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16 episodes
Manager Tools
by Manager Tools · English
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/
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The Juggling Koan (Hall Of Fame Guidance)
The “Juggling Koan” (originally “Delegation Cascade”) addresses what a manager should do when their boss adds a new major assignment while the manager is already at capacity.
9 Nov 2026 · 12 chaptersAggregated Behaviors ARE Performance - Chapter 2 - Part 2
The episode argues that performance and behaviors are not separate; performance is the aggregated sum of all behaviors, including work product behaviors (quality, quantity, accuracy, timeliness,…
2 Nov 2026 · 9 chaptersAggregated Behaviors ARE Performance - Chapter 2 - Part 1
The episode argues that performance and behavior are inseparable: performance is behavior, and relationships are part of work performance.
26 Oct 2026 · 17 chaptersFeedback Is Not A Personal Attack (Hall of Fame Guidance)
The episode argues that feedback is not a personal attack; it should be framed as performance communication about behavior, delivered in a consistent model, and made effective through trust and prior…
19 Oct 2026 · 14 chaptersWhy Do I Have To Wait To Give Feedback? - Part 2
Why managers should wait before using a feedback model, and how to build trust first (Part 2 of 2).
12 Oct 2026 · 9 chaptersWhy Do I Have To Wait To Give Feedback? - Part 1
Why managers should wait 12 weeks after starting one-on-ones before using the Manager Tools feedback model; doing both at once “destroys trust” and leads to unpredictable performance.
5 Oct 2026 · 8 chaptersThe Effective Manager And The Principle Of Sub-Optimization - Part 2
Part 2 of Manager Tools’ two-part episode explaining the principle of sub-optimization (PSO): individuals and sub-teams must accept “less” locally so the whole organization can be “more” effective.
28 Sep 2026 · 11 chaptersThe Effective Manager And The Principle Of Sub-Optimization - Part 1
This Manager Tools episode (Part 1 of 2) explains the principle of sub-optimization (PSO): optimizing individual parts of a system independently often fails to optimize the system as a whole and can…
21 Sep 2026 · 11 chaptersHow To Teach Peer Feedback To Your Directs
How managers can teach their direct reports to give peer feedback using the Manager Tools peer feedback model (part 1 of 1), to reduce conflict and improve professionalism.
14 Sep 2026 · 18 chaptersThe First Rule Of Feedback
The episode explains “the first rule of feedback”: all feedback is meant to encourage effective future behavior, not to correct or reward past behavior.
8 Sep 2026 · 8 chaptersHow To Prewire a Meeting - Part 2 (Hall of Fame Guidance)
How to “pre-wire” a meeting/presentation (Part 2 of 2): prep slides correctly, brief the boss and attendees in advance, re-brief the boss, finalize slides, and rehearse to achieve a “slam dunk” with…
31 Aug 2026 · 8 chaptersHow To Prewire a Meeting - Part 1 (Hall of Fame Guidance)
How to pre-wire a high-stakes meeting (Part 1 of 2). It defines “pre-wiring” as briefing the people you’ll present to in advance to avoid surprises and secure agreement, aiming for a “slam dunk”…
24 Aug 2026 · 7 chaptersCoaching a Direct On Relationship Development - Part 2
Part 2 of “Coaching a Direct on Relationship Development” (Manager Tools) explains how to coach a direct to build relationships by collaborating on goals, brainstorming resources, turning resources…
17 Aug 2026 · 11 chaptersCoaching a Direct On Relationship Development - Part 1
Coaching a direct (manager’s direct report) to build relationships, using Manager Tools’ coaching model (4 steps: set a behavioral goal, brainstorm resources, create a short plan, then direct takes…
10 Aug 2026 · 16 chaptersYour Job Includes Teaching Professionalism - Chapter 1 - Timeliness - Part 2
Teaching professionalism through timeliness (Chapter 1, Part 2). Time is described as the ultimate, immutable resource; organizations can lose revenue, increase costs, and damage reputation when…
3 Aug 2026 · 12 chaptersYour Job Includes Teaching Professionalism - Chapter 1 - Timeliness - Part 1
Managers must actively teach professionalism—specifically timeliness (Chapter 1, Part 1 of two)—because organizational speed (including AI) makes basic standards more important, and new hires are not…
27 Jul 2026 · 10 chaptersWe use cookies.They keep VO running smoothly and help us improve it. Privacy policy