The Cranky Middle Manager Show #312 The Future of the MBA Ken Starkey
Exemplary Performance Webinar- check it out
Posted on 24. Jul, 2008 by Wayne in General
I know a lot of you were impressed with Dr. Paul Elliott when he was with us on episode 149. Well his organization, Exemplary Performance, is holding a webinar on Wednesday, July 30th.
The topic will be “A Fresh Approach to the Manager As Coach”. Nancy Smith and Elena Galbraith will be presenting and it will give you a really good look at what their Human Performance model is all about. Check it out by clicking here.
Enjoy it and let me know what you think.
The Cranky Middle Manager #153 Measuring Teamwork with Kathleen Caldwell
Posted on 23. Jul, 2008 by Wayne in General, Podcast
Today Wayne Turmel talks to Kathleen Caldwell, one of the authors of Blueprint for Success about teams, why it’s so hard to get them all on the same page and how do you measure success? We also give some love to John Paul Jones… the one that helped start the American Navy, not the one from Led Zeppelin. This show would be wayyyy cooler than it is if we profiled HIM.
Don’t forget you can get a free copy of my new book, “125 Quotes for Whacking Weasels- Centuries of Wisdom, Motivation and Snappy Comebacks From The Cranky Middle Manager Show” (due date is September 1). All you have to do is post to the blog page or drop me an email and say why you listen to the show and why you like the quote of the week. The winning quote will appear on the back cover of the book and you’ll get a free copy. Thanks to Adam, Bob, Lucy and the folks who’ve already sent in suggestions…..
Show Notes
0:00 Welcome to Episode 153. Since we’re talking teamwork I thought we’d salute (literally) Captain John Paul Jones, one of the reasons the American Navy got off to such a good start. Yup be loyal to your team, set high expectations and when all else fails, quit and go work for a startup in Russia.
3:32 The quote of the week is from Ralph Waldo Emerson, one of my all time favorites. Execution is the key, and sometimes realllly tempting.
4:15 Welcome Kathleen Caldwell author of Blueprint for Success, 14 Powerhouse Professionals and all around good egg. Why is managing teams such a challenge?
7:34 Why do smart teams do stupid things? What the heck is Team Intelligence? An effective team has to talk about why they’re all together. Explicity, out loud. There are 5 components:
- Communication
- Trust and Spirited Conflict
- Inspiring Goals
- Effectiveness and Accountability
- Mastery
11:47 Explicit communication is vital. Are all the goals stated or just assumed? We also talk about assessment tools that help you understand yourself and other people. (Marcus, i told you we’d get to this topic).
18:34 How does “Spirited Conflict” match up with all this bonding and communication? it’s not rocket science, I think rocket science is easier.
23:09 How do you actually measure team cohesion and accountability?
26:39 How does an outside consultant establish credibility with a team? How do you avoid malicious compliance?
29:00 Kathleen’s Resources
Beyond Booked Solid by Michael Port
The Speed of Trust by Stephen M R Covey
Don’t let the weasels get you down!
World Peace Through Better Middle Management
Posted on 21. Jul, 2008 by Wayne in General
If our guests sometimes treat Middle Management like it could save the world, maybe they’re right? What if better management practices actually made our planet a better place to live?
That’s the idea behind my latest Management Issues Article- World Peace Through Middle Management. Sometimes i write something that even makes me laugh….
If you have the time, check out the Working Week podcast as well. Shorter conversations about the worldwide workplace…. it’s good stuff.
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #152 Ethics at Work with Clint Korver
Posted on 16. Jul, 2008 by Wayne in General, Podcast
Today, Wayne Turmel talks to Clint Korver, one of the authors of Ethics for the Real World- Creating a Personal Code to Guide Decisions In Work and Life. We also look at a 2500 year old business book. Plus an offer to get one of the first free copies of my new book!!!
Show Notes
0:00 Welcome to The Cranky Middle Manager. Today we’re talking ethics with no “yeah buts…”. Life is complicated but the rules are pretty simple. so simple, in fact we’ve known them for thousands of years. We dedicate the show to Tao Zhu Gong, business guru and still relevant 2500 years later.
2:43 Our quote of the week is from Tao Zhu Gong as well…. good advice is good advice. By the way, here’s an exciting opportunity to get a free copy of my new book “125 Quotes for Whacking Weasels- Wisdom, Motivation and Snappy Comeback from the Cranky Middle Manager Show”. Simply write and say why you listen to the Cranky Middle Manager, and what you like about the Quote of the Week. One answer will be chosen to go on the back cover of the book… and if it’s yours you’ll get a free copy. Just drop a line to wayne@crankymiddlemanager.com or post to the blog site.
4:00 Welcome Clint Korver, one of the authors of Ethics for the Real World- Creating a Personal Code to Guide Decisions in Work and Life. Ethics is a word that gets thrown around -and out- a lot. What is it and how is it different from morality? Ethics are your personal standards of right and wrong. Morality is the social code.
6:30 it’s the little things that try your soul…and your ethics. What harm can come from little white lies? Rationalization is the enemy, which is tough cause it’s also my best friend. How good are YOU at telling the truth?
15:00 There are three reasons we test our ethics: Prudentia (your self interest)l, Legal (letter of the law) and Ethical (spirit of the law).
17:50 What happens when your ethics and the situation don’t seem to coincide? You have to talk to your boss and lay it out. He gives us a good example from the consulting world….interesting choice. I have a horror story of my own.
22:50 Clint and Ronald suggest setting up a very explicit personal code.. how do we do that? Can you make ethical decisions with a matrix? Listen up. It’s one thing to have a rule like “tell the truth at all times” but then what are the exceptions?
29:30 Clint’s resources
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven Covey
Don’t let the weasels get you down!