The Cranky Middle Manager Show #316 The Final Cranky Show and the Future of Work with John Blackwell
About.Com Talks to Me About Why I Podcast
Posted on 19. Sep, 2006 by Wayne in General
Some time ago, the site http://podcasting.about.com reviewed the show and gave it some love. I didn’t blog about it 1) because you don’t really care, you already listen, and while I love to promote the show, I’m not that big on bragging about myself without some value to you and 2) I did an interview with the host, John Havens, and was going to wait til it came out.
Well, it took a while but the interview is up. If you’re interested in why I podcast, and my philosophy about this topic, rather than management, check out the interview. John didn’t edit it, (he’s either lazy or likes what IÂ had to say, you decide)Â so it goes on for 3 pages, but it was a lot of fun to do.
John also does a podcast about, well, podcasting but if you’re interested in the inner mysteries of the new art form, he’s a great resource. Check out his site.
Good Article on Communication Skills
Posted on 18. Sep, 2006 by Wayne in General
Check out this article on Communication Skills that appeared in Mind Tools. It speaks very clearly to the importance of good communication skills.
Mind Tools is a very cool site out of the UK. We spoke to its founder, James Manktelow back in December last year. Hear the episode here. It also talks about our first ever contest- The Worst Manager on the Planet.
Thanks to Scott Tibbels for passing this along to me….
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #63 Project Risk Management With Dan Ward
Posted on 18. Sep, 2006 by Wayne in Podcast
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #063
Welcome to episode 63. Today we talk project management with Dan Ward, brains behind the Rogue Project Leader blog. He does IT projects for the US Air Force as well as writes a good blog.
Show Notes
0:00 Welcome to the show. Today’s show is dedicated to Publius Claudius Pulcher, a failed project manager. Thanks to him we now have coined a new phrase- “listening to the chickens”. Only listeners to this show will be cool enough to know what that means but anyone who’s done a project against their better judgement knows the feeling.
2:56 Our quote of the week is from Edward Gibbon, author of Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Luck is even better when you actually know what you’re doing.
4:05 Dan Ward is one of the brains behind the Rogue Project Leader site. I first became aware of him through Rosa Say’s Talking Story (we both contributed to the September Joyful Learning Theme, check out Dan’s effort here.) We start by talking about which projects are worth doing at all….
7:10 If we plan right, say our prayers, and listen to the chickens (see how I slipped that in there?) our projects will be perfect-right? Not so much. Stuff happens….don’t be surprised by surprises.
11:30 So how do you plan? It’s risk management, the balance between the LIKELIHOOD of something happening and the CONSEQUENCES if/when it does. Pessimism is not realism. By the way, there’s a plug for The Abilene Paradox. and the term Negative Fantasies.
14:15 so what is mitigation and how is it different than paranoia?
16:13 Dealing with paranoid stake holders and Death by Mitigation. It has to do with having the courage to put the Customer first. In the military this is no small deal.
22:05 The two things Dan would do for Project Managers if he could:
1) Eliminate Cynicism
2) Remove Fear
Dan’s Suggested Resources
Check Out Dan’s Books…. Meet the Boomer Sisters ( a kid’s book) and Radical Elements of Radical Success
The Abilene Paradox and How Come Every Time I Get Stabbed in the Back My Fingerprints are On The Knife? by Jerry Harper
The 7 Day Weekend- Ricardo Semler
Orbiting the Giant Hairball- Gordon MacKenzie
Don’t let the weasels get you down……
Satan’s Training Brochure
Posted on 15. Sep, 2006 by Wayne in General
I don’t always do this, but I am kind of proud of my latest Management Issues piece, Satan’s Training Brochure. Check it out. It outlines great management training programs like:
- “God only wishes he were in sales”- getting the rest of the organization to appreciate your brilliance
- “Getting to Maybe”- Delayed decision making for the budget constrained
- “Mastering Powerlesspoint”- perfecting the defensive presentation
- “7 Habits of not-completely-useless people”- working just hard enough to keep your job
What training programs are you convinced people are taking because they’re so darned good at the skills?????? Let’s hear your ideas!