The Manager Lab

Work Hacks: Getting 1% Better Every Day

Welcome to the Manager Lab podcast, where we explore the crucial aspects of talent management. In this episode, we delve into a practical and transformative habit designed to enhance your productivity by 1% each day. Listen as we discuss an effective nightly routine that involves jotting down your goals before ending your workday, ultimately bringing clarity and peace of mind. Discover how this simple process can lead to better presence at home and improved morning productivity. Join us as we share insights and actionable tips to optimize your daily work habits and unlock your team’s potential.

Mastering Modern Teamwork: New Rules from McKinsey

Welcome to the Manager Lab, where we explore dynamic trends in talent management. In this episode, discover how modern teams can thrive in a rapidly changing environment by applying cutting-edge principles from McKinsey's latest research. Learn to develop effective operating systems, invest in real-time measurement, and create a culture of continuous improvement. Empower your organization to unlock its full potential with practical insights and actionable strategies.

Psychological Safety: 6 Common Misperceptions and What Leaders Can Do (Part 2)

Welcome to the Manager Lab, your guide to understanding the evolving world of talent management. Join us as we dissect insights from key literature and offer actionable tips for building and retaining top talent.In this episode, we explore the common misconceptions surrounding psychological safety, guided by insights from experts Amy Edmondson and Michaela Karacy. Discover why psychological safety can't be mandated through policies, but instead requires intentional cultivation through messaging, modeling, and mentoring.Dive into the roles both leaders and team members play in fostering an environment where everyone feels free to voice their opinions without fear. Learn practical strategies to improve communication quality within teams, ensuring every conversation is a step towards achieving collective goals.

Psychological Safety: 6 Common Misperceptions and What Leaders Can Do (Part 1)

In this episode of the Manager Lab, we explore the concept of psychological safety and tackle widespread misconceptions surrounding it. We discuss how psychological safety is often misunderstood as being nice, equated with getting one's way, or considered as a guarantee for job security. Drawing insights from an article by Amy Edmondson and Michaela Kerasi, we clarify these fallacies and emphasize the true essence of psychological safety: fostering an environment where candor is encouraged and valued without compromising accountability or performance.Join us as we dissect these misunderstandings, learn how they can hinder team dynamics, and explore practical strategies for cultivating a more open, constructive workplace. Tune in to discover the balance between kindness and honesty, and understand why both high standards and psychological safety are crucial for achieving excellent team performance.

Trust & Inspire: Unleashing the Potential of Your Direct Reports (Part 3)

Welcome to the Manager Lab, where we explore the dynamic world of talent management. In this episode, we delve into Stephen M. R. Covey's insights on treating team members according to their potential, as outlined in Franklin Covey's white paper on trust-building. Discover actionable strategies to foster growth and visibility in your direct reports by assigning them skill-building tasks and involving them in high-profile projects.We'll discuss the importance of regular check-ins to track progress and make necessary adjustments to ensure continuous career development. Learn how to ask the right questions to enhance advocacy for your employees, creating a winning environment of trust that benefits individuals, managers, and the organization.

Trust & Inspire: Unleashing the Potential of Your Direct Reports (Part 2)

Welcome to the Manager Lab, where we explore effective talent management strategies. In this episode, we delve into the art of enhancing your team's potential with a focus on reputation building, impactful feedback, and personalized coaching. Discover how to align feedback with company values and direct report goals, enhancing both performance and trust within your team. Join us as we discuss actionable tips for developing a thriving, collaborative workplace environment.

Trust & Inspire: Unleashing the Potential of Your Direct Reports (Part 1)

Welcome to the Manager Lab, your go-to podcast for diving deep into the ever-evolving realm of talent management. In this episode, we explore the transformative power of trust and its role in contemporary leadership styles.
Join us as we examine insights from Franklin Covey's "How to Build Trust and Unleash the Potential of Your Direct Reports." We'll delve into the shift from traditional command-and-control leadership to a more collaborative approach, emphasizing the importance of recognizing employees as complete individuals.
Listen in to learn how to foster an environment of trust that not only benefits your direct reports but also elevates your organizational standing. Discover actionable strategies to align career goals with everyday tasks, ensuring mutual growth and progress.

Want Engaged Employees? Better Have Engaged Managers

In this insightful episode of the Manager Lab, we steer away from our usual article reviews and dive into a transformative session from the 2024 Association for Talent Development conference. Explore the crucial connection between leadership energy and employee engagement with expert insights from David Yesford and Tom Roth of Wilson Learning Corporation.Discover why engaged managers are pivotal for cultivating high-performing teams and how leadership has remained a constant despite the evolving business landscape. Learn about key strategies to enhance leadership effectiveness, from establishing a solid leadership foundation to embracing servant leadership and forming a personal board of advisors.Join us as we unpack practical tools and profound ideas to elevate your leadership skills and guide your team towards success.

The Art of Focus: 7 Tips to Thrive in a World of Distraction

Welcome to the Manager Lab, where we explore the dynamic realm of talent management. In this episode, we dive into Rebecca Knight's insights on managing distractions, derived from her February 2025 HBR article, 'Seven Habits to Stay Focused in a World Full of Distractions.' Discover practical tips and strategies inspired by the book 'Finding Focus, Own Your Attention in the Age of Distraction' by Zelena Montmeny, aimed at helping you cultivate deep concentration amidst a myriad of interruptions.Join us as we unravel the science behind our attention spans, the high costs of multitasking, and how digital devices exploit our distraction vulnerability. Learn actionable techniques to lay the groundwork for focus, train your brain, enhance emotional control, and synchronize energy patterns with work schedules. Plus, explore the importance of active listening and replenishing your attention reserves to foster meaningful connections and sustain mental clarity.Embark on this journey to transform your focus skills and unleash your team's full potential in an era dominated by digital distractions. Let's enter the Manager Lab and do good work!

Mastering Meetings: 7 Rules for Effective Leaders

In this episode of the Manager Lab, we depart from our usual analysis of leading articles and delve into a discovered handout offering invaluable guidelines for effective meeting management. Our discussion uncovers seven vital principles to lead meetings with confidence and efficiency. From crafting a purposeful agenda and preparing for participants to delegating duties and mastering follow-ups, each rule is designed to enhance your managerial prowess. Join us as we explore these practical strategies aimed at unlocking your team's potential and ensuring productive, successful meetings in any professional setting.