The Cranky Middle Manager Show #66 The Management Skills Blog with Tom Foster
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #066 (MP3 11.6MB 32:33Min)
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Welcome to the 66th Episode of the show. Today we talk to Tom Foster, who writes the Management Skills Blog. I found it when Lisa Haneberg posted a list of 50 good blogs for Coaches and Trainers. Check out her list here. Anyway, I had to check out Tom’s blog and by golly, here we are.
Show Notes
0:00 Welcome one and all. This week we talk about the role of the manager for those moving into the role. I feel weird urging people to read the blog since those of you who read it will see this and those of you who don’t….won’t.Ahhhh I love the smell of a good paradox.
At any rate, the show is dedicated to Dihya (among at least 4 other spellings) Al Kahina, a Berber-Jewish queen who knew how to make the hard choices. Congratulations, you’re the queen….now there’s this new bunch called the Muslims and they’re knocking at the door……
3:42 The quote of the week is an old Arabian proverb, appropriately enough. If you want it badly enough people, it’s yours. Welcome to management…… We segue into an odd promo for the Father Bob Show….. I love it.
6:00 Welcome the self-effacing Tom Foster, host of the Management Skills Blog. Tom takes written questions from his readers, so what’s the conversation about? A lot of readers want to talk about making the move to management. What’s the hardest part of making the transition? There’s angst, pain, drama…. where do you sign up? It’s about thinking into the future as opposed to just about the day at hand.
11:00 There’s a heirarchy…Supervisor (making sure work gets done) Manager (putting the systems in place) and Senior Managers (making sure the necessary integration takes place)
19:30 Really managing and coaching your folks means asking good questions. Rather than leading the witness, use phrases like “walk me through what you were thinking?” or “Tell me what happened?”
22:00 Tom is a follower of Elliott Jaques who believed that a functional organization has a definite hierarchy and a vital role for middle managers. Basically good old-fashioned management, the heck with Fast Company and matrix management.
29:57 Tom’s Resources include
Elliott Jacques Requisite Organization
Jerry Harvey How Come Every time I Get Stabbed in the Back My Fingerprints Are On the Knife?
Drop me an email, check out our Frappr map or check out my Ebook here….
October 13th, 2006 at 5:12 pm
Listen to the inteview with Tom Foster. Having met a lot on consultants during my career, (but not having met Tom), I am impressed of his approach to management. Very hands on, and very practical. This man has something to teach, both to new managers, but also to people who has been around for some time.
Good inteview.
Many greeting from Sweden.