, Canada? It’s the major hub up here and can get your Canadian listeners more included.
Thanks
Don
August 28th, 2007 at 6:47 am
Dear Mike and Mark,
It was a great way to make us live a little bit of your dream-come-true-adventure.
Thank you for that !
You made it so right : you started with a good idea. No ads, just word of mouth. You built something incredible and turned your “customer” to friends. And … You have so many great ideas to come …
I wish you a perfect success for the years to come.
See you in Amsterdam ?
Cédric.
August 28th, 2007 at 3:05 pm
Yes i am interested in a meet up in Ontario - Sincerely Michele
I just gave a speech at Toast Masters based on the Great American Handshake - gave all credit to you guys. Apparently my handshake NEEDED improvement.
Love all the podcasts.
August 29th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Mike and Mark Thank you.
As more of a manager in potential, I am confident that when the time comes, I will be prepared to manage the manager-tools way a.k.a. the right way.
August 29th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
Hi Friends
I have been listening to your podcast for a long time, Great job and Congrats. Just a quick question, or may be a question for podcast.
Should an employee have a distance with his/her boss, If so how much? And what can a manager talk, the limitation etc towards the boss,
Thank you
Keep up the great work
Suresh
August 30th, 2007 at 12:28 am
Fellow MT fans
Until MT has their Google mini search appliance up and running you may consider site specific Google search, e.g.
site:manager-tools.com thank you note
site:manager-tools.com feedback model
August 30th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Mike and Mark,
Congratulations on another great year! Your advice has been of tremendous value and the realization of your dream through Manager Tools an inspiration. I’m gratefully anticipating year three and hope that Atlanta is one your schedule in 2009.
All the Best,
Nathan Ives
StrategyDriven
September 1st, 2007 at 5:50 pm
I would love to meet you guys in Ontario — as would a few of my friends who told me about about your site. Thank you for all your work.
September 3rd, 2007 at 6:22 am
Mike, Mark,
Well, I can only say that as a newbie semi-manager (only two reports) I find all of your stuff *most* helpful. Please keep the good work up. (Sorry, there’s no behaviour in there, so it’s bad feedback!). Restate: When you deliver this high quality material, it makes my life as a semi-manager much easier and thus increases my and my reports’ efficiency. Pleas keep the good work up!
I have a 2 hours commute (one way) every day, and your material really helps making that if not a total pleasure, so at least much more acceptable.
I’m looking very much forward to year three.
Thanks a lot
Lars
September 3rd, 2007 at 7:27 pm
Mark, Mike
a big thank you! Thanks for your enthusiasm (never enough of it..) for your competence I enjoy the practice of management even more than before. Your work is truly inspiring for me.
I hope one day you may come to Europe, in my view we still need to learn a lot here on the practice of management.
Luca
September 4th, 2007 at 11:55 am
great podcast with a lot of info. Congratulations again on a great podcast.
I would be interested to pre register for the effective manager conference in New York as soon as it is announced. there should be some type of email immediately when the dates and times are determined so we can make plans.
george
September 8th, 2007 at 2:53 am
Mike and Mark,
It is hard to believe that it has been two years. I think I started downloading you podcasts within a few weeks of your first podcast.
I can attest to your comments about not advertising and simply using word of mouth to grow the community. My wife runs her own business and has not done any advertising in years. Her marketing is the quality of her work and it continues to pay off.
Keep up the good work and I will keep listening, and spreading the word.
Many Thanks,
John
October 30th, 2007 at 10:30 am
Mike & Mark,
Thanks in large part to the tremendous recommendations provided through Manager Tools, I’ll be talking on some management responsibility in an upcoming reorganization. As such, I’ll be in a position to lobby for the necessary funding to attend the Chicago Manager Tools Conference.
When do you anticipate releasing firm details for the Chicago Conference?
Thank you for all that you do!