Manager Tools Fan Club

Manager Tools offers lots of FREE material, as well as other valuable training and services for reasonable cost.

1. Weekly Podcasts - Free weekly podcasts on a variety of topics available via RSS or iTunes. Each cast typically runs about 30 minutes, with longer topics split into two or more episodes. Mike is the program host, with Mark Horstman presenting the material, although sometimes they have switched roles. Each program has actionable points for the manager to apply and often build on concepts from previous podcasts.

2. Audio Blog - A relatively new feature, this podcast provides commentary on current topics by Mike and Mark.

3. Registered Member Podcast & Discussion Forums - Registered members receive access to an extra podcast each month as well as the program's active bulletin boards, called the discussion forums. Registration is free.

4. Premium Content - For an annual subscription fee, premium members receive access to an RSS feed of transcripts and PowerPoint slides that accompany the weekly and monthly podcasts. The annual subscription is currently $180. There is also series on interviewing skills that is available for a fee.

5. Resume Review Service -- Send in your resume and get a detailed critique. The cost is currently $100. In order to avoid wasting your money, listen to the "Your Resume Stinks" podcast first.

6. Conferences - Generally limited to 100 participants, Manager Tools' conferences give hands-on training on the "management trinity" and other management skills. The conferences are held in various cities in the U.S. throughout the year, and periodically some European locations.

7. Consulting Services - Unfortunately, these services are not well documented on the Manager Tools website and generally only alluded to during the podcasts, but you can contact Mike and Mark using the contact options under the About tab of the Web site.

Interview with Mark Horstman on the Struggling Entrepreneur Podcast - "In this interview, you will see why his co-host- as well as other authority figures and leaders in the area of Management consulting-refer to Mark as the next "Peter Drucker" when it comes to insight and vision for Management. Besides Mark's story of success and his recommendations to those who wish to become entrepreneurs, we included a spontaneous application of one of the key tools described in Mark's podcasts-namely, the Feedback Model."

Bradcast Interview with Michael Auzenne - "Business advice, management consulting and personal coaching topics have been flogged to near extinction in various books, courses and schools. Despite this, Auzenne and Horstman routinely provide fresh conversational insight on these topics. You won't agree with everything these guys say on Manager Tools but more often than not you will find yourself realizing that they have developed a conversational mentoring approach that makes you feel like you're there asking for help at Mark's office door."

Podcast 411 Interview with Michael Auzenne - Where Mike reveals that his first computer was a Commodore VIC-20 with total of 7K memory, as well as a list of podcasts that he currently listens to.

Mark's Equipment & Book Reviews on Amazon.com - Mark's a gadget guy, so you might enjoy these reviews of electronic accessories.

Mike's Book Wish List on Amazon.com - Remember, Mike managed restaurants at one time, so you'll find some unique, non-management books on this list too.

Mark Horstman LinkedIn Profile - Mark's public profile.

Michael Auzenne LinkedIn Profile - Mike's public profile.

The Show about Us - A podcast about Mark & Mike's background and their goals in founding Manager Tools (July 2005).

Join the LinkedIn.com group - If you're a member of Linkedin.com, consider joining the Manager Tools linkedin group. Besides being able to see those cute little thumbnails of other listeners, you'll also get Manger Tool's neat litte oganizational chart icon on your profile listing.

Become a Fan on Facebook.com - You can also conect with fellow managers and conference attendees, check upcoming MT events and view testimonial videos on Manager Tool's Facebook Page. Select "become a fan" in the upper right of the page.

Also visit the "Meet-Ups" section of the discussion forums on manager-tools.com.

If you're totally addicted to Manager Tools and want to be updated as soon as a postcast is uploaded, consider following Manger Tools on Twitter (since good managers shouldn't be allowing Twitter interupt them for "unimportant" things).

Axioms are "business proverbs" that condense learning and wisdom to nuggets that can be applied for future success. Here are some axioms and quotes that you've heard on Manager Tools:

If it's stupid but it works, it's not stupid. - The Second Rule of the Army

The things that get measured are the things that get done - A great insight from author Michael LeBouef.

