Monday, December 22, 2014

Job Searches

There's a sizzle in the air. If you pay attention to the news, you know the economy has made a turn for the better. We're not at full employment by any means but there are jobs to be had.

If I were looking for a corporate job, I'd be going one by one through a list to top employers in my area.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

Leadership and Management

Someone asked me what kind of leader-- tactical, strategic, a few other options I don't recall-- I thought I might be. I'm a little ashamed to say I tanked the question.

I am adept at ignoring the premise(s) of a question. But in this case I really wanted to answer the question because I'm struggling to build a relationship after an involuntary re-org. That requires being genuine. I'm trying here.

I think I stumbled because the question made no sense from my point of view.

First off, I am a leader now. I don't need authority to lead. The question sort of conflated leadership and management which are two different but related things.

Second, I can't imagine being just one kind of leader. A team is made up of a leaders and team-mates and the relationships between them different people have different needs and motivations. Every relationship is different so managing that person is different and specific to that relationship. There is also an unrelated diplomatic function a leader must carry out when interfacing with outsiders as well as a somewhat related role of being the face of the team up the direct chain of command.

If I had the chance to answer the question again I'd say, "I think a good leader has to have and utilize all the tools you listed and more. The trick is to know which to use when. Even when making a tactical decision one must keep strategic implications in mind and vice-versa."

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Name Dropping is Cheating

This Name Dropping is Cheating article strongly resonated with me.

"<insert big wig name here> wants this." is something everyone in a large hierarchical organization has heard. And you know what? It really is a lazy short cut. The command and control management style that seems to go hand in hand with this method of getting things done doesn't really doesn't allow for collaboration or improvement on an idea. This method also seems to be frequently utilized by those who take credit for getting stuff done but somehow forget to share that credit with those who actually did the work.

Look, there will always be exceptions because emergencies happen and that's OK. In that case tell me what got screwed up and how my getting task X done ASAP will bail us all out. I will do my best to make that happen.

But if you want my best in the normal course of work, I need to know the goals of the mission as well as the task requested. If you project command and control power at me to get a task done I will get that task done. However, if you work with me on developing an idea or goal I promise the final result will be superior. Even if you work with me just a little bit and put the requirement in context. Building something in a vacuum results in an inferior product or service and I resent people who prevent me from doing my best work. I like to exceed expectations.

But how to respond as an individual contributor in a way that doesn't offend but does nudge the name dropper in a more productive direction... how about something along the lines of, "That's great! We are happy to help meet <exec>'s goals if we can. Can you share the vision for this project?" I welcome other ideas.

Maybe I'm being a self important prima donna here but I don't think so. I think most managers and executives would want an idea understood, examined and improved at every step of the process.

Besides, do you think the big wigs want people running around using their names? It reminds me of this line from Charlie Wilson's War, "...I'd appreciate it if you didn't throw my name around quite so much, because from time to time I use it myself and I need it in good condition."

Friday, December 12, 2014

Full of Crap

Headline reads, "Dick Cheney blasts interrogation report, says it's 'full of crap'". I can't help but feel there's a good joke in there-- something along the lines of "takes one to know one"... I just can't seem to pull it together.