The Cranky Middle Manager Show #316 The Final Cranky Show and the Future of Work with John Blackwell
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #191 Social and Practical Intelligence Karl Albrecht
Posted on 15. May, 2009 by Wayne in Podcast
Cranky Middle Manager Wayne Turmel talks to author Karl Albrecht about social and practical intelligence can make or break your career. Also, we take a look at Demosthenes and how you can look smarter without actually getting smarter.
A very relaxed Karl Albrecht
Don’t forget our webinar workshop: “How to Create and Manage Remote Teams” . Register by June 12th and save 20%
For India/Asia and Australia click here for information and to register
For Europe/North America click here for information and to register
Show Notes
0:00 Welcome to our 191st Show. Today we’re talking about being able to develop your social skills and common sense. This show is dedicated to Demosthenes, who knew a thing or two about developing yourself and having people overcome their first impression of you.
4:14 The quote of the week is from Marcel Proust, ( who is a great example of the kind of folks we’re talking about) but smart as he was he had no idea why the #$@%** people did what they do.
5:00 Welcome Karl Albrecht. Yes it’s another discussion of Multiple Intelligences but Karl explains it pretty well. Anyone who refers to the brain as the bio-computer is probably going to geek out but be worth listening to.
8:54 So not only are there multiple intelligences, but then along comes Emotional Intelligence (listen to a cool Cranky interview about this here). I love when smart people disagree about stuff. How is Emotional Intelligence different from Social Intelligence…or is it? EI is what’s going on with you, Social Intelligence is how you deal with the external world.
13:03 If multiple intelligences plays to strengths, can you develop your weaker intelligences? For the sake of humanity we hope so. We all have defaults but we can function in the others. What does this mean when we are managing others, especially in the tech fields?
16:47 Practically, how can you change your stripes? Karl says we have to develop an air of humility, rather than assume our way is best. Language is a key to understanding how people work. By using the language of the other person you can activate your brain and activate the pattern.
20:29 I know we can grow our social intelligence (or I would still be a highschool nerd). Can you develop common sense though? NOTE: he’s WAY more optimistic than I am. Here’s a question: are you a finished product or are you work in progress?
24:11 An example of developing common sense: defeat group think. It’s all about divergent thinking vs. convergent thinking. Even the simple act of asking a question can break a logjam and get thinking moving in a divergent direction again.
Karl’s Resources
Don't let the weasels get you down
The HR Carnival and Why My Kid Hates HR Already
Posted on 14. May, 2009 by Wayne in General
One of the joys of writing about work, is I’m in great company and this month’s Carnival of HR shows just how many smart, passionate people are trying to make work better. Check it out here. Thanks to Susana Cesar-Morton for taking on that task, it ain’t easy.
Of course, that’s also why when I see things that aren’t so swell, it makes me crazy. Moreover when it involves my daughter it makes me even crazier. Check out my Management Issues column this month to see why she’s got a distrust of the Nice Lady in HR, even before she starts her first job.
Ahhhh yes, my daughter has her first real job…I’m torn… on the one hand she’s growing up and away from us, on the other I have my own little lab rat to test work theories on and see the new employee in her natural environment. Does that make me a bad father???
Webinar Workshop- How to Create and Manage Remote Teams
Posted on 10. May, 2009 by Wayne in General
How to Create and Manage Remote Teams ( Asia/Pacific) June 26 4 AM GMT, 9:30am Mumbai, 2PM Sydney Click here to register
How to Create and Manage Remote Teams (Europe/North America) June 26th 16:00 GMT, 10 AM Central Time US Click here to register
Managers today have direct reports or team members who are located somewhere else- another location or another country. The basics of good team management haven’t changed, but how does a manager or organization maintain peak performance and keep employees engaged when separated by miles, timezones and culture?
Join Wayne Turmel, The Cranky Middle Manager, for this 90 minute interactive workshop which includes assessment tools, worksheets and an action plan.
Course Objectives:
At the end of this program, participants will apply tools and techniques learned in the class to assess their team’s connections in three areas: Team Relationships, Information Flow and Task Performance to reduce rework and barriers to effectiuve performance and team cohesion.
Topics include:
- What makes a great team?
- Why working virtually makes engagement and teamwork harder
- Assessing team relationships and and what to do about it immediately (low-cost tools, action steps)
- Assessing Information Flow and what to do about it
- Assessing team task Performance and what to do about it today
- Next Steps
If you are a manager with remote team members, about to become a manager or responsible for leadership development in your organization, don’t miss this program.
Take a look at some of the comments from past participants:
“The support materials, assessments, and after webinar follow up are outstanding! This was NOT a “hit and run” webinar!” Class participant from Singapore
“The supporting research on reaching out to virtual teams was great”
“Every manager in our organization should take this program”
All participants will receive a PDF Packet of prework and course worksheets as well as a FREE half-hour coaching conversation, no matter where in the world they are!
Please note the time on your ticket is for the presenter.
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #190 Being Strategic with Erika Andersen
Posted on 09. May, 2009 by Wayne in General, Podcast
The Cranky Middle Manager, Wayne Turmel, talks to returning guest Erika Andersen about her new book, Being Strategic, the difference between strategy and tactics, and how a Welsh king figured this out a long time ago. Also, if you manage remote teams you will not want to miss our next webinar!
Erika Andersen comes back for more- glutton for punishment isn't she?
Don’t forget to join us for our next webinar: “How to Create and Manage Remote Teams”.
If you’re in Australia/Asia/India click here to learn more and register
If you’re in Europe or North America, click here to learn more and register
Take a look at some of the comments from past participants:
“The support materials, assessments, and after webinar follow up are outstanding! This was NOT a “hit and run” webinar!”
“The supporting research on reaching out to virtual teams was great”
“Every manager in our organization should take this program”
Show Notes
0:00 Welcome to the show. Last show we talked about Erika Andersen’s new book, “Being Strategic- Plan for Success;Out-think your competitors; Stay ahead of change”. (Listen to Erika’s first conversation with us here). Well she uses Llewellyn the Great as a starting point, why shouldn’t we? Would you want YOUR nickname on your business card?
2:43 The quote of the week is from Anatole France. Are you acting or dreaming? One will keep you mired in the tactical, brothers and sisters.
3:15 Welcome Erika back to the show. Let’s start with a simple question- what’s the difference between strategic and tactical? If you’re confused you’re not alone and there is no common definition but here’s one: “Being strategic means to consistently focus on those core directional choices that will best move you towards your hoped-for future”.
7:27 Does strategic thinking happen at higher levels or do middle managers have a role in all this? It’s important for middle managers because it’s how you can train your bosses. It’s also important for us to look at our own careers strategically.
11:00 What do Welsh castles have to do with thinking strategically? Our dedicatee built a bunch of castles for strategic purposes and it inspired this book. She reminds us (she said this last time too, but it’s worth repeating) that we need to “pull the camera back”.
18:20 Are there warning signs that you’re looking at the tactical, rather than the strategic? If you’re hung up on the paperwork, you’re probably not paying attention to the big picture. Don’t forget, your job as manager is to help people see the strategic context for the tactical stuff they are dealing with.
21:41 You can learn to be strategic…the steps are: define the challenge, get clear about the current state, clarify your hope, look at the obstacles, think strategically how to get there, then work on the tactics. There, now go and sin no more.
Erika’s Resources:
100 Best Business Books of All Time (she’s in it!)
Her book- Being Strategic
Stephen M R Covey’s “The Speed of Trust”
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely