The Cranky Middle Manager Show #312 The Future of the MBA Ken Starkey
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #250 The Get It Done Guy Stever Robbins
Posted on 20. Aug, 2010 by Wayne in General, Podcast
Today we celebrate our 250th show by doing what we always do….bring you great guests with lots to say. Today Wayne talks to Stever Robbins, the “Get-It-Done Guy” who will talk productivity for individuals and teams. We also look at the origin of the term Eminence Grise, which anyone in a corporation should know, and quote Edison. Just another day in Crankyland.
This young punk is the “Get it Done Guy”, Stever Robbins. He’s the author of “Get-It-Done Guy’s 9 Steps to Work Less and Do More”.
2 new webinar workshops this month!
How to Create and Manage Remote Teams September 24
Web Presentation Basics- for those who have to present online and want to learn how not to suck at it on September 26 and 29
If you have questions about these workshops, group discounts or any Greatwebmeetings.com training program, contact me.
Don’t forget the Connected Manager Blog on BNET. 3 Posts a week on managing remote teams and staying connected.
Show notes
0:00 Welcome to our 250th episode. No splashy party, just another interesting conversation with someone way smarter than me. Since we’re talking about getting things done, we thought we’d introduce you to the term “eminence grise” and its namesake, Francois Leclerc de Tremblay. My mother taught me early that power has nothing to do with the org chart.
3:40 The quote of the week is from Thomas Alva Edison who knew a thing or two about the difference between being busy and actually accomplishing anything.
4:15 Say hi to Stever Robbins, author of “9 Steps to Work Less and Do More”. He also has his own podcast with quick and dirty productivity tips. Why do we struggle to get things done? The usual reason is we’re not sure what we’re supposed to get done. Task lists are a problem and have been since the cave man scribbled “hunt buffalo” on a cave wall. I never thought of “to do ” lists as impressing potential mates. Still doesn’t work that way.
8:16 The big problem with tasks is that we lose sight of the big picture. Stever also realized that people were getting things done before the computer. Don’t underestimate the power of the simple notebook.
11:07 What’s the problem with email? How did it turn from productivity tool to time sucker? Stever offers some great tips for managing the beast. The main thing is to treat it like a handwritten letter… is it really worth the effort? If so it’s worth taking your time and doing it right.
15:07 Are you aiming for “inbox zero?” Dream on. Stever has an unorthodox solution- delete them all, go in and save only the ones you can’t function without. Self-delusion is underrated as a tool.
21:00 Replying to email instinctively is a timekiller. Try actually thinking about what you want to accomplish and say about it.
23:45 Let’s assume you want to actually keep your job. Stever has great tips for working with your team- including modeling whatever behavior you want them to copy. Using actual messages as the subject line in your email is a great way to help them actually understand your message.
Stever’s Resources
The Quick and Dirty Tips podcast
Anything by Marshall Goldsmith including