Putting personal preferences ahead of organizational effectiveness - What many managers do when ignoring good advice or best practices (See also Galatically Stupid).

You can't manage time - We all get 24 hours per day; you can't change that. You can only manage priorites and behavior.

Typing is easy. Writing is hard. Good writing is harder than nuclear physics. - A good reminder of the importance of clear, concise writing for managers.

A decision is a choice, plus the plan to implement it - From Drucker, of course.

Race, Don't Chase - The proper approach to cost cutting in an economic downturn (See podcasts by same title).

Eat your own dog food - In other words, follow your own (hard) advice.

Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgement. - Listen to good advice. Don't make the mistakes I made.

Change when you want to, not when you have to. - Horstman's first law of job changing.

Go slow to go fast - For best results, don't rush people processes on the front end, such as in meetings.

Bloom where you're planted - This is not an axiom, it's a sentimental saying ripped from a Halmark card. We just threw it in here to make sure you were paying attention.

Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity - Generally attributed to Robert Hanlon and known as Hanlon's Razor. Sometimes, and likely less accurately attributed to Napoleon in the form "N'attribuez jamais a la malice ce que l'incompetence explique." The English version coined by Sir Bernard Ingham is more colloquial, "Cock-up before conspiracy."

Galatically Stupid - This is about as dumb as you can get, one step less stupid is "monumentally not effective."

You'd complain if they hung you with a new rope - If you're going to argue about something, argue about something you can have an impact on.

If wishes were horses, beggers would ride - A manager must deal with reality.

Never prohibit what you cannot prevent - Attributed to Napoleon.

The McGuire Hump of the Horstman Curve - The Horstman Curve is the sometimes painful and always difficult process of making positive changes in our lives or management skills (diets & implementing feedback are examples, respectively). The McGuire Hump is the apex of that difficult climb, named in honor of client Dan McGuire.

Your commitments are writing checks your behavior can't cash - Your commitments are important. You can't do well long-term if you don't meet your commitments. A play on a quote from the movie Top Gun.

The Effective Manager is the working title of an long anticipated book by Manager Tool's co-founder Mark Horstman. A draft manuscript is done and Mark is talking with editors and publishers, but a published book is not available yet. ( My wife is also an unpublished author, so this lensmaster can attest that getting published is more difficult than one might think!). Mark makes fairly regular updates on the book's progress on a threads in the discussion forums. Bottom line: hopefully soon.

The Marshall Goldsmith Library - Marshall Goldsmith is an author and executive coach known for achieving positive, lasting change in the behavior of executives, their people and their teams. Recognized by the American Management
Association as one of the 50 greatest thinkers and leaders who have influenced the field of management over the past 80 years, Marshall Goldsmith's Web site is filled with two hundred of his articles, interviews, columns and videos, as well as links to his 20+ books.

DISC Personality Profile System (Wikipedia entry) - Understanding people's personalities and adapting your approach to better communicate with them is the benefit of using the DISC personality profile system. Self assessment tools are available for purchase on the Manager Tools site, as well as podcasts on each of the four types: Dominance, Influence, Steadiness and Conscientiousness, and a DiSC summary sheet and tips on how to use the DISC system to be more effective every day.

Tools for Effectiveness from the Drucker Institute at Claremont Graduate University - A structured set of Interviews and articles to make yourself and your organization more effective.

Mark has developed a list of ten management principles referred to repeatedly on the podcast as "Horstman's Laws." You can download the first eight of Horstman's Laws as a nicely formated PDF file from the Manager Tools web site.

We've never heard mention of any "Auzenne's Laws," but clearly there should be some, and they should include things about the penalty for getting on soapboxes and such.

So much to say about and so few podcasts. That's what lead to the launch of a separate podcast specifically about development of the manager's career.

View the Career Tools podcasts, grab the RSS feed and see the premium content options, including a series on interviewing skills.