Ask HN: Excelling at Middle Management

What are the tips / tricks / tools / processes / books you use to help you be an effective tech manager?

Tools might include dedicated use of project / task management tools such as Trello, Pivotal Tracker, JIRA, et cetera.

Processes might include practicing inbox zero, sticking to a very tightly regimented schedule (always groom the backlog first thing in the morning).

My particular struggles include a personal high cost of context switching and a very non-eidetic memory.

What works for you?