Management Craft

Management Conundrums and other Interesting Tidbits

Tom Foster, from the Management Skills Blog, has shared a sticky management problem and asked people to share how they would approach the situation. He has received several interesting comments. Check it out and weigh in. My two cents? The key lies in the partnership and agreements that the two supervisors make regarding standards, expectations, and how they will proceed together. And personally, my patience would not last very long.

I love this idea posted by Lori Richardson. She shares a Smilebox Slideshow she made to promote her auctioneer business. If you own a business or volunteer for a nonprofit, check this out.

I love this post from Interactions called How to be an Expert on Anything. It is quite funny. Here's a brief snippet:

USE THE WORD ZEITGEIST AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE. Ideally, you want to find words that sound familiar but people don’t really know their definitions: zeitgeist, bildungsroman, doppelgänger – better yet, anything Latin. But avoid paradigm. It’s so 1994. If you say the word paradigm, everybody knows you’re a poser.

And this one is too interesting to pass up. Scotty has finally gotten into outer space.

Fellow blogging pal and author Dick Richards is now offering live classes. Funny, live used to be the only way, now it is special. Online is the zeitgeist now. Hmmm.. Maybe I will show up in person some day.

David Zinger offers a great series about Fromm's Art of Loving that begins with this post. The last post he put up on patience is something I need because I lack the patience gene. Perhaps my doppelgänger got double the patience genes and I should ask for some back (think "Twins" with Arnold and Danny).

Spooky Action (gets a high five for great blog name) links to a really interesting podcast called, You Cannot Manage Through Pay Schemes. Oh, how many managers have I met who count on pay schemes to do what they will not! (that is not a question, rather a "woe is me" style exasperation)

Some interesting stuff, eh? If these posts don't float your boat, you might prefer to curl up with a bildungsroman and rekindle your youth.

Fireside Chat with David Anderson

Are you groovin with the drumbeat? - Chat with David Anderson

Today's 22 minute podcast is with David Anderson who works for Microsoft and has written a book called Agile Management (and has a blog by the same name). David and I chat about how managers can use drumbeat and the natural cycles and rhythms of the work environment to improve productivity and focus. We also discuss data that show how a collaborative work environment out performs a non-collaborative one.

Understanding optimal work cycles and pace is critical. Listen to this podcast!

You can listen to my podcast with David Anderson by clicking here:

You can also download an MP3 version of the podcast here: MP3 Download

And just a reminder.....

Here is the Podcast Feed for the entire Fireside Chat podcast series:

You can also find this series on iTunes (and several other podcast sites), just search under my last name for Fireside Chat.

There are five more conversations in this series! Stay tuned.

Thanks

I feel lucky and would like to say thanks. Many bloggers have shared the word about my book and work recently - several offered multiple mentions! I have listed them below with a link to their blogs. Please check out their work!

My greatest fear is that I have inadvertently forgotten to thank someone. If I have done this, please feel free to set me straight!

Listed in no particular order:

Wayne Turmel

Phil Gerbyshak

and thanks also to Phil for alerting me to this Miami Herald review.

Wayne Hurlbert

Dwayne Melancon

Eric Boehme

Philip Wilson

Regina Miller

Brendon Connelly

Chris Haddad

Rob May

Kevin Eikenberry

Noel Jensen

Don Blowhoiak

Dick Richards

Starbucker

and thanks also to Starbucker for alerting me to this mention in the New York Times.

Astha Parmar

In Bubble Wrap

David Lorenzo

Skip Angel

Arnie Herz

Rosa Say

David Zinger

1800CEOREAD

Johnnie Moore

Brain Based Business

Seeds of Growth

Spooky Action

Wow - that's pretty darned cool. And wonderful. One of the best things about blogging is the community we build as readers and writers. Some of the conversations occur in linked posts and comments, and sometimes the conversation continues in email. I love the banter and exchanges that can occur - it makes us all better, I think. I get several emails a week from people who I don't know and didn't know were readers telling me that they used something I have written to help improve their business. I always love hearing these things because that's my drive and motivation. I crave impact - direct or indirect.

