Early Starters
One of my ‘return to’ articles is in the New York Times. It’s the result of interviews with a whole bunch of luminaries as to how early they get up in order to be successful. The time they get up is a bit of a red herring. In truth, getting up at 4.30 isn’t necessary for success in my opinion, but the willingness to do it if it is necessary is. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/13/nyregion/how-early-do-you-have-to-get-...
The real message of this article is that success is hard work. That you have to be willing to give and give and give again, that you have to be willing to work when no one else is, that you have to be willing to work to do what they won’t. There are far too many people in organizations wondering why they are stuck at individual contributor or first line manager because they don’t go the extra mile.
I worry sometimes that we release our podcasts twice a week with a list of actions, and our audience listens, nods and doesn’t DO anything. We want you to be successful – that’s why we do this. But you have to take what you hear and DO something. Please, tell me you are!
((hugs)) Baby steps
We are hun! Although I am a much better supervisor in the shower while listening to the podcasts. Practicing feedback to the shampoo as my husband complains about the volume of my "manager men".
When I found MT I was wild. I wanted to do everything the next day. I am intelligent, there is no need for me to roll out anything. This stuff is easy peasey, makes total sense, why don't we all do them?
Then reality hit. I am not as smert as I think I am, bummer to find out. Doing the trinity all at once bombed, but I got back on the horse.
Started with O3s, rolled them out correctly, and working like a charm. Taking it slow, because even a baby step in the right direction, is heading forward. I am struggling with the feedback, not sure why. *sigh*
But so glad you all are here, so thank you for your hard work, making me work harder.
Yes I am!
Love the podcasts. Really starts my week and gets me thinking. I have about 6 other people in the office doing the same. We've implemented many of the ideas and my employees thank you!
Thank you for your comments!
Jirrin, the thought of you practicing feedback to your shampoo made me laugh so hard.. I write blog posts out loud in the shower too, but fortunately there's no one to hear me. Thank you for the hugs and the response, I'm glad we're helping you.
Putska, thank you for replying - I'm glad you're implementing our ideas and they are working!
Wendii
My current role limits
My current role limits what I can apply from the casts (no directs at present). I am using what I can when i can; resume guidance, thank you cards, peer feedback, "Feel. Felt. Found", networking &c.
I have been talking to other people about Manager Tools (I got a link to the site put on our internal L&D site) and about the tools, recommending them where appropriate. For example I recently took a friend (who is a manager with the same boss as me) for coffee to ask him some questions about a role another manager is offering that he knows something about. He raised a problem he's been having with one of his directs so I asked him if he had given her any feedback. He said he had but when we explored what he'd actually delivered was a telling off. I then gave him an overview of the MT feedback model and when we got back to the office sent him the links to the casts. I don't know if he's listened to the casts yet but he did seem interested.
I also talked to him about O3s and Coaching, which he seems very interested in. He's taking up a promotion in the new year (he's leapfrogged our boss so he will now be the boss of the our bosses boss), from what he's said I think he's going to look at rolling out the trinity (and I've sent him the links to those casts as well).
Stephen
--
Skype: stephenbooth_uk (Please note I'm on UK time)
DiSC: 6137
Experience is how you avoid failure, failure is what gives you experience.
Answering the Call to Action
Wendii,
Thanks for your "call to action" post. It made me realize that I need to be more appreciative of what I actually am doing and find ways to share with others. Since discovering MT this past June, the tools have basically transformed my professional life. I am not kidding. I've listened to nearly half of the poscasts, began O3's back in July, feedback a few months later, and just recently started coaching. The approach and techniques suggested in the podcasts have been tremendously effective. I've also implemented effective meetings with astounding results. In fact, I've had a few other people come up to me who've seen my groundrules posted on the wall after the meeting was over and said, "Gee, I wish we did those kind of things during the meetings I attend." I suppose I'm not surprised that it's working, just how great it feels to be so much more effective.
Over the course of this past six months, my boss has also observed my improved performance and commented on more than one occasion. I've gradually introduced MT to him and we're now discussing how to roll the trinity out with his directs and then throughout the organization. Maggie at MT has been a great help in explaining options for how to facilitate this process.
