# Information overload as a new manager
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/information-overload-as-a-new-manager/675807
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 8, 2013, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/information-overload-as-a-new-manager/675807 "2013-12-08T07:43:51Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/information-overload-as-a-new-manager/675807/21 "2013-12-12T15:50:22Z")
There are collaborative platforms devoted to juggling multiple projects. Have a look at [Basecamp](https://basecamp.com/) or [JIRA](https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira), for instance.
The problem is always to find a tool that’s right for the context you’re in. Nobody but you can know what’s right, and even if you think you’ve found the right formula, getting everybody to collaborate the way you expect isn’t a given.
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### Author:  [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2013, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/information-overload-as-a-new-manager/675807/22 "2013-12-12T15:57:39Z")
> [@Heracles](#):
>
> There are collaborative platforms devoted to juggling multiple projects. Have a look at [Basecamp](https://basecamp.com/) or [JIRA](https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira), for instance.
Yep. I test-drove a lot of them and ended up using[Teamwork PM](http://www.teamworkpm.net/). It’s incredible.
There’s a free trial…give it a try. I couldn’t live without it, and I’m basically a one-man department. I would REALLY need it if I had people under me.
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### Author:  [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/information-overload-as-a-new-manager/675807/23 "2013-12-12T16:06:18Z")
I, for one, welcome our new information overload.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2013, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/information-overload-as-a-new-manager/675807/24 "2013-12-12T18:12:40Z")
> [@GameHat](#):
>
> These are 20 unique projects at all times, minimum. We are a specialty manufacturer/supplier, so we have 300+ active products, customer issues at maybe 10, going after new business at like 15.
>
> Yep, I’m finding this already. Just the email and meetings eat 30% of my week. Travel eats probably 50%. That leaves me 20% to do actual work; I (used to be) a lab guy, I have zero time anymore for the lab, which kills me. Even now, I’m getting simple projects that would take a small amount of lab time (~4 hours) and I want to do them myself, I just don’t have the time. Like I said, I need more people, my boss agrees I need more people, I’m just waiting for them to pull the trigger so we can hire.
Four reports (eventually) is good in that you don’t have to spend all your time on people management. I’ve had 15, which is way too many. Once you get things organized you might have time to do something useful!
The secret to managing this is to look for the similarities across projects rather than the differences. The product features might vary, but I bet they all have a similar lifecycle and the complaints come in in the same way for each.
If all your reports can do everything, then you can see who is least loaded and has the time for the four hour project. You’ve probably seen this, but the number one problem for new managers is wanting to do the work. If you had time on your hands then sure, go to the lab. But if you do that now you get four hours further behind, assuming the project is really four hours.
> [@](#):
>
> This is excellent advice. And honestly, I need to do it. I’ve been putting it off, spending a couple of hours each week cobbling together reports. Why I’m putting it off - I’m fairly young, my reports (at least 2 of 3) are fairly old. And resistant to new formatting, technology, hell - even fonts. I need to broach this gently, but I’m still mulling over how to do this. I do need to pull the trigger on this though, agreed.
Just give them the template. And bounce back reports that don’t use it. It is time to be tough. But let them know why you are doing it - tell them that the time you save will be used in trying to get them something they need.
You’ll soon discover that much of the management stupidity you saw actually had a reason.
> [@](#):
>
> I really have nobody to delegate the management stuff to. I was promoted, hopefully for my good qualities, but realistically also because _my_ boss wanted to delegate some stuff too.
15 reports is different from 3. Don’t delegate management stuff, delegate technical stuff. Delegate that four hour project. Delegate getting a room for a meeting.
Two more things. I don’t use any of the tools mentioned here. When you evaluate them, pay attention to how they fit the style you are already developing. If the tool expects you to work in a different way the tool will sit there unused. If it matches how you work, it could be good.
Second, realize it is all about time. On a pad jot down how you spend your time for a week. Maybe take voice notes. Then, go over it and see what can be eliminated (like reformatting reports.) It is much easier to say yes to useless work than to say no. It adds up.
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### Author:  [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)
#### Post date: [December 12, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/information-overload-as-a-new-manager/675807/25 "2013-12-12T18:39:41Z")
Learn from other people’s mistakes … live your life like it was a resume’ and don’t make mistakes.
Don’t make excuses was my motto … the boss has already heard most of them and he doesn’t want to hear them again and again.
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### Author:  [@sparky\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sparky_1)
#### Post date: [December 13, 2013, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/information-overload-as-a-new-manager/675807/26 "2013-12-13T00:18:25Z")
I’m currently managing a construction project overseas. I can easily get a few hundred emails a day dealing with any of a vast number of items with the project.
I’d love advice on how to simply sort that many messages. At times it’s just overwhelming.
I use sub folders and sub folders and search as best I can, but I still sometimes can’t quickly find a message from even just a week ago.
Anyway, good thread!
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