Virtual Challenges- Real World Solutions

Posted on 13. Aug, 2006 by Wayne in General

Folks, I’m conducting a webinar for my day job at Communispond and you’re all invited.

Wednesday August 23- 11AM Eastern Time (US)

“Virtual Challenges- Real World Solutions” will give you three ways to make your (and your team’s) online web-meetings more effective. This is a fun, interactive but informative session I really think you’ll enjoy.

The presentation will take about 35 minutes, and we’ll be allowing time afterwards for a “chat” session to make sure all your questions are answered.

To find out more and to register, CLICK HERE

The Cranky Middle Manager #58 More About Bullying Bosses- Robert Mueller

Posted on 09. Aug, 2006 by Wayne in Podcast

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The Cranky Middle Manager Show #058

Greetings one and all.  I’m amazed at the popularity of the show we did on Bullying Bosses with Dr Gary Namie. it’s our most downloaded show ever. If you missed it, check it out here. It generated a lot of discussion, and some controversy. We take a slightly different look at the topic with Robert Mueller, the boss at www.bullyingbosses.com.

Show Notes

0:00 Welcome to the show. This episode is dedicated to Theseus, who knew a thing or two about battling bullies, in their many forms- sometimes literal, sometimes figurative.

4:30 The quote of the week is from Abraham Lincoln- how you use power reveals your character. Are you one of those bosses that pulls the wings off flies? Have you had one?

6:56 (apologies for the sound quality of the interview) What is a bullying boss? It’s about a lack of communication.

9:15 Was Meryl Streep a bully in “Devil Wears Prada?” Not according to Robert. It’s more about the behaviors the individual is displaying. I come up with an analogy that works….better to be lucky than good.

12:40 Bullies generally take on one victim at a time. And yes, they do it on purpose.

16:50 The difference between Dr Namie’s confrontative approach and Robert’s is to form alliances that allow you to cope and “outlast the bastards”.

21:20 Managers are caught in the middle- and can be bullied from both sides.

24:00 Humor is a defense mechanism… except when used badly.

26:15 Other countries prohibit bullying expressly. What is it with the US? You can find out in his book Bullying Bosses:A Survivor’s Guide- How to Transcend the Illusion of the Interpersonal

Resources

Bullying Bosses

Check out Andrea Needham’s work in New Zealand

http://www.bulliesincorporated.co.nz/

In the UK, check out Tim Fields

http://www.successunlimited.co.uk/

The Heart of Canada

http://heartofcanada.typepad.com/randomthoughts/2005/02/bullying_resour.html

Union resources in the US

http://www.ranknfile-ue.org/stwd_bullies.html

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Interesting Response To An Article

Posted on 08. Aug, 2006 by Wayne in General

I got the strangest response to my latest Management Issues article (read it here).

I wrote about how many project managers don’t get the support they need from Senior Management. No big news there, but someone named Scott left this post:

Excellent article, copy of link going to my manager this week with letter of resignation.

Scott

Now, I think I’m flattered At the very least I hit a nerve with the article (admittedly not my best work). That’s why we do this boys and girls. Maybe more people should listen before they feel they have to quit. If you know anyone on the ledge, send them my way.

Don’t let the weasels get you down, Scott.

Book Recommendations From the Experts

Posted on 05. Aug, 2006 by Wayne in General

Rajesh Setty, who’s been a guest on this show (show 44 to be precise check it out if you haven’t) is renowned for his desire to help IT professionals expand their horizons. Now he’s launched a new website I’d like you to check out.

Suggestica is a simple idea: get experts to suggest books they’ve been reading they’d like to share, then link to Amazon so you can buy them. Not a big deal, heck we do it every week on The Cranky Middle Manager, but take a look at who’s making the recommendations:

• Tom Peters (Him again! We’re still working on getting him on the show….)
• Seth Godin (Won’t return my emails)
• Anthony Robbins (You’re kidding, right?)
• Oprah Winfrey (Ditto)
• Tim Sanders (Apparently I can’t get any love, even from the head Love Cat)

Since none of them will appear on THIS show any time soon, you’d  better go to Suggestica, They obviously (and for good reason) like Rajesh and his partner Vijay than they do me.

I was honored to be one of the people involved in the sneak preview of this site and couldn’t say anything til now…well now I can and I have so there.

If you haven’t checked out Rajesh’s Life Beyond Code blog, you should do that to, especially you IT professionals with an eye to your future.

Good luck Rajesh and Vijay…