The Cranky Middle Manager Show #316 The Final Cranky Show and the Future of Work with John Blackwell
More from Luda Kopeikina on Decision Making
Posted on 13. Mar, 2006 by Wayne in General
I got this E-mail the other day from Luda Kopeikina, who was our charming guest on show #34- Making the Right Decision Every Time. Since hundreds of you listened to the show, I figured you might like a follow-up:
Dear Wayne,
Just wanted to share this fascinating new MIT research and how it confirms the techniques in my book “The Right Decision Every Time”.
Researchers at MIT find that when our brain neurons fire in synchrony, our response is faster. The researchers also noted the diluting power of distraction. The more the monkeys’ neurons synchronized on distracting events, the more slowly the monkeys noticed the change in the actual target. Read the full article.
Focus is the key! This research is yet another confirmation of the power of the Clarity State that is described in my book. It tells us that learning to control our minds when we are making important decisions is critical for achieving clarity faster.
Interestingly, much of today’s conventional wisdom about effective management and leadership runs counter to achieving focus and clarity. The book talks about three “death habits” to clarity. The habit of multi-tasking, for example, which had been practically deified, is in sharp contrast with achieving the focus that leads to peak performance. Being competitive, which is considered inextricable from being effective, creates stress and anxiety. Neuroscientists have proven that under stress our brains fall into the state of cortical inhibition, essentially closing down certain parts of our brains for use. Similarly, the national religion of workaholism, exacerbated by the ubiquity of cell phones and the Internet, can lead to so much stress and fatigue that the brain chronically operates at lower capacity.
The tip of the day – FOCUS. Select the next most important activity, focus on it and get it done. Chances are you are going to get to a clear result faster and easier in comparison with doing it in an old, multi-tasked, and stressed way. Trust me – you will be more satisfied with your day and yourself. Try it for a day and let me know whether you agree.
Best regards,
Luda Kopeikina
Thanks, Miss Luda.
Bozos at Work From Guy Kawasaki
Posted on 08. Mar, 2006 by Wayne in General
Floyd Kemske, a cool writer and a friend of mine, sent me this link to Guy Kawasaki’s blog. It outlines how to prevent a Bozo Explosion. After going through the list, I have to go change since I have pieces of Bozo all over me, the walls….it’s a mess around here.
Check this out. How To Prevent a Bozo Explosion
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #38 Corporate Canaries
Posted on 05. Mar, 2006 by Wayne in Podcast
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #03
Today’s show is about Corporate Canaries- the signs of a business in trouble and how managers can help. Our guest is Gary Sutton: author, turnaround expert, serial CEO and very smart guy.
SHOW NOTES
0:00 First, today is officially Take the Darned Day Off Day. I said so, that’s why.
1:31 This book fits great with the 4 Disciplines of Management according to this show. For those of you new to the show they are:
1) Business Acumen
2) Project and Process Management
3) Leadership
4) Communication Skills
2:15 This show is dedicated to Cassandra. Nobody likes a know-it-all.
3:40 The quote of the week is from Arthur Schopenhauer. Not only is it a cool quote, it’s the only thing Schopenhauer ever said that I can understand.
4:40 Welcome Gary Sutton, author of Corporate Canaries. What does the canary metaphor mean and why should middle managers care about it? Oh, and if we could just get this guy to say what he thinks….
8:00 The first “Canary”- You Can’t Outgrow Losses
10:30 Canary #2 Debt’s a Killer
13:00 Canary #3 Fools Fly Blind
15:45 Canary #4 Any Decision Beats No Decision
20:20 Canary #5 Markets Grow and Markets Die
24:00 The final rule…. Defense Matters
26:20 The Canaries are seldom the favorite people in an organization. Quit whining about it- it’s your job.
31:00 Gary is pretty candid about some books. The one he seems to like is Good To Great.
EMAIL ME if you’re interested in anything specific, even drop me a voicemail by Skype… my skype address is wayneturmel.
The Cranky Middle Manager #37 The Paradox of Excellence
Posted on 03. Mar, 2006 by Wayne in Podcast
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #037
The Paradox of Excellence with David Mosby and Michael Weissman
Ever feel like the better you are at your job, the less you’re appreciated? It happens to companies and it happens to people. That’s what the Paradox of Excellence is all about. We do our first ever “two-fer” interview with David Mosby and Michael Weissman, authors of The Paradox of Excellence- How Great Performance Can Kill Your Business.
Thanks for joining us. Enjoy the show and subscribe so we don’t have to hunt you down every time we put up a new show.
SHOW NOTES
0:00 Welcome to the Cranky Middle Manager. This show is dedicated to Ranjit Singh, who managed to not only keep his job for almost 70 years, but did it by making the law apply equally to everyone and bringing in the right consultants and using them properly. Nnot to outsource- but to train a butt-kicking army of his own.
3:15 Our quote of the week is from Aristotle. It took me 37 shows to go to this well, gang, and the show is about excellence, after all. Keep this one in mind, even though we both know, and you know that I know we know…….
4:14 We do our first gang interview with David Mosby and Michael Weissman-the guys who wrote the Paradox of Excellence. So what is the paradox and why should managers care about it?
7:30 How do you reinforce value in a socially acceptable way so your mother doesn’t nag you. We’ll start with corporate examples and work our way down to the likes of you and me.
10:00 My mother taught me not to brag and just do my work and it’ll pay off. Michael says that’s not true…at least he tries to say it. Never let it be said I edit this show for slickness, but his point is fair.
13:00 There are 5 key questions you have to be able to answer in order for people to see the value in what you do, as a company or as an employee:
1) How much did you do for me?
2) How fast did you do it?
3) How well did you do it?
4) What benefit did I get from you doing it?
5) Why am I doing business with you?
17:55 Dave offers a rea home-life example of this principle in action.
22:00 Measurement is NOT for punishment. It’s all in the positioning.
26:00 What are some of the mistakes managers make in implementing these metrics?
Check out their website , Fresh Perspectives and their blog…
Don’t forget to post to our blog, leave comments, EMAIL ME or drop me a line on Skype. My skype handle is wayneturmel. Thanks, I thought of that one myself.
There’s a copy of my book in it if you can get me an interview with Tom Peters! I will not rest til this happens, come hell, high water, or restraining orders.
That’s it gang, don’t let the weasels get ya down.