You should get out there and talk to the troops .... like they taught us at Cranners ... and .... (J)OCC .... BSC/ICSC!
MBWA -
Management By Wandering Around
Amazing what you learn when you just go up to people and start talking to them about their job, life, family, football team etc. - it's the best tool in the box, but very rarely used. Notice, though, how some of the most respected senior (and not so senior) ranks are very good at it.