Active Meeting Assignments

If people do not have active assignments, if they only attend meetings to hear reports and ask questions, truly professional work cannot be accomplished.  Management: The Essence of the Craft. Pp 217. Fredmund Malik, Campus Verlog (c) 2010 Malik was speaking specifically of an institution’s supervisory board. But it strikes me as equally useful in… Continue reading Active Meeting Assignments

An Irritable Programmer Calls 911

Operator: Please state the nature of your emergency. Programmer: I need immediate assistance. Operator: Are you injured? Programmer: Look lady, I don’t want to turn this into a status meeting. Status is Not Stupid I’ve noticed people saying the word “status” with scorn: “Now, instead of getting work done we’re just reporting on status.” In fact, I’ve heard… Continue reading An Irritable Programmer Calls 911

Quotpourri: Listening, Safety, and Leadership

From an SSCA Newsletter (and the linked to Desktop Coach article). Active Listening Listen with the absence of thought. Listen without a filter. Listen without inserting your own viewpoints, paradigm, personal experiences, or belief systems. Listen without feeling the need to provide an answer. Build a Circle of Safety [The] best organizations foster trust and cooperation because… Continue reading Quotpourri: Listening, Safety, and Leadership

I Can’t Accept Every Meeting

Some time last year I realized that if I scheduled every meeting I’m “supposed to” schedule, and accepted the standard meetings others are “supposed to” schedule it would add up to more than 40 hours in meetings every week. Up to this point I had been scheduling, accepting, and rejecting meetings in a one-off way.… Continue reading I Can’t Accept Every Meeting