Our RSS Feed is down…but then how will you get this?

Posted on 16. Apr, 2008 by Wayne in General

I’ve gotten several emails over the last few days telling me that the RSS feed they use to subscribe to the Cranky Middle Manager is down. I know…and I’m writing this to let you know there’s been a problem with theTPN servers…. only problem is that you probably won’t know this post is up with an RSS feed….. ironic huh?

Hopefully all the server troubles will be fixed in the next few days. You can find out more here….The Podcast Network Blog.….. and send Cam your affirmations (he doesn’t accept prayer…but if I were him right now I wouldn’t be so picky).

The Cranky Middle Manager #139 Creating a Connection Culture Michael Lee Stallard

Posted on 13. Apr, 2008 by Wayne in Podcast

 Standard Podcast [29:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Join Wayne Turmel and guest Michael Lee Stallard, author of Fired Up or Burned Out talk about leadership and creating a culture of connection. We also salute the first in a long line of people to think they could rule Mesopotamia but our boy Sargon did a better job than the current folks… Why do I tell you these things if no one listens to me?

Show Notes

0:00 Welcome to the over-connected world of middle management. This show is dedicated to Sargon of Akkad, first ruler of Sumeria. It took a real leader to get people to follow someone they weren’t kin to, but he figured out how to create connections beyond blood. 5400 direct reports is a bunch and I’ll bet he didn’t do annual performance reviews.

2:54 The quote of the week is from Aristotle- we all need people unless we’re beasts or gods. My guess is neither is listening to this little show.

3:34 Welcome Michael Lee Stallard, one of the brains behind E Pluribus Partners. He is also the author of The Connection Culture- A New Source of Competitive Advantage. It always seems to take a personal crisis to bring our attention to what matters.

8:46 There is a business connection of course. Lots of research went into this work. What are the things that connect us to our work and our workplace? Trust, mission, identity and feelings connect us. When we feel threatened that darned cortisol takes over.

12:30 Some people are more comfortable with this discussion than others. (Hello, elephant). How do you start to have this conversation among your team? The Connection Culture e-book is a start. The 3 elements are Vision, Value and Voice.

Vision is how people see themselves. Anita Roddick from The Body Shop understood this. Values is how valued are you? Voice is about do you get a voice in what’s important to you? Oh, and a voice is not the same as a vote.

18:43 What’s the individual manager’s role in this (Note to all future guests, compliment the host’s questions)? One is to implement “Knowledge Flow” sessions. Tell them what’s going on in the company and ask their input. The second team is getting them together. Sargon understood this, why doesn’t YOUR boss? (Cheap plug here, webmeetings help and we can help with that, check out www.greatwebmeetings.com)

23:38 Connection in action can be seen in Xerox CEO Anne Mulcahy. The other is Proctor and Gamble CEO AG Laffley.

Michael’s Resources

Let Your Life Speak- Parker Palmer

The Identity Code- Laurence Ackerman

Big Ideas to Big Results- Michael Kanazawa and Robert Miles
The Employee Engagement Network including David Zinger (you can hear his CMM interview here….)

Herman the Ermine says: Don’t let the weasels get you down

If You’re in Chicago April 29th…..

Posted on 11. Apr, 2008 by Wayne in General

I will be speaking at the College of Dupage’s “Dupage Executive’s Network” meeting on April 29th on the topic of “While You Were Out- Blogs, podcasts, and other ways the world has changed……”.

The full details can be found here, but basically it’s

April 29th

College of Dupage  425 Fawell Blvd.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137  and the link to the event is here……

All Cranky Listeners are invited, I’ll buy the coffee afterwards!

A few challenges but life is good (or at least beats the alternative)

Posted on 10. Apr, 2008 by Wayne in General

Folks, just a quick note to let you know that there has been a weasel attack on the Cranky Middle Manager blog site. Hackers have tried to hijack The Podcast Network’s servers, taking all the shows along for the ride. This means the RSS feed, some of the links and other features have been in and out of service. The fine gremlins at TPN are doing everything they can.

By the way, a big shout out to those of you who emailed me to let me know you were having problems of one kind or another. It’s so cool that you care enough to reach out. I’ll hear from you any time….. meanwhile show139 will go up at the end of the week as scheduled. Check it manually if you have to but check it. And if you didn’t get the feed for show 138 with Eric Pennington, don’t miss it.