The Manager 139 - Kanban, Side Projects and Interviews
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The Manager - Edition 139 - Kanban, Side Projects and Interviews
Hi,
Hope you are safe and well. As we head close to edition 150 of this newsletter I wanted to switch it up a little. This newsletter is a labour of love and thank you to everyone who is subscribed and has supported me and my work for so long. This newsletter wouldn’t exist without you.
Let me know what you think to the new format and content.
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Do you do interviews?
I’m interviewing for roles again recently. Interviewing is one of my favourite activities; there’s just something so interesting about meeting people and finding out more about them.
Many companies let anyone who’s interested in interviewing conduct these important meetings, but they often don’t train people on how to do them carefully.
There are 9 protected characteristics, covered under The Equality Act 2010, that you cannot discriminate against people for having. I know you lot - you would never discriminate, but it’s not as simple as that. A simple mistake, or stray question, or inconsistent questioning, or no interview notes can land you in a court case.
The 9 characteristics are:
age
disability
gender reassignment
marriage and civil partnership
pregnancy and maternity
race
religion or belief
sex
sexual orientation
My advice - simply don’t go near these topics in an interview - there is rarely a need to. And ask people broadly similar questions and have some consistent way of assessing whether people meet the bar. And make reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities. And don’t use AI driven HR software.
Good case to look at. - Mr David James v Coedffranc Community Council: 1600068/2018 - where questions about age resulted in a Tribunal hearing and a discrimination case.
Sometimes, you can positively discriminate but be certain why you’re doing this. (Equalityhumanrights.com, 2020).
It’s easy just to assume interviews are fun and a good career building activity - they are, but it’s so easy to fall foul of the law.
I’ve seen some doozies in my time, none of which warrant repeating in this newsletter. Suffice to say, I’ve had to give my co-interviewers (sometimes execs) some stern words during and after an interview.
BTW, if you’re an agile coach in the UK (job is UK based) looking for a gig or permie work – drop me an email.
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A career in HR
I’ve been slack over on the YouTube channel as I’m finishing up this month’s HR assignment.
I’ll be honest, taking this Diploma in HR as made me realise I don’t want to work in HR. I didn’t enjoy the two years I was a VP in HR, and this course has re-enforced those beliefs and feelings.
Is it a waste of time?
Nope.
It’s made me a better management consultant for sure. I realise much of what I was doing was sound and in line with good practice.
It’s amazing that simply doing what is right for people happens to be right for people by law. But there are some areas I need to tidy up. And as I share advice with you all - it’s hopefully helping it to be more relevant and helpful.
I did manage to squeeze in a cheeky teaser video for an upcoming talk at EuroSTAR.
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The Perfect Work Management System
I’ve been fiddling around the edges of my productivity system recently, even taking a quick hop over in Kanbanize for a while, before realising it was too extensive for my meagre needs - although if you’re doing portfolio level Kanban at your work, it’s a pretty good tool.
Instead, I plan to stick with ToDoist, using their boards feature for much of my work. Essentially applying Personal Kanban, but loser than Jim et al recommend.
At the end of the day, rule 101 of Project Management; choose 1 tool and make everyone use it. Tools are nothing more than Containers with Rules.
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Finish the book
I’m closing on finishing my new book. It’s been 2 years in the making and I’ve probably re-written 70% of it. That’s how it goes with publishing. The seed of an idea can take on many forms.
The working title is “Take a day off - and other tips for effective managers”. What do you think?
It’s been a photo book, a book designed like a catalogue (don’t ask) but I think it needs to be another classic standard book. I’m going to try and get a publisher, but I suspect it will go on Amazon.
I never quite know what a book will become until it’s nearly written.
After this one - I reckon it’s Zero To Keynote, then The Squirrels who ruined everything. I aim to physically publish the squirrel book - so I will submit this to many publishers. It’s a children’s book for managers…
In some respects, I have started this book, but I don’t have to finish it. But as I’ve promised it to people, since I’ve started it, I must finish it. Seth says it better than me.
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Mental Health
15% of people in the workplace are experiencing mental health problems and it’s estimated that better mental health support could save UK businesses up to £8 billion a year. (Mental Health Foundation, 2017)
So, why is it still so hard to talk about it at work? Why so much stigma?
I know I’ve struggled with it greatly - and not a single workplace I’ve been in has been free of it - even those that claim their employee’s wellbeing as their number 1 value. In fact, interesting observation here - those who do claim that, often have the worse cultures for mental health.
