The best managers we know do a great job of retention. As a matter of fact, because it goes to the future potential of the organization, retention is one of Mark's favorite delineators of management talent. Strategy gets done more effectively in places where retention is good.

In this cast, we're going to talk about bare bones basics. This is the stuff that any manager can do... really, that any manager wanting to think of themselves as a professional MUST do. If you're not taking these simple steps, you need to start, so you can build a base to some of the more powerful techniques we'll share in future casts.

The hand shake is the most important professional greetings in the world today. There are many cultures in the world, and there are places to bow, and places to hug, and places where cheek-kissing is perfectly appropriate. The handshake, though is the preferred greeting for most of our audience.

If you're going to do business in the world, or if you're a manager at a multi-national corporation, you need to know how to shake hands. This cast will teach you in excruciating (grin) detail.

Our guidance about a rarely used but powerful Manager Tool, The Skip Level.

If you've ever wondered what was going on at senior levels, and thought that if "they" would keep you informed, things would be a whole lot better, the Skip Level is YOUR way of reducing those problems in your part of your organization. The fact is, it's hard to communicate even directly to your team. Many of us learned that when we "discover" our teams through One on Ones.

We hate to use the name headhunters rather than recruiters, because Mark never liked that term when it was applied to him. But it's a pretty common nickname for a group that is playing an increasingly important role in career management today.

The World is Flat has taught us that no job is safe (note even fast food order takers!). Companies are no longer taking responsibility for your career. Tom Peters believes in a Brand Called "You". Your career and its transitions are IN YOUR HANDS. You can't call yourself a smart manager if you don't know how to create the right relationship with recruiters in your industry.

Last week, in our detailed review of the Late Stage Coaching Model, we covered steps 1 and 2 (Feedback and Systemic Feedback) of the six steps. In this cast we review the last 4 steps.