The Cranky Middle Manager Show #312 The Future of the MBA Ken Starkey
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #161 Management in Asia- Andrew Calvert
Posted on 23. Sep, 2008 by Wayne in General, Podcast
Wayne Turmel talks with Achieve Global’s Andrew Calvert about middle management in Asia, and what it’s like to be an ex-pat in Singapore. Also the guy who ran interference for Marco Polo……
Andrew Calvert, international man of mystery    
Check out my new book! Buy from my website and get a signed copy!
Show Notes
0:00 Another travelogue today… we visit Singapore with my buddy Andrew Calvert. I had a great time there last year and learned a lot… but it’s an interesting place to work in. Andrew is with Achieve Global, one of the world’s largest training uhhhhh performance improvement companies. Oh, and we take a look at someone else who bridged East and West, the Tibetan monk Drogön Chögyal Phagpa. Never say you don’t learn something new every time you listen.
3:00 Our quote of the week is from Abraham Lincoln who proves that at least in the past, American presidents actually gave thought to what they said. Of course, if you like quotes, you’ll dig “125 Quotes for Whacking Weasels- Centuries of Wisdom, Motivation and Snappy Comebacks From the Cranky Middle Manager Show”. Buy a copy today…
4:45 Welcome my friend Andrew Calvert… he recently took part in a very cool and eye-opening event in Singapore, and thought he should share his observations with you. The topic was how to deal with multiple generations, multiple nationalities and leadership. Sounds very cool.
Go ahead, find something I wouldn’t eat in Singapore….. Couldn’t be done.
8:36 Is the definition of good leadership the same across Asia? Singapore makes a great petri dish… especially watching the generations from “Nation Builders” to “Little Emperors”.
13:00 At the risk of stereotyping, different countries have different leadership styles. We get kind of a country by country analysis… most of this is based on research by Geert Hoffstede
17:50 What about Andrew’s personal experience as a foreign manager in cosmopolitan Singapore? He had to learn to work for consensus instead of just blurting out what he’s thinking… not a bad idea at the best of times.
21:10 Since things are so differently market to market, how can you make sure that training across countries is effective? Cultural whiplash plays a part to be sure.
27:32 Are the days of the great white, ex-pat manager going in to whip the locals into shape gone forever? Not if you’re Indian…..
Andrew’s Resources
Harvard Business Review newsletter (among others)
Don’t let the weasels get you down!
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #160 Office Politics with Franke James
Posted on 16. Sep, 2008 by Wayne in Podcast
Today Wayne Turmel talks to Franke James, editor of Officepolitics.com about the scourge of middle managers everywhere- the hated office politics and “playing the game”. There’s no avoiding it, as the founder of Rome will tell you….
Officepolitics.com’s Franke James.
And the cure for the political weasels in your office!
Show Notes
0:00 Welcome behind the looking glass, gang. Today we take a look at the dreaded office politics… it’s unavoidable but everyone claims to hate it. We also look at Romulus, who knew what he was doing when he created the Roman Senate.
3:00 The quote of the week is from someone you’ll find a couple of times in my book, “125 Quotes for Whacking Weasels- Centuries of Wisdom, Motivation and Snappy Comebacks From the Cranky Middle Manager Show”. Marcus Aurelius is one of my favorite writers, and he knew a thing or two about politics… tolerate them or teach them- those are pretty much the options.
4:30 Welcome Franke James. Today we’re talking about Office Politics and her site, which involves good people like Marty Seldman and Erika Andersen. Office politics is inevitable if there are more than one person in a company. Of course there are also bullies, snakes, toxic people, princesses and of course WEASELS.
9:25 A lot of managers think if you just keep your head down, everything will be okay. It ain’t gonna happen.
11:30 Let’s take a look at an example from her site and how to use a mindmap to figure out the politics at work. What are the connections and relationships that impact you and your work?
17:22 What do you do when you are playing by the rules but there’s a weasely back-stabber screwing things up? Recognize the tactics and figure out what you’re dealing with. There is a line between paranoia and observation.
21:00 Can you learn to see the politics around you? Some people are just more politically attuned than others but they are learn-able. Franke has even invented an Office Politics Game to help them figure things out.
26:00 Has anything really changed since the first grade? All the types are still there.. bullies, pets and the like. Let’s rise above it…. yeah right.
Franke’s Resources
Kathleen Kelly Reardon…. Franke mistaken called it the Golden handshake but… it’s The SECRET Handshake
Don’t let the weasels get you down!
The PM Podcast and the Cranky Middle Manager
Posted on 16. Sep, 2008 by Wayne in General
Hi folks… as you know, project management is one of our “4 Disciplines of Highly Effective, Leadership Exhibiting, Project Nailing, Cheese Moving Managers”.
Well Cornelius Fichtner is the host of The PM Podcast, a great resource for anyone who has to manage projects. He’ll be on this show in October… look forward to that. He had me on his podcast this month to talk about those of us who manage project managers. LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW HERE.
Cornelius will be with us in a few weeks, but check this out. We’re always happy to refer you to quality podcasts and resources, it’s part of us getting better at what we do.
Thanks Cornelius and thanks to all of you!
Nick McCormick Interviews the Cranky Middle Manager
Posted on 11. Sep, 2008 by Wayne in General
Friend of the show Nick McCormick (he was on episode 126) over at the Joe and Wanda blog has started a series of audio tips for managers. I was honored to be the second person interviewed, and I discussed a theory i’ve been working for a while…that managers are literally the heart of an organization…and we serve the same purpose. Check it out for yourself and let me know what you think.