Management Podcasts
management, podcasts, software development
I listen to three regular weekly management podcasts:
Manager Tools is just great. It is easily the best management podcast I’ve come across so far. The two hosts, Mark and Mike, are good friends who have been managing for many years. Mark is a management consultant and Mike spent a lot of time managing at IT companies. The key to the show is pragmatism. Every podcast is centered around practically implementing one-on-ones, performance reviews, or expanding your network. And it’s not high level strategy, it’s tactical details like remembering to reserve a good conference room a month ahead of giving performance reviews to relying on paper when taking notes for one-on-ones because even writing on a Tablet PC can give the impression that your not fully focused–how does the employee not assume you’re checking your email? Enough said, this one rocks.
The Cranky Middle Manager show is another high quality management show. The format is traditional interview, and the host Wyane Turmel is sort of a standup comedian. Since it is an interview format a lot depends on the guests. I’ve really enjoyed some of them including one with David Allen of GTD fame. Since many of the interviewees are the sort of people who write the management books you find in the business section of your local bookstore there is the danger that the guest talks in pretty high level generalities without much substance. Wayne does try to at least ask all of them at some point, well how would I implement some of this or use it in my world? Unfortunately some of them have trouble answering those questions. Still there’s a lot more hits than misses on the interviews and heck it’s only half an hour anyway.
The Middle Management Lobotomy is put out by Kevin Williams who is feeling his way through his first management job. I’ve listened to about 4 or 5 episodes now and it has some aspects that keep me returning. One of the nice things is he’s pretty honest about how things are going. He’s even discussed hiring two people onto his team and dealing with one of the hires who ended up not being that great of a fit.
Ed Gibbs @ January 14, 2006
Thanks for the recommendations!
Wow, thanks for the kind words about the show. We do try to vary the guests, from consultants to people in the trenches and you’re right, I’m only as smart as my guests. Anyone you want to hear?
Don’t let the weasels get you down.
Wayne Turmel
The Cranky Middle Manager Show
http://cmm.thepodcastnetwork.com
Thanks for the kind words about Manager Tools. We’re glad we’re helping you be a better manager!
Mark Horstman
http://www.manager-tools.com
As for suggestions for guests on the Cranky Middle Manager the only one I can think of off the top of my head is David Maister (http://www.davidmaister.com/). I really liked his book on professional services.
Hi Ed,
Hi Bruce,
I thought you’d like to know that David Maister is giving away 20 years worth of free consulting advice with a series of podcasts. He has retained me to get the word out that there is a cornucopia of free information including a blog, podcasts and 25 new videos on his brand-new Web site, http://davidmaister.com/.
He’s not selling anything. Just go to his site, click “Podcasts” and you can hear 4 very polished episodes at http://davidmaister.com/podcasts/2. Take a listen and see what you think of them. If you’ve ever heard David speak in person, or wished you had, you’ll like these podcasts. He calls them “Lessons I’ve learned.”
Episode 1
Understanding Relationships and Transactions
The rewards of building trusting relationships with clients as opposed to taking a transactional view of marketing.
Episode 2
Business Development
The five groups of activities needed for a balanced approach to building a business.
Episode 3
Listening to Clients
How you can gain a sharper competitive edge by being better at understanding how clients think - simply by asking them to talk to you.
Episode 4
Great Service
The tools, tips and tactics that create excellent client service and will lead to return business and new clients.
David has consulted to professional service firms around the world for more than two decades. He is one of the best known management writers in the world. Some of his books are: Managing the Professional Service Firm (1993), True Professionalism (1997), and Practice What You Preach (2001). On David’s website you can find many of his articles, interviews with David, videos and other resources.
Yours,
Larry Bodine
Lbodine@LawMarketing.com
Professional Marketing Blog
http://blog.larrybodine.com
520.577.9759
Thanks for the pointer. I really enjoyed Managing the Professional Service Firm when I read it a few years ago, very relevant to all my professional services work at two IT companies.
I’ll try out the podcasts tomorrow morning on my walk, nice to see more content like this starting to come out.