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Last year a co-worker at my last job mentioned a really good book that I should pick up called the The One Minute Manager. I finally got a chance to read it this weekend and I enjoyed it. A very short read ( ten hours tops ) and presented it in a very comfortable tone, this book teaches you about how to become a more effective manager. While not everyone has been blessed ( cursed? ) with such a position, this book might mean different things to different people. From a technical perspective, it really means being transparent to my team members when it comes time to managing software development.

Here are the key points found in the One Minute Manager:

1. Agree/commit to some goals. Then write them down somewhere so you can look at them daily. Figure out how your behavior is helping or hurting you from reaching the goals you set for yourself.
2. Catch someone doing something right! Openly praise them for it and encourage them.
3. If someone is capable of doing something but their performance is lacking, make sure you are specific in letting that person know what is wrong and how you feel about it immediately. Do not attack their character – just their behavior.

In the workplace, it is becoming rare that you find a good person that will be honest and forthcoming with your progress as well as your peers. Practicing the lessons found in The One Minute Manager can go a long way in making sure that you will be an individual that other people can count on.