The Cranky Middle Manager Show #312 The Future of the MBA Ken Starkey
Show 122 now in iTunes
Posted on 13. Dec, 2007 by Wayne in General
Folks for reasons known only to the server gods, iTunes didnt pick up the feed for show 122, which is a good interview with DD Ganguly, the CEO of a web service called Dimdim. It’s now working, so don’t forget to check it out and hear more about our webinar scheduled for Jan 3rd. I don’t know why the tech gods screw with me….. just one of those things.
The Carnival of HR #22
Posted on 12. Dec, 2007 by Wayne in General
I believe it was Robbie Robertson (or Levon Helm, or one of The Band) who said, “Life is a Carnival, believe it or not”. Well, I believe it, brother and sisters. For those Cranky Middle Manager listeners who are unfamiliar with these gatherings, I’m honored to host this event. It’s kind of a “best of what’s out there” in HR blogs. Some of these folks you’ll recognize and others will be new to you, as they are to me.
I have grown to have more of an appreciation for HR in the last little while. Partly because Businessweek’s online edition called us “one of the best HR blogs”…never even knew this was one but hey I’ll take it. Not often I’m included in the best of anything so I’ll join any club that will have me.
Additionally, I have greater respect for the role since watching them process severance packages…unfortunately including my own. Check out this interview with Dr. Judith Bardwick on how companies don’t engage their employees and her book “One Foot Out the Door- How to Combat the Psychological Recession That’s Alienating Employees and Hurting American Business”.
For Carnival of HR types unfamiliar with this site, our own listeners do good work, including this article by Corey Sherman on his HR Strategy Blog .
One of my guests is a regular contributor to the carnival…. he’s one of the folksI’ve enjoyed most over my time here - Wally Bock. There have been lots of articles lately about “succession planning.” Most of them get it wrong because the concentrate on the CEO role and ignore leadership development. This article is called Forget “succession planning.” Instead think “leadership development.”
Another person who has changed my impression of HR is the Evil HR Lady, who apparently has been doing some navel-gazing with Is HR Not Respected? And even though it’s probably an HR violation, a lovely navel it is.
Now, it’s the Holiday Season, and you’d think HR would catch a break but no, ever vigilant our bloggers are constantly on the alert. Daniel Schwartz at the Connecticut Employment Blog had this to say about Holiday parties and Liability and Mother Jones is not overflowing with spirit- at least her boss isn’t in How the Grinch Stole Christmas- Again!
From India we have the Bombay Dosti blog on “When India Does an Uncle Sam” and from Prasad Kurian’s blog, “Simplicity at the Other Side of Complexity” we have this piece on the “Deep Specialist” role in HR.
Whew, lots going on but we’re not quite done yet. If you are reading this on your lunch “hour” you probably barely have time to gulp down that sandwich. Read how the Lunch Hour is one of those oxymorons like “jumbo shrimp”…. “Lunch is For Wimps” from Ed Kavanagh is well worth wasting some of that precious time on.
Finally, if thinking about all this makes your brain hurt, consider Alvaro Fernandez’ piece on “Cognitive Fitness, The Future of Work and Concept Maps”.
I may not be entirely an HR blog, but who doesn’t want to be included with talented folks like this?
The next Carnival (December 26th) will be over at Compensation Force on Dec 26th. See you there.
The Cranky Middle Manager 123 The Dream Manager- Matthew Kelly
Posted on 10. Dec, 2007 by Wayne in Podcast
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #123
Today we’re talking to Matthew Kelly, author of The Dream Manager. Thanks to our listeners who suggested we get him on the show. Tech problems aside, it’s a great chat and very timely….what are YOUR dreams, and does your job help you accomplish them?
By the way, you can join our very first CMM LIVE EVENT! On Thursday, January 3rd, we’re holding a live webmeeting, or webinar. The title is “Managing Remote Employees-Using Webmeetings to Keep Them Engaged”. We have about 15 spots left, so DROP ME A LINE and reserve your seat. I will send you an invite with time and all the log in details. There’s no calling fee, just speakers and/or a microphone on your computer.
