The Manager Lab

The Silver Bullet: Weekly Coaching Conversations

Welcome to the Manager Lab, your gateway to mastering talent management. In this episode, we explore the transformative insights from Gallup's 2021 article, "Coach Me Once a Week." Discover why Gallup identified weekly coaching conversations as crucial to enhancing employee engagement and productivity. Understand the pivotal role managers play in shaping workplace culture and the five key strategies to shift from merely administrating to effectively coaching your team. Learn how weekly one-on-ones focusing on goal progress and utilizing employees' strengths can revolutionize your management approach, ensuring success for your team, organization, and yourself.

4 Types of Thinking Leaders Need to Use - and Teach (part 2)

Welcome to the Manager Lab podcast, where we continue our exploration into the four crucial types of thinking that leaders must cultivate and impart: expert, critical, strategic, and systems thinking. This episode focuses on the nuances of strategic and systems thinking, emphasizing the importance of imagination and interconnectedness in decision-making.
Dive into the practical tools and assessments like SWOT and PESTEL analyses, designed to enhance your strategic and systems thinking capabilities. Discover how AI can offer fresh insights and visualization tools to better navigate complex challenges and influences that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Whether you're making long-term strategic decisions or unraveling complex systems, this episode offers valuable frameworks and tips to empower your leadership journey. Join us in mastering the art of effective decision-making and stay ahead of the curve in talent management.

4 Types of Thinking Leaders Need to Use - and Teach (part 1)

Welcome to the Manager Lab, where we delve into the increasingly dynamic world of talent management. In this episode, we explore the article "The Four Types of Thinking Leaders Need to Practice and Teach" by Heidi Grant and Sean McCann. Discover how expert and critical thinking go beyond everyday problem-solving to add value and achieve better outcomes.Understand the unique features of each thinking style and how they apply to specific challenges. Learn when to harness expert thinking for swift, rule-based responses and how to shift to critical thinking to evaluate assumptions and generate innovative solutions. Stay tuned for actionable tips and insights into leveraging these skills in your managerial journey.

Coaching as Tool to Develop Leadership Potential in Your Directs

Welcome to the Manager Lab, your gateway to mastering talent management. In this episode, we explore the powerful impact of coaching in leadership development. Learn how to use coaching as a strategic tool to enhance learning from real-life experiences, hone your questioning techniques, and drive both personal and organizational growth. Discover the transformative power of implementing a coaching culture and unlocking your team's full potential as we dissect the article 'Coaching as a Tool to Develop Leaders' by Lauren Parkhill. Join us to embark on a journey towards becoming a more effective and inspiring leader for your team.

Remote Work Success: Building Trust Without Surveillance

In this episode of the Manager Lab, explore innovative strategies for managing remote employees effectively. We discuss insights from the article "A Better Way to Keep Tabs on Your Remote Workforce" by Alexander Hamrick, focusing on creating trust-based, transparent, and effective monitoring practices. Discover the importance of regular engagement, understanding job complexity, and the power of transparency in fostering a productive remote work environment. Learn how thoughtful communication and shared productivity tools can build a win-win scenario for both managers and employees.

Why Employees Quit (Part 3) Final

Welcome to the Manager Lab, where we explore the dynamic world of talent management. In this episode, we conclude our review of the Harvard Business Review article, "Why Employees Quit: New Research Points to Some Surprising Answers" by Ethan Bernstein, Michael Horn, and Bob Moesta. We delve into three pivotal strategies that managers can implement to preemptively address the reasons employees consider leaving. Discover how early interviews, shadow job descriptions, and strategic partnerships with HR can transform your approach to employee retention. Tune in to learn how to optimize your talent processes and create meaningful career paths that align with both organizational and individual goals.

Why Employees Quit (Part 2)

Welcome to another insightful episode of The Manager Lab, where we dive into the complexities of talent management and explore innovative strategies to retain top talent. In this episode, we review the Harvard Business Review article "Why Employees Quit," authored by Ethan Bernstein, Michael Horn, and Bob Moesta. Discover the surprising reasons behind employee resignations and learn about the ongoing 'war for talent' that challenges traditional management approaches.
We discuss four primary quests that drive job changes: the desire to escape current unsatisfactory situations, regain control over work-life balance, align work with personal skills and capabilities, and pursue new career opportunities for growth and better compensation.
Join us as we dissect the article's key insights and explore how managers can create fulfilling work experiences by recognizing and addressing the unique needs and ambitions of their employees. Prepare to transform your talent management strategies and unlock your team's potential.

Why Employees Quit (Part 1)

Welcome to the latest episode of the Manager Lab, where we explore the dynamic world of talent management. In this episode, we delve into insights from the Harvard Business Review article "Why Employees Quit," focusing particularly on the "push and pull" dynamics that influence employee decisions to leave or stay within a company.
Discover the key factors that drive employees away, such as lack of respect, feeling undervalued, and experiencing micromanagement. We also discuss the enticements that attract employees elsewhere, emphasizing work-life balance, personal growth opportunities, and alignment with company values.
Join us as we break down these pivotal elements and offer actionable tips to help managers retain their top talent. Stay tuned for more episodes as we continue to explore strategies to optimize team performance in the Manager Lab.

IDEAWATCH Reviews from HBR

Join us in this episode of the Manager Lab as we explore the dynamic world of talent management, focusing on key insights from recent research articles. Learn about the critical role of eye contact in building trust and enhancing managerial charisma, the fluctuations in psychological safety for new hires, and the surprising truths about invisibility in virtual meetings. Discover valuable tips on fostering psychological safety and understanding the true passions of introverted and extroverted employees. Delve into strategies that can help retain top talent and drive employee engagement.

Mentorship - Panel Discussion (Part 2)

Welcome to the Manager Lab, a podcast dedicated to exploring the dynamic world of talent management. Join us for insightful discussions and tips to enhance your mentoring practices and help unlock your team's full potential.
In this episode, we continue our exploration of mentorship, discussing the vital expectations for mentees, such as support, guidance, and feedback. We emphasize the importance of mentees taking responsibility for meetings and being well-prepared to gain the most from the mentorship experience.
We share personal experiences on how mentorship has shaped careers in different industries, highlighting valuable lessons learned. Delve into strategies for addressing unique challenges faced by mentees and mentors, especially when balancing management duties with mentoring roles.
Explore the concept of cross-generational mentoring and its benefits in fostering adaptability and innovation. We also address effective mentoring strategies for diverse talent in traditionally homogeneous industries, emphasizing relationship-building and result-oriented approaches.
Whether you aim to be a mentor or mentee, this episode provides valuable insights and encourages meaningful mentoring relationships. Tune in to enrich your talent management skills in the Manager Lab.