Greetings from Birmingham, UK

Hi,

I work as a manager in telecoms equipment installation and support. I've been at the same company for about 12 years now but I've moved around different departments building up varied experience.

This year, I have broken out of being the perennial "deputy" and finally got my own department. It has been of great frustration to me that many (correction: "most") senior managers pay scant regard to the basics of good management practice and generally pay more attention to politics than performance.

I have a great desire to break the mould and have already commenced 1-on-1s with my direct reports (much to their surprise).

I find the Manager Tools podcasts to be of immense assistance and a few are already "keepers" on my iPod, getting regular replays. I am also in the first weeks of implementing GTD - third attempt but now with the assistance of my excellent new admin.

I am 37 years old and live in Warwickshire with my lovely wife and three children aged 10, 7, and 4. I am a frustrated home-recording musician, landscape photographer and watercolour artist - rarely finding the time and space to enjoy any of these as much as I would like. I am also a life-long supporter of Oldham Athletic football club.

For people interested in Myers-Briggs Type Indicators, I am naturally INTP but with my last two years immersed in a demanding operational role I have seemingly "trained" myself into becoming an INTJ.

Keep up the great work on Manager Tools - you help make a daunting responsibility that much more manageable.

Regards
Rob (aka ArtByStereo)