The Cranky Middle Manager #114 Preparing Our Kids for Work- Tim Irwin
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #114 (MP3 12.9MB 28:42 Min)
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Welcome to the show everyone. Today we’re talking to Tim Irwin about his book “Run With the Bulls Without Getting Trampled”. I know I did the unforgiveable and called it the wrong name in the intro but it’s the right book I swear. It’s all about preparing our kids for the working world and I think it’s well worth your 28 minutes.
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Show Notes
0:00 Welcome to the show. Today we’re talking about kids, maturity and the workplace. Speaking of maturity, I have gone back to wearing a tie at work. You can read the Management Issues article here. That brings us to the Chinese Emperor Shih Huang Ti, the first guy to make all his employees tie silk around their necks. Now you know who to blame.
2:30 Our quote of the week is about getting smarter as we get older…. or whatever you have to tell yourself to stay sane. Marie Von Ebner Eschenbach is the quotee.
3:45 Welcome Dr Tim Irwin- and the right book title- to the show. The inspiration for the book came when his son decided to run with the bulls at Pamplona. I give you 30 seconds to come up with at least 10 ways that’s a metaphor for the work place. The book is for those young people who need to know what they’re getting into.
6:40 Okay, so what’s so special about this generation and isn’t this just the usual old guy whining? Turns out all that self-esteem they got from us took hold. There are some hard landings coming I suspect.
10:27 The three areas Tim thinks we need to focus our kids:
- Thoughtful commitment
- Authentic character
- Exceptional competence
Thoughtful commitment seems to be the biggest lack. When GE can’t get people to move for their jobs, what hope do you have?
15:00 Authentic character is obvious, but what kind of model have we been to our kids? Arrogance, volatility and lack of interpersonal skills is the biggest issue.
18:00 Is competence really an issue for this most talented of all generations? It has to do with the factors that make people thrive like self-management and delayed gratification. We rehash the famous but scary Marshmallow Test.
21:36 Probably the biggest shock for young workers is the amount of politics. Welcome to the real world kids.
25:42 Tim’s resources:
Check out his website and take the online assessment.
May 13th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
I liked this guy, but I disagree with his statement that “adversity creates character.” Adversity creates alcoholics, rage, and post traumatic stress disorder. The thing that creates character is the support and guidance to handle emotions, and yes, to handle adversity. The best thing we can do to help our kids build character is to build our own character. They will learn from us directly and indirectly. I have no plans to subject my kids to adversity in order to build their character. But, no one is going to escape life without trials. Build character in kids by helping them manage their emotions, helping them respond intelligently and compassionately to situations, and helping them not take adversity as commentary about their self worth.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:44 pm
Mary, I think there’s adversity and there’s adversity. I’m not saying you intentionally put your kid out in the cold but sometimes you have to let them learn their lessons the hard way. If they didn’t hand in their homework, they get a bad grade, daddy won’t call the teacher and demand an extension. They knew the deadline, they could do the work, they didn’t do it- there are consequences and the sun will rise the next day. I think it’s the inability to deal with adversity that creates a lot of problems… and you can’t learn that from self-help books or even silly management podcasts… you take the information and help you got there and apply it in the real world. Better kids learn some of these lessons now than have to learn them for the first time later.
I am now going to down half a bottle of tequila and try to ignore the fact that i just sounded exactly like my old man there……