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The Cranky Middle Manager Show #131 (MP3 12.0MB 26.24 Min)

Have you met Herman the Ermine?Think he’d make a good T-shirt?
Show Notes

0:00 Welcome to the show. Today we talk to Bill Catlette about his book “Contented Cows Moove Faster”. Lots of cow talk today, including our dedicatee… Joseph McCoy, brains behind the Abilene Cattle Drive and supporter of ummm entrepeneurs.

2:46 The quote of the week is from Epicurus who talks about contentment and being happy with what you have…. assuming what you have doesn’t suck the very soul from your being.

4:00 Welcome Bill Catlette. A lot of cow puns and I make the worst one but it’s my show darnit. Their research shows organizations can help contentment…but now they look at the manager’s role. That’s us, gang. By the way, there’s a lot of talk today about oomph- it’s the discretionary effort we all put out (or not). We do a quick dive into American football but stick with us.

8:45 Not everyone gives 100% all the time… so what makes the difference? When do they spend that extra effort and what’s the cost if they don’t?

10:35 There are “oomph boosters” out there that are up to us managers. Trustworthiness, competency (YIKES!) and concern for your teammates and compassion. Authenticity is vital, as is optimism. Yeah, we’ll get right on that. “Oomph busters include Not earning trust and taking people for granted.

15:30 There are processes that grind people down, but there are things we can do to eliminate those. Examine policies and procedures that make people crazy. Middle Managers should be on a relentless search for those things. Top of the list would be expense account reimbursement.

23:20 Bill’s resources include:

If Disney Ran Your Hospital Fred Lee

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There Marshall Goldsmith (you can hear him on two episodes of this show…. show one show two)
Take a field trip to somewhere people do great work and just watch them. Wegmans, Cirque de Soleil or Marriott hotels are examples.

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