I am a people manager, and I have a manager.  I am sure most people who stumble across these ramblings are one or the other or both.  In a recent conversations about this topic with a number of colleagues past and present I compiled these lists

Having worked for some excellent managers, some OK, and unluckily historically some bad managers this intrigued me into thinking about Me, how I act and am perceived by immediate reports, peers and virtual teams.

So, I thought I would share somes notes.  I am sure I am opening myself up for ton of abuse from people who know me, but would be fascinated in hearing what you think I should add to these categories.

Good traits in a people manager/team leader

• Accessible & Personable
• Knowledgeable and can communicate it
• Respected and shows respects to other
• Open & Honest
• Fair & Consistent
• 1-2-1’s are on time and add value
• Timely feedback
• Awards credit when it is due
• Receives feedback
• Cares about Me

What traits makes a bad people manager?

• Vague (in all forms)
• Personality misfit, lacks social skills
• Unrealistic targets or expectations
• Picks on employees
• Pits 1 employee against another
• Changes their mind all of the time
• Micromanages
• Lies (especially when they say publicly different things to what they advise you)

And then, being the thinking type I am and trying to be fair.

There are on occasions when circumstances or the environment can make this hard or fall straight to the bad category.  It is possible to have a circumstance that your manager  is under orders, or a company culture actually puts up barriers you and them being a  good manager.  These could be:

Excuses for being a bad people manager!

• Development opportunities as reward/goals are limited by the company
• Office politics
• Changing orgs and re-orgs
• Communications styles are dictated by a higher power
• Fear and Fears
• Lack of knowledge
• Lack of experience in being a people manager
• Time/Prioritisation imposed upon them
• And I am sure the list goes on

What do you think?

Opinions welcome.  Unless you are in one of my teams! Then “SHUT UP and DO SOME WORK!”

Tags: Management

Where is Utopia?

A long time since I made a post in this section of Jargon. On a call today, someone used, well almost one of these expressions that sparked a thought.

We all talk and die by prioritisation especially in larger companies. We aim to have as much bandwidth in terms of headcount and resources needed to do everything we need to do, quickly. Most of the time, we don’t have the bandwidth, and quite often we do have the bureaucracy.

That got me thinking. As I see if we only have 3 states.

1. Bandwidth with Bureaucracy = Ideal working environment, well workable
2. No Bandwidth with Bureaucracy = The Real world, which sucks!/li>
3. Bandwidth without Bureaucracy = the unobtainable UTOPIA

Which one do you work in?

Tags: Office Vocab

If you work in a large company you probably are familiar with having to prioritise.  And if, like me, you work with a year long technology roadmap to make any change you need to build a case.

I have found the best way to build this case, is to use these 4 criteria.

• Size of Opportunity
• Risk of doing / risk of NOT doing
• Level of Effort
• Time to Impact

It generally works if there is a big opportunity and quick to impact. Then high levels of effort and risk are normally then just managed.

If there is a long time to impact, and only medium or small possible return, you are unlikely to get your idea squeezed in.

Sometimes, if the level of effort is next to nothing and the size is medium and is quick you might be lucky!

If this is a SEO business case, that is when the risk of not doing really kicks in.  Try to model what the loss is, especially if this is a hygiene change!

I reckon most situations can be modelled on these 4 criteria.

Tags: 101, business case, How-to

Word:  ”Front & Centre”

Definition:  To bring this topic to the front of thinking and focus on it.

Context: Normally buzzed in the same space as “Deep Dive” when something needs to be focused on.  I personally hate this one!

Tags: General Comment, Office Vocab

Word: “Deep dive”

Definition: To actually look into something!  Normally an action after a meeting when someone is tasked in investigating why something has happened.

Context: ”To Deep dive” is to do the work.  Normally associated with marketing stats investigation.

Tags: Office Vocab

Tags: Office Vocab