The Manager - Edition 54 - 2019 - Remember Your Boss - by Rob Lambert
Cultivated Management Newsletter
Hi,
I hope you've had a cracking weekend and are all set for the week ahead.
It's a short one this week as I've been working on a new online course and I'm still dragging my heels writing my Squirrel book. I'm enjoying the process, but it's hard, especially the videos - it is a new format and I'm learning as a I go. I'll be sharing more news on the course in the coming weeks.
I was reminded of management and memories this week after an influx of ex-direct reports getting in touch to say "Hi". I'm not sure what has spurned this, but it's most welcome to hear from so many people.
Some were asking for career advice, some extolling the pain that their current company are going through and relating it back to the pain we all went through in our times together, some to say "Thank You" and some just to stay in touch. I was touched, grateful and pleased to hear from so many people.
I'm no longer their manager but I had an impact on them and they remember me. And I realised that I too remember my ex-bosses - even the horrible ones.
And it made me realise the profound impact we have on our people as managers. We get to influence, help and shape their career, salaries and lives. For good or bad, we have an impact on the people we manage. I for one would hate the thought of having a bad impact on people - so I try to always do the best thing for the business AND my people. And I sometimes get it wrong.
Our jobs as managers are cool - we get to nudge the company and the people in it forward (or backwards). We have a lasting impact. We have responsibility. I think we should take that very seriously and become the best person we can be - then we can be the best manager we can be too.
Rob
My week in pictures
This week we had a little visitor from my 5 year old's school called Tip Top Ted. I set up remote cameras (well - that's what I told my son) to capture what Ted got up to whilst we were all out. Turns out he got hungry and raided the fridge. My son loved it. Then he got freaked out by it. Then I felt guilty. Then he was cool with it again. Then it was all ok. Phew. The rollercoaster of life as a Dad.
I've also been doing RedJanuary this Jan in aid of Mind.org charity. It's about doing something energetic everyday to beat the Winter blues. I've done something every day and felt great. You can catch more stuff like this and behind the scenes on Instagram.
Cool Stuff To Click On
1 - Oh my - what are we doing with tech? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Alexa and Facebook can predict a break up!
2 - I meet too many people in life that are living WAY below their potential. I know I am and I'm working on it, but some people seem oblivious to the power they have. This post by Seth Godin captures this nicely.
3 - Our apps are telling people what we're up to and where we were. But we work in IT - so we knew that....right?
4 - I need to do this more - 6 years with a distraction free iPhone.
5 - 5 lessons from the CEO of Southwest airlines.
Book Of The Week
This week's book of the week is by Lewis Howes and it's called The School of Greatness.
I've been following Lewis Howe's for a few years now and he's inspiring, if not a little cheesy. This book is all about how to grow yourself and build a strong career and personal brand.
If you read a lot about this sort of stuff there is little new content here to learn from. A lot of it can be found in many other books and sources, but his tone of voice can be refreshing, if not a little awkward. Like the line when he explains his painted picture () and he says that his wife would wake up with tears of joy because of the life they lead. Really?
If you can get past this sort of stuff there is some inspiring content in there. But as I said, if you read a lot about human potential then you'll likely have read this stuff before.
I enjoyed it though and breezed through it in a few days. I took some stuff away to work on.
I will also be working hard to make sure I can wake up with tears of joy rather than tears of tiredness and annoyance that the kids have woken me up at 5 am again to ask if they can play Fortnite.
The School of Greatness.
Thanks for reading this week's edition of The Manager.
Thanks
Rob..