Show Notes
0:00 Welcome to the Dreams edition of The Cranky Middle Manager Show. Our episode today is dedicated to John D Larkin, co-inventor of the modern coffee break. Yup, it’s not just about money…. and he could have used something more uhhhh productivity enhancing than coffee if he’d really wanted to be evil.
3:45 The quote of the week is from Edgar Allan Poe who knew nothing about business but plenty about the power of dreams.
5:42 Welcome Matthew Kelly, author of The Dream Manager. Why are people’s personal dreams for the future so vital to managing them? Only everything…. The book is done as a novel…. find out what a fictional janitorial company has to do with your business…
9:59 Why are aspirations and dreams so important to all of us no matter what your station in life? Middle managers or senior folks sometimes stop dreaming…they’re still there and functional, but here’s the key point: You can’t expect someone to do for your company what they won’t do in their own life. Write that down….
17:20 After two years I’ve heard a lot of the same things, but I’ve never heard this one: people get paid based on the amount of time they are responsible for…. interesting theory with major implications.
21:00 Do the math on how much turnover costs your company… Matthew has some shocking numbers. Then he speaks about how to conduct a dream session with your staff…. and the networking doesn’t hurt either.
25:38 What’s Matthew reading? How about an eclectic mix of
The Razor’s Edge- W Somerset Maugham
Clapton- the Autobiography (audio book)
Don’t let the weasels get you down…..
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #122 Webmeetings and Startups DD Ganguly
Posted on 03. Dec, 2007 by Wayne in Podcast
The Cranky Middle Manager Show 122
Welcome to the show. Today we’re talking webmeetings. You can join the FREE WEBINAR FOR CMM LISTENERS. “Managing Remote Employees- Using Webmebmeetings to Keep Them Engaged” is the topic. Drop me a line to get more information….
For the technology, we’ll be using DimDim, and for the interview today we’re talking to its CEO, D D Ganguly about managing in startups, using web meetings effectively and The Peace Index….
Show Notes
o:oo Welcome to the show. Today we’re talking communicating over distances. After lots more information on our upcoming webinar (and we’ll record it for those who miss it but we do want to see you there) we dedicate this episode to William Hepburn Russell, one of the founders of The Pony Express. Bringing people together over distances has never been easy and making a buck at it even harder. Technology can also kick your tail.
4:04 The quote of the week is from Leonardo Da Vinci- distance is not only a problem, it can also be a help to catch your breath. I don’t know about your week, but this one is up on my office wall.
5:45 Welcome DD Ganguly… former big shot at CA and now CEO of DimDim. It’s a free web-conferencing tool. If you want to see someone make a bold statement take a look at this video clip of the launch party.(click the link that says Watch the Launch Video).
8:00 The good things about webmeetings is they are a complement to meeting in person- not a full replacement. Like any tool you have to use it properly.
10:36 Declaring war on WebEx may be an interesting business move, but it’s also motivating to employees. We discuss the use of purpose and mission to motivate employees and get yourself out of bed in the morning. We also discuss his use of the Peace Index to keep his sanity and see how he’s doing. Better since he left a big ole company.
16:46 Why is life better for him in a start-up than a big company? It has to do with whether you are an adventurer or not.
24:00 A sense of purpose is what it’s all about. For more on the book Purpose: The Starting Point of Great Companies and Nikos Mourkogiannis’ visit with us click here.
25:26 What are DD’s list of things to do for webmeetings that don’t suck:
- Have fun with it
- What are you trying to achieve?
- Why is the audience care and why should they care?
- Rehearse extremely hard. Just because they can be set up on the fly doesn’t mean they all should be
D D’s Resources:
Check out TED.com for inspiration and great video.
Look for a new Cranky Middle Manager site soon- the podcast and blog will still be here but my site and my store won’t be quite so amateur hour. Don’t let the weasels let you down.