The Manager - Edition 55 - Ears and Eyes - by Rob Lambert

Cultivated Management Newsletter

Hi,

Welcome to this week’s newsletter.

It’s short one as I’m still working on my management course, and of course, my new book about squirrels who ruin everything. 

I’ve been reading a lot recently about the great business men and women of the past. They have much to teach us, some good, some bad - certainly when it comes to management. In much of the world before the mid 1900s business seemed to be farming and mass production - certainly in “The West”. So management naturally followed the form of “more with less”. More money for less cost. Especially so in a time when there were no labour laws and the work was unskilled - you could literally work people to death.....

It’s interesting that I hear that same message still today - a lot. 

It makes sense on some levels. I like the sensibility underneath, but most managers take this to mean we drive people harder, demand more working hours from them and keep our people's salaries static. This might work. But I don't like this approach.

People are the engine of success. They are likely already contributing a lot, maybe more than they should be - but they are often hindered by the system of work, our business processes, the leaders poor communication/strategy/leadership skills and a serious amount of wasted energy on fixing the wrong things -> the people. (why work on people when they are so constrained by the system they work in?).

For me, more from less means focussing on improving the flow of work - by fixing the communication, handovers and transactions that happen as work passes through our system.

When we remove the friction that's stopping us from releasing agility (the ability to move fast and friction free towards a goal) we can improve the work - and release agility in increasing amounts. This agility gives us more - way more than asking our people for more. More capabilities to deliver, to switch focus, to put energy in the right place and to improve our world of work for our customers. More space for people to actually get work done rather than dealing with the waste in our modern businesses.

When your people face blockers day after day - there is little more they can offer you when you ask for more - other than more energy (which will be stolen from home, family, creative pursuits, rest, health) - and when they do this - they will suffer - and eventually your organisation will too. 

More from less makes sense. I like it myself. But the focus must be on removing friction, removing blockers and removing the nonsense that your people have to wade through every-day. By doing this, and this is the role of management, you will get more from less. And with the extra capacity - imagine what value you could bring to your organisation. 

Go forth and get more with less (in the right way :) )

Rob

My week in pictures

This week I stumbled across a distinctly clock based shop that reminded me how we used to build things that lasted, were treasured and passed down through the generations.

I was also dragged along to a Southampton football game with my boys. I don't "do" football but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. There is much to learn about management and leadership from any sport you're in to. The boys enjoyed it. And Southampton won 2-1 against Everton!

Cool Stuff To Click On

1 - Focus on meaning to live a successful life. Sometimes easier said than done.

2 - Declutter your life for the better.

3 - Our kids are snooped on more and more as they go about their online business. But, as parents and techies, who gives us the right to do that? Is it a good thing when they're older? Isn't rebelling against your parents what you're supposed to do when you grow? How can you do that in the modern world of the web?

4 - Our lives are short. We therefore don't get long to do great things. Here's a good guide on how to do great things.

5 - In the tech world we talk a lot about Raw Data - the problem is, data is never
raw. Why is that data being collected and not others? Who chooses and why?

6 - Millennials are burning out - here's an interesting piece on why that may be. 

Book Of The Week

This week's book of the week is a cracking read. It's called Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins and is all about overcoming limitations. David Goggins is one super strong and mentally tough individual, having been a Navy Seal, passed Ranger class, run ultra races (over 100 miles) and held the record for the most pull-ups completed in a time limit (over 4000). And all of this having come from a broken home and with bleak opportunities. 

I both love and hate these types of books. I find them inspiring to hear stories of bravery, courage and of finding your limits and breaking through them. On the other hand - I often feel so inadequate in comparison. What, he's out running 100 miles, and I've spent the evening watching Luther? Is there something wrong with me? :)

Really well written and the story telling in the first half about his up-bringing is very inspirational, heart breaking and well written. Properly enjoyed this book. 

P.S - If you buy books on Kindle here's what I do if I want to re-read it (which I would recommend you always do for books that you have enjoyed - as you often take away different things on subsequent reads) - I create a folder on the Kindle called "Re-read" and move the book to this folder, then every so often visit the folder and dig an older book out. Simple but effective. 

Can't Hurt Me by David Goggins

Thanks for reading this week's edition of The Manager. 

Thanks
Rob..