I recently got turned on to Manager Tools and I can clearly see that I am not as effective as I could be. I've started listening to the Manager Tools basic series. As a young and relatively inexperienced manager, I want to make sure that I don't make any huge mistakes. However, doing everything that is outlined in the podcast series is overwhelming. I want to implement the ideas discussed in the podcasts in a sustainable way despite my kneejerk reaction to simply try and do all of it (the ideas presented are wonderful - I just can't do it all at once). If I were to implement just one idea from these podcasts in the next month, which one should I use?
On another note, my company spends huge dollars in training for what most people call 'hard skills' (software, robot machine language, etc.) but not much on how to actually manage. Without telling my boss that I am incompetent, how would I ask for help in these areas?
Relationships
It is all about relationships. You said you are new to management I am assuming you have been with the company for a longer time. What you need to focus on is the relationships with your peers, directs and customers. You may have already established these relationships but some aspects of them will change with your new role. Focus on these relationships and use them as the stepping stones to fulling the goals that you and your manager set.
Rolling Out the Trinity and Coaching
Welcome! Glad to have you with us.
As you progress through the MT Basics you'll encounter 4 shows titled "Rolling Out the Trinity." These explain how to eat the proverbial elephant.
As for your second question about getting help with your management skills, you should apply the Coaching basics to yourself. If you were to make out a list of all the resources for management training you'd have to include MT. Later on, when you decide which resource to use you'll select MT because there's no cost. After a few weeks you'll come to the conclusion that becoming a premium member will help you locate casts on specific topics faster. As you gain in proficiency you'll yearn for the Effective Manager and Effective Communications conferences. When you reach that point you'll leverage your premium membership to find the casts that walk through how a professional requests training and how to carry the benefit of the training back to your organization. After you've moved up the corporate ladder you'll begin to encounter challenges not covered in the casts and too complicated for discussion in the Forums. At that time you'll contact Mark and Mike for consulting services.
--Michael