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Hi everyone, I am an operations manager for a [u]very[/u] small organisation making special power wheelchairs for disabled children.

I have come up through the supervision/team leader ranks over the years within the automotive injection moulding to my current position and I feel that my success is due in no small part to the MT podcasts (since joining MT 10/06) and my ability to apply them within my roles ([b]BIG[/b] thanks Mike, Mark).
I have only been in my current role/organisation for 6 weeks now but I am already finding my MD doesn't like the MT approach to management(!!) that I have been utilising as I have been learning (he doesn't like 1 to 1's, passive reporting, staff meetings, etc etc) [b](LOVED D.I.S.C. GUYS, THANKS)[/b].
I shall keep plugging away but any suggestions as to how to tackle my MD?

Looking forward to the next cast, loving learning from MT.

Adam.

Mark's picture
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Welcome, Adam.

Glad you're with us and getting value!

Leave your boss alone. It's EXCEPTIONALLY hard to influence up the chain. Stay focused... it'll work out.

The best way to influence a boss is to get promoted a couple of times and have him start doing it your way.

Mark

acardinal's picture

Thanks Mark,

Ok, I will leave the boss alone.
My directs [b]want[/b] weekly staff meetings, 1 to 1's etc so at this point I will start these unless I am directed otherwise(?) and then, as these develop and start to show improvements in my directs performance (which, in my opinion, is currently very poor) I should be able to evidence their value to the organisation.

My organisation is very small so there is currently no room for promotion as I am the MD's direct, unless he creates a new role of, say, general manager. If I stay focused and honest with the boss, maybe this will happen in the future.

Keep up the excellent work, and again, thank you both.

Adam.

dmbaldwin's picture

Hey Adam,

So, and I know this is way off base when it comes to managing people, but are you a Premiership fan? Whose your favorite team? I've gotten hooked on Newcastle United although I live in Baltimore, MD. It's a long story as to how they became my favorite English football club, but anyway welcome aboard.

Blessings,

Dave

Mark's picture
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The second greatest sports article I ever read is a truly magnificent discussion of a Yank picking his EPL team. It's BRILLIANT and terribly funny. (It might have a curse word or two - it's from ESPN the Magazine).

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060719

Enjoy!

Mark

acardinal's picture

Hi Dave, I am not a huge football (sorry, to those in USA, soccer!!) fan although my 9 year old son is, so I tend to be kept up to date!! That said, I can easily say my favourite team has got to be Manchester United mainly as my son's is Chelsea!!! By the way Dave, I don't mind long stories, I [b]almost[/b] always find them the most interesting, it kind of intrigues me how you would get interested in Newcastle Utd. I live near Luton so I should really (I suppose) have some form of allegiance to them, but they are useless..... Newcastle are ok (Shearer mostly!!).

Mark, didn't realise our European sites were that goofy!!! But yeah, that site is good fun, enjoyed it, thanks.....I think!!! I shall try to search out an interesting (goofy?) UK site discussing American sports........

Oh, update on the boss, I have started putting in place some of the basics, such as staff meeting and one on ones (done first one of each here today!!). It appears that several of my directs have reported to my MD how good the staff meeting was in "passing" conversations, the one on one went well too, which I was expecting to be more difficult as I chose a guy who is not only very high D but a very long term friend of the MD.

Thanks Guys, nice to get conversation going!!

Regards.

Adam

dmbaldwin's picture

Okay Mark & Adam,

I loved the ESPN article. My team finished 3rd anyway. I learned some new things about the Magpies!

Here's the LONG story:
I'm a true Dynamo Kiev fan. I travel quite frequently to Ukraine and love Dynamo Kiev. They have a great stadium and fan base and history! Well in 2002 Dynamo Kiev played a Champion's League game against Newcastle. Newcastle won with a penalty kick from Shearer. Ever since I have followed Newcastle. I still love my Dynamo Kiev, but because of the lack of news coverage about Dynamo Kiev and all the good stuff you can get on Newcastle they have become my team.

I guess that wasn't so long after all. With Sunderland making the EPL this year that should heat things up in the north.

Blessings,

Dave