I am very thankful to these fine bloggers (and all those who have come before them) for helping me spread my writing tentacles!

And if you know of any other links or mentions that I might not know about, please drop me a note.

Is there a micromanagement pandemic?

The Manager Tools blogs rails against a recent American Way article that painted a picture of micromanagement as being rampant and a crisis. The post is called There is NOT and Micromanagement "Pandemic."

I agree with MT that the statistics are poor and inaccurately extrapolated.
I agree with MT that the article's characterization is a bit extreme and therefor not helpful.

That said, I think that micromanagement is a common barrier to manager and team success. And I would like to disagree with one quote from the MT post:

Look, it’s unlikely you are a micromanager. (But if your team reads this article, they might think you are, just to make themselves feel like part of the majority!)

Many of you reading this likely micromanage at times. And this likely gets in your way. I would rather think of micromanagement as an act or behavior than as a badge. Here's how I define micromanagement:

Providing more direction, oversight, rules, or guidelines than is optimal to encourage peak performance. When we micromanage, we overmanage.

Some people think that you can't overmanage, but I disagree.

Why do we micromanage?

• We have a definition of success steeped in control.
• We don't trust our employees (related to control).
• We fear failure (related to control).
• We don't know what else to do with our managerial minutes - that's the way we learned.
• Our bosses have asked us to overmanage (related to any of the above).
• The working culture promotes micromanagement (related to control somewhere and at some time).
• Some people need direction so you stick it to everyone.

How do we know when we are micromanaging? This is a tough question to answer, but there are a few indicators that are easy to recognize.

• Each person might need a different amount of direction and this will likely change over time. Are you managing everyone equally? If so, some people are likely experiencing micromanagement (or others are not experiencing enough).
• You feel the need to be present during conversations your employees have with your peers or manager and you want to be cc'd a lot.
• You specify HOW everything ought to be done.
• You ask for detailed activity reports.
• Leadership in your department does NOT change with the topic/task.
• You do all or most the talking at meetings.
• Your to-do list contains tasks that ought to be done by someone else (most of us are guilty of this one).

And there are more, for sure. It is tough to come up with a crisp and helpful list because we each manifest micromanagement differently.

Here's what we know. Creating an environment where people want to do their best work is a challenge and how each person feels about the company, the work, and their manager is very important. Micromanagement looks different for different people, but it sucks the life out of people. As managers we need to do our best to make sure we are providing just enough, and not too much, management.

This is worth repeating: micromanagement sucks the life out of workers.

Fireside Chat with Lori Richardson

Managers gotta be fun! - Chat with Lori Richardson

Today's podcast is with Lori Richardson, sales coach extraordinaire and fellow Seattle based blogger and solopreneur (her blog is called Sales Coach and her business is Score More Sales).  We touch on the importance of fun to be most productive and focused. We talk about ways to improve fun that go beyond birthday cakes and Krispy Kremes (not that I don't love the Kremes). Helping your team get connected to the business is ONE great way to improve fun, focus, and results.

Life's too short. We need to enjoy what we do and create inspiring and fun workplaces. Listen to this podcast!

You can listen to my podcast with Lori Richardson by clicking here:

You can also download an MP3 version of the podcast here: MP3 Download

And just a reminder.....

Here is the Podcast Feed for the entire Fireside Chat podcast series:

You can also find this series on iTunes (and several other podcast sites), just search under my last name for Fireside Chat.

For the next several weeks, I will release a podcast every MONDAY and THURSDAY.

Lively comments about Airplane Etiquette

I have been getting a lot of interesting comments about my post on airplane etiquette (or lack thereof) over on the ThirdAge blog. Check it out and join in. I know you all have great stories!

Back from school – A lesson about craft.

When I first created this blog, it will be two years ago this next month, I called it Management Craft because I believe that management and leadership is a craft. I explained what I meant by craft in my first post:

I call this blog Management Craft, because I believe that the art and practice of managing people (without controlling them), processes, and projects WHILE flexibly changing as needed AND considering short term and long term needs and opportunities is a craft.