Anyhow, interesting guidance here from ACAS on how to start building a culture that supports mental health.
And often, from what I’ve experienced, it starts with simply being kind at work.
Now, if only those really mean people at work would just read these articles :)
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Time Speak
We’re in the process of moving house and I have a recurring task on Todoist to “badger the solicitors”.
It recurs every two days. And every two days I phone or email the solicitors. I shouldn’t have to, but I do have to. I am paying them for a service, but I must keep checking I’m getting the service. It’s not good, but it seems normal.
But we, as Cultivated Managers, are not like that are we? We communicate often and well :) I did recommend the communication workshop to my solicitors, but they never got back to me - there’s a surprise.
But here’s a little tip to help build relationships and ensure your customers or colleagues don’t have a recurring task to badger you. Use Time Speak.
Time Speak is when you give a time when you will be in contact. And when that time arrives - be sure to communicate. People often don’t mind waiting if they know what they are waiting for.
For example, “Thanks Ted, I will respond on Wednesday morning”. Or “Sure thing, I will be back in touch before the end of the working day today”. Or “Sure Sam, give me until Friday to get that back to you”.
Time Speak. Give a date and time and be sure it’s a reasonable time for you to do the work - then be back in touch, even if you have not completed the work or have any updates. Time Speak is a powerful tool.
And yes - it seems the experts are saying we’re going to have to keep working from home. So, it seems like the wrong time to have bought a smaller house in need of extending. The next year will be messy
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Photography (or any other art) and management
I’m a keen photographer. If you’re on Instagram then feel free to connect. I share my photos over there.
Photography is about noticing things and capturing them. This requires a keen eye. It also requires focus, not in the terms of camera focus, but in the terms of focusing on what to include in the photo. Sometimes, what is excluded from the photo is just as important. You get a rectangle (or square) to tell a story, to show something.
Management is the same. It requires noticing what is going on around you and what to focus on - and consequently, what to leave out. I talk about this a lot in my Energy and Attention book.
There are always more problems than can be solved in business, so managers should shine the light (or focus) on what needs to be tackled - and ignore what does not.
All art is the same.
What are you creating, why and what are you not doing? I’ve found that photography has helped me greatly with management. I’m learning all the time to pay attention and notice the world around me. And then to focus my attention on certain things around me.
Do you do art?
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Relationship’s compound
Our world of work is built on relationships. I covered this in a recent StarEast talk about Thriving In Your Career.
Whilst on a panel session the other night, a few of you who read this newsletter were listening - and noticed that I wasn’t my usual self. I had a migraine and could barely see, let alone convey my ideas in my usual way. Some of you contacted me and asked if I was ok. This is how relationships work. They compound over time so that people look out for each other and care.
Relationships can also blossom into new work projects. Listeners of Stationery Freaks often get in touch to say how natural mine and Helen’s dialogue is. It’s from a relationship that has compounded over 15 years of working together.
The stronger our relationships are, the better they get. It’s not about building lots of relationships, it’s about building strong relationships. Relationships that last long after the initial seed that started them - whether that be work or life.
Work is relationships. And relationships are built one person at a time through good communication. My advice is to spend plenty of time building relationships. And yes, I think everyone, in some small way, has the potential to be a people person.
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CBT and Stoicism
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a very common form of therapy with many brilliant techniques to deal with pain, emotion and negative thinking. But did you know that it’s based heavily on Stoic thinking?
Many of the techniques in CBT are the same techniques Stoics like Seneca and Marcus Aurelius were using back in the day.
So, I figured I’d go back to the source and learn them from there.
Donald Robertson’s book “How To Think Like A Roman Emperor” is a brilliant book as he weaves in CBT and Stoicism nicely. He tells stories and explains how to use some of the techniques. Book of the week for sure.
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The Human Bean
I’m not sure how I discovered Beau Miles and his video, The Human Bean, in which he ate nothing but beans for a few weeks, but I’m sure I glad I did.
I have binge watched his channel and he creates some fascinating videos that look at the art of living life, often with nature. Very little to do with management, but a lot to do with understanding humans and why we do what we do.
If you read this far – thank you.
Rob..
Reference list
Equalityhumanrights.com. (2020). Protected characteristics | Equality and Human Rights Commission. [online] Available at: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/equality-act/protected-characteristics [Accessed 17 May 2021].
Mental Health Foundation. (2017). Mental health statistics: mental health at work. [online] Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-mental-health-work [Accessed 17 May 2021].
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Rob..