Thanks, Wendii, for making me take a moment to realize how far I've come and helping to inspire my continued efforts.
Mike
Answering the Call to Action
Wendii,
Thanks for your "call to action" post. It made me realize that I need to be more appreciative of what I actually am doing and find ways to share with others. Since discovering MT this past June, the tools have basically transformed my professional life. I am not kidding. I've listened to nearly half of the poscasts, began O3's back in July, feedback a few months later, and just recently started coaching. The approach and techniques suggested in the podcasts have been tremendously effective. I've also implemented effective meetings with astounding results. In fact, I've had a few other people come up to me who've seen my groundrules posted on the wall after the meeting was over and said, "Gee, I wish we did those kind of things during the meetings I attend." I suppose I'm not surprised that it's working, just how great it feels to be so much more effective.
Over the course of this past six months, my boss has also observed my improved performance and commented on more than one occasion. I've gradually introduced MT to him and we're now discussing how to roll the trinity out with his directs and then throughout the organization. Maggie at MT has been a great help in explaining options for how to facilitate this process.
Thanks, Wendii, for making me take a moment to realize how far I've come and helping to inspire my continued efforts.
Mike
Thank you!
Stephen, thank you for being such a strong advocate of Manager Tools in your organization - we appreciate it! And thank you for letting us know too.
Mike - I'm glad that my post had meaning for you. Congratulations on your success! (And yes, Maggie is great!)
Wendii
Actionable and timely...for some
Wendii-
I am new to MT and have, with admittedly psychotic fervor, adopted it.
I started with the recommended reading list and listened to all the back podcasts.
I was laid off in May and my wife lost her job in August. I was a pilot for fourteen years so I have no practical skills and am trying to change careers into management. Since joining the MT community I have taken suggestions and am volunteering as a substitute teacher; I redid my resume in the MT manner...for the little good it does; applied the cover letter format; and purchased the interview series.
I managed to get my wife to listen to the Resume Stinks podcast but that is about as far as she would go. She has a degree in something useful and actual work experience. I tried to get her to answer some of the interview questions with me and she was all over the place. When I suggested some alternatives she gave me the standard, 'Well I wouldn't answer it like that in the actual interview.'
She has had several interviews in the past weeks and been denied in all of them. I'm going to try the 'Feel,felt, found' approach. Feedback didn't work and I would just feel silly doing O3's with her and besides, MT always says you shouldn't try to manage your boss...
Hi MPNIKOLIC
I have noticed that Manager Tools affects people like that - for the brits amongst us, it's like Marmite, you either ignore it or develop a psychotic fervor!
I'm sorry you're both finding it hard to find new work at the moment. To some extent, it is a numbers game and the more applications you make and interviews you have, the better your chances. January is always a busier time in recruitment so I hope the change of year brings something positive for you.
Finally, thank you for your comment about managing your boss. It made me laugh!
Wendii
Early Starters
I am too. I listened to the podcasts old and new. I made the decision to try the one-on-ones. I started in December. Words can't describe what happened next. It was like someone opened the flood gates of communication between myself and the people I supervise. We talk about a lot of different things. I'm ready to start the feedback and coaching but I know I need to wait. I feel better as a supervisor. Thank you. As always, knowledge is power.
Listening and learning!
I just recently found these podcast on Itunes and downloaded every one to my ipod. So I walk an hour nightly and what am I listening to? Yes you guessed, your podcasts! I find myself smiling and shaking my head in agreement! I told my best friend who just received her Masters and is trying to find a management position. We are both in education. Today my husband and I went out running errands, shopping, and lunch. Right before dinner he said, can we please stop talking about all you learned on this message board? He said "thats all you have talked about today." Okay I got a bit carried away.
We return to work on Monday and I feel so ready, so educated, and so energetic!
Thank you
Your Hooked
Success09
Wecome! I have been listening to MT since '07. In the beginning my coworker said I talked about the podcasts as if it were the "bible" of management :-). To me it is!
JHB "00"