Bottom line: This material is the best management training I have seen in my 25-year career. It is practical and simple (without being simplistic). The tools are useful, flexible and have repeatable results across cultures, across industries, and all levels of management. I have one regret in attending the conference-not taking it sooner. I recently viewed my profile on the Manager Tools (MT) website. It says I have been a member for seven years and 41 weeks. That made me pause. I wish I had done more to master these tools over the years and advocate these as a standard in our office. I am now making up for some lost time. Results: These tools are my primary guide in coaching ____ in his new manager position. I exhorted him to give these MT principles the same kind reverence he gives to GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Practices). He attributes his progress on the recent employee survey to our weekly coaching sessions. The DISC model helped me tailor my communication to our new CEO when he visited our office. I paid attention to his visual, verbal and vocal cues as we learned in the conference (the CEO is a strong 'I'). As we did our introductions around the table, each person was prepared to state their role in the organization and a recent accomplishment. Most on our leadership team spoke about facts and tasks. I told a quick story about a recent accomplishment. I named two specific staff and shared verbatim quotes from them on how a new initiative affected their work. Afterward, several colleagues commented, "What you said in there really nailed it," "did you see the way he responded to you?!" "He wanted to meet ____ after you quoted her." Benefits: Online, self-directed and "virtual" training does not have the impact of face-to-face interaction. Over the years, I have listened to hundreds of Manager-Tools podcasts, read transcripts, adopted the practices and recommended the material to others. This was not enough for me to understand how to apply it to my style and my circumstances. The small group and candid discussion in the workshop gave all the participants a chance to ask dumb questions (and raise good challenges).

Tim McCormick