Managing on the Bleeding Edge Eric J. Ray's Weblog

Until a few weeks ago, I had over 20 direct reports, which is simply exhausting. I didn't realize how draining it was until relief arrived (thanks, Dana!), but since then I've been recuperating and trying to regain my bearings. I realized that things had been more out of control than I thought after I called one of my directs just to see what was happening, and he thought there must be a problem or I wouldn't have called. Sigh. Since then, in addition to having "just because" unscheduled chats with people, I've also been looking for different--supplemental--ways to "sharpen my saw", as it were. 

I tend to keep the local bookstores well in business with my regular business and management book purchases, and my RSS reader is full of the latest technology angles. Really, I thought I was pretty up to speed on what was happening in the world around me, and keeping up with the latest from Rand, Joel, and others, but I was surprised by a spectacularly good resource for management tips that I've apparently overlooked for years.

Enter Manager Tools.

 I was browsing podcasts, looking for something that wouldn't rot my brain or require a full-time commitment to keep up with--I just wanted something to encourage me to think a bit and look at things a different way. I tried four or five different ones, and rejected all of them within the space of a single walk with a dog. Then I hit Manager Tools, and was immediately hooked. (Oddly enough, I got hooked by the "How to pack for a trip" podcast, which isn't exactly the kind of information I was seeking....but it was awfully informative anyway.)

Since then, the guys from Manager Tools have come along for most of my morning walks, and I've sometimes had to walk around the block an extra time to get to the end of the show...

 What's good about it? Good question. First, I find their perspective simply validating--they say the same kinds of things that I say (or think), but better. Second, I haven't listened to a show yet that didn't give me new ideas, perspectives, or a better way to articulate something that is important to my team or me. Third, they've provided all kinds of tools and tips that I've been able to put to use immediately--same day, in some cases.

(One particular podcast left me with the nagging thought that there was something key that I hadn't retained, so I had to listen to it again. The phrase was "behavior is believable", in the context of walking the walk, not just talking the talk. "Behavior is believable" is such a succinct way to phrase it, though.)

On the down side, though, I have spent an awful lot of time promoting the site and podcast. But now I can just point people to this blog entry, right?