When I use the word craft in this blog, I am referring to an honorable and worthy body of work that can mature and grow with development and practice. Of course, building our management craft is not automatic. To improve our ability to manage well (making a positive difference to the organization and team, getting results) we must acknowledge our privileged and important role and continuously grow.

While that definition of craft still feels relevant, it also feels inadequate. You see, I have had a craft breakthrough.

As my regular readers know, I spent the last week back at school at an eight-day residency for an MFA program. During these eight days, I got a big lesson in craft – the craft of writing.

Although I have published five books, I consider myself an apprentice of the craft of writing and this was reinforced in a big way last week. These passionate writers – the instructors and fellow students see the written word in a special way. Each essay, poem, manuscript, sentence, word, and title is carefully chosen and placed to improve impact and meaning. Every word is questioned. The form and structure is crafted to created a desired meaning and impression. It takes a long time to carefully craft a poem or essay and years to write a proper book.

My biggest ah-ha is that craft occurs in revision. Revisions count and this is where the art comes to life. It is important to take time and energy to polish and mold our work.

This may seem apparent to you, but I must admit that my time spent in revision has been woefully inadequate.

And this insight relates to management and leadership too. Craft occurs in revision. We become our best by assessing and shaping every action, communication, practice, and process. Every action counts.

I have met and worked with several leaders who had the, “this is the way I am,” point of view. They spent little or no time in personal revision. This is a same! They are selling themselves short and offering their teams less than they deserve.

A few months ago I thought about changing the title of my blog because my notions about the word MANAGEMENT are evolving. But I love and want to keep the concept of building craft as the foundation.

We live in a world of think - act - launch. Blogs are great examples of mostly unrevised work, as are instant messaging, e-mail, and bulletin-like publications. While I love the spontaneous nature of some of these tools, I also crave something deeper. Contrast the New Yorker and the USA Today. A good, functional book and a beautiful book. A meeting that stirs people to act and a dreaded routine staff meeting.

The smallest of changes can make our work products – leadership or books – significantly better, more appealing, and relevant. Small changes, every day. Spend some time in revision today – polish your craft.

The last week was both great and a bit overwhelming. And it will change my work forever.

Main Web Site Down

***Update***  It's back up! Darn ISPs......

In case you're trying to reach my main website, www.lisahaneberg.com, my web hosting company is having temporary problems. Please be patient.

Fireside Chat with Don Blohowiak

Lead Now - Chat with Don Blohowiak

Today's podcast is with Don Blohowiak (his site is Lead Well, his blog is called Leadership Now). I previously had the pleasure of being a guest on his podcast and now he is joining me for a lively chat about intimacy - work intimacy. We touch on pros and cons, tips, and cautions. Don is a successful executive coach and consultant and really knows his stuff! You will enjoy and be illuminated by his thoughts and ideas, I'm sure of it.   

Would you like to know how to blast beyond mediocre team performance? Listen to this podcast!

You can listen to my podcast with Don Blohowiak by clicking here:

You can also download a  MP3 version of the podcast here: MP3 Download

And just a reminder.....

Here is the Podcast Feed for the entire Fireside Chat podcast series: 

You can also find this series on iTunes (and several other podcast sites), just search under my last name for Fireside Chat.

For the next several weeks, I will release a podcast every MONDAY and THURSDAY.

Fireside Chat with Phil Gerbyshak

A Make it Great! Chat with Phil Gerbyshak

Today's podcast is with Phil Gerbyshak - you might know Phil from his great blog, Make it Great! (and he also has a brand new book out called, 10 Ways to Make it Great). We tackled multitasking head on and took it DOWN. Phil shared several great tips for how managers can help employees resist the magnetic pull of multitasking and focus more effectively.

Would you like to escape the maddening cycle of overwhelm? Listen to this podcast!

You can listen to my podcast with Phil Gerbyshak by clicking here:

You can also download a  MP3 version of the podcast here: MP3 Download

And just a reminder.....

Here is the Podcast Feed for the entire Fireside Chat podcast series: 

You can also find this series on iTunes (and several other podcast sites), just search under my last name for Fireside Chat.

For the next several weeks, I will release a podcast every MONDAY and THURSDAY.