10 Minute Manager Toolkit

How much should YOU say thank you? It is the same for everyone? This episode I discuss not just picking personal management styles, but also what is the right amount of thank yous for you.

When it comes to managing employees who are frequently late, it helps to step back and think about time philosophically and practically. For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz-pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

When managing staff issues, think of yourself at the edge of a cliff with an HR guide beside you, helping you navigate red flags and areas where you can proceed cautiously. For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz-pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

The Hot Stove model is a framework for addressing incorrect behavior or performance in a way that is firm yet fair, emphasizing that a manager, like a red-hot stove, must be predictable, immediate, consistent, and impartial. For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz-pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

Resignations are a legal right, not something an employer can “accept” or refuse, and employment contracts are theoretically perpetual until ended by quitting, dismissal, or other events. For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz-pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

Let's talk about interview's core purpose: to assess both personality fit and competence. Interviews are a data-gathering tool to estimate whether a candidate will succeed in a role within six months, not necessarily on day one. For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

This time we use Keanu Reeves as a metaphor for effective management, arguing that his success comes not from dramatic line delivery but from the rare skill of saying little and creating space—something many managers fail to do. For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz- pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

Efficiency 101: a dollar spent that doesn't add value that a customer will value (and pay for) is a dollar wasted.For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz- pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

I explore the powerful idea that people generally assume they are doing a good job unless given feedback, highlighting how this assumption shapes behaviour and performance. For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz- pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

This episode reframes imposter syndrome not as a flaw, but as a natural and useful part of professional life. Everyone experiences a “thought bubble” of self-doubt—worrying they might be discovered as inadequate—but this diminishes over time without ever fully disappearing. For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz- pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

We explore the practical realities of medical certificates in the workplace, noting that while employers often request them, certificates rarely provide meaningful information beyond confirming what the employee has already reported. For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz- pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

We unpack how small medical businesses should approach communication, arguing that big-corporate models—full of internal PR, filtered messaging, and unnecessary updates—don’t work in small teams. For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz- pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

This podcast tackles the question of when to bring in an external expert—like a builder, consultant, lawyer, or a cleaner.For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz- pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'

This podcast explains the difficult transition from being a hands-on technical worker to becoming a manager, using a story about a supervisor who had to step away from “the tools” despite resistance from his former peers. For more from us, visit us at either:- Managingmedical.nz- Managingtradies.nz- pragmatichrm.nzOr check out our other podcast; 'Your 12 minute HR lesson.'