Conversation With a Manager
Steve King
Hi. This is Steve King, and this is Conversation with a Manager: Stories from the Frontline.
Along with my colleague Betsy Hagan and our producer David Blindauer, our podcast explores the common and sometimes uncommon challenges facing today’s managers in the workplace.
Our proposition is simple. Managers, particularly frontline managers, play an oversized role in the productivity of an organization and the engagement of team members. So, a manager’s successful performance makes a ton of difference.
We are defining managers as anyone with responsibilities to look after the performance of others. It is an evolving role … impacted by new technologies, hybrid work arrangements, and generational differences. While some might find the notion of management a bit old fashion, it remains and integral part of the business landscape. There are plenty of managers out there and plenty of new ones every day.
This is a podcast for managers, by managers. Betsy and I have over fifty years of experience as managers between us. We have written extensively on the topic of management, and we have taught literally thousands of managers in classroom, online, and seminar settings. And I can assure you we have learned as much in those settings from managers as we have shared.
In each episode we will visit with a successful manager we have met and hear their stories and the lessons they have learned from their years of experience. We expect you’ll find their stories and insights useful and applicable right away back on the job.
We intend to keep the podcast short and sweet, around 20 minutes, so you can fit them into your commute, lunch break, or while you’re making dinner.
So, please join us in a … conversation with a manager.
Along with my colleague Betsy Hagan and our producer David Blindauer, our podcast explores the common and sometimes uncommon challenges facing today’s managers in the workplace.
Our proposition is simple. Managers, particularly frontline managers, play an oversized role in the productivity of an organization and the engagement of team members. So, a manager’s successful performance makes a ton of difference.
We are defining managers as anyone with responsibilities to look after the performance of others. It is an evolving role … impacted by new technologies, hybrid work arrangements, and generational differences. While some might find the notion of management a bit old fashion, it remains and integral part of the business landscape. There are plenty of managers out there and plenty of new ones every day.
This is a podcast for managers, by managers. Betsy and I have over fifty years of experience as managers between us. We have written extensively on the topic of management, and we have taught literally thousands of managers in classroom, online, and seminar settings. And I can assure you we have learned as much in those settings from managers as we have shared.
In each episode we will visit with a successful manager we have met and hear their stories and the lessons they have learned from their years of experience. We expect you’ll find their stories and insights useful and applicable right away back on the job.
We intend to keep the podcast short and sweet, around 20 minutes, so you can fit them into your commute, lunch break, or while you’re making dinner.
So, please join us in a … conversation with a manager.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 29, 2024 • 9min
Managers and Letting Team Members Go ... Cheryl Fitch speaks with Betsy Hagan about the difficult task of letting a team member go.
This week we are sharing an unheard bonus segment from Betsy Hagan's interview with Cheryl Fitch [S2/E6]. In this bonus track we hear Cheryl explore the challenges of "firing" a team member. Nearly every long tenured manager will face this difficult task, whether someone's job is ending due to poor performance, cause, or a reduction in force. Cheryl offers some important thoughts on how to handle this situation ... both for the person being let go and for the manager themselves.Our Website: https://conversation-with-a-manager.captivate.fm
Jan 15, 2024 • 18min
Managers and the Productivity of Joy ... Jakada Imani speaks with Steve King on the path to productivity via the fulfillment of each team members unique gifts.
In this, our final episode of season two, we speak with Jakada Imani about the symbiotic relationship between commitment to team members to reach their personal best in a manner that is joyful and fulfilling while simultaneously meeting all productivity goals. There is nothing mutually exclusive about these twin goals and Jakada drives home this point with clarity and enthusiasm. Our Website: https://conversation-with-a-manager.captivate.fm
Jan 8, 2024 • 19min
Managing "Glass Half Full" Personalities ... Rob Willis speaks with Artell Smith on managing difficult personalities in the workplace.
How does a manager adjust to the multiple personalities on their teams [or on other teams] ... particularly disagreeable personalities?Our guest Rob Willis suggests it begins first with knowing one's self; second successfully "reading the room" to assess the value each person brings to a situation; and thirdly leveraging those varied values for the benefit of any task at hand. Rob's story of successfully working with someone who sees the world differently than him [in this case a "glass half full personality"] is a highlight of the interview. Our Website: https://conversation-with-a-manager.captivate.fm
Dec 18, 2023 • 1min
Holiday Message
Conversations with a Manager: Stories from the Frontlines will return with new episodes after the holiday season starting Jan. 8th. Wishing you all a happy new year and hope you join us on the 8th for the conclusion of season two and many season two bonus episodes. David, Steve, Betsy, and ArtellOur Website: https://conversation-with-a-manager.captivate.fm
Dec 11, 2023 • 18min
Managers and AI ... Kelsey Behringer speaks with Betsy Hagan of the emerging impact of AI on the work of managers.
This last year has seen the introduction of easy access for all of us to generative AI tools. How can managers best use these new tools to improve their performance and the performance of others? Our guest Kelsey Behringer explores this question suggesting where AI can be best applied to the work of a manager [currently] and where it is not yet ready to be applied. Our Website: https://conversation-with-a-manager.captivate.fm
Dec 4, 2023 • 14min
Managers and Creativity .... Steven Hansen speaks with Artell Smith on the importance of managers to be creative in the management of others.
Some of us like clear processes and lots of boundaries when we attack a task. Others of us like elbow room to be creative and try out new ideas and new approaches when we work. In recognition of these differences our guest Steven Hansen feels managers need to display their own version of creativity, adjusting their management styles to the different styles of those on their teams ... and encouraging the creativity of others whenever possible. Artell Smith explores these angles on creativity in this interview, so enjoy the exploration. Our Website: https://conversation-with-a-manager.captivate.fm
Nov 27, 2023 • 18min
Managers and the Importance of Caring .... JD Cox speaks with Steve King on how managers the honestly show they care about their team members, the team can move mountains.
Can mangers ignore the lives of team members outside of work and expect to build a fruitful relationship with thoses folks? Our guest JD Cox says "no". He believes that when a manager shows they care about the "whole person" ... the person at work and the person outside of work ... they build a reservoir of good will that pays dividends to both the team member and the organization. This is not about managers inserting themselves into the personal lives of team members, but is it about checking in and taking interest. And JD has some thoughts on how to take productive steps in this direction. And if you enjoy this episode you might want to check out our episide two of this second season. In that episode manager Shawnee Parens speaks to how vision and purpose gets translated into managerial behaviors ... similar to how JD speaks to manager behaviors that display caring. Our Website: https://conversation-with-a-manager.captivate.fm
Nov 20, 2023 • 20min
Manager as Networker ... Cheryl Fitch speaks with Betsy Hagan about the role managers play in connecting team members, customers, and the organization
Often when we think of the role of a manager we focus on the relationship between the manager and their team members. But managers plays a larger role as they also interacting with customers, senior organizational leaders, and their peers. In fact, managers are often the glue that connects employees, customer, and the wider organization. This is their role as "networker" and the best managers know how to play this role well. Our guest Cheryl Fitch offers her insights into the "manager as networker" and tips on how to be successful at it. Our Website: https://conversation-with-a-manager.captivate.fm
Nov 13, 2023 • 26min
Managers and a Culture of "Fun" ... Devin Thorson speaks with Artell Smith about the role managers are expected to play in creating engaging [fun?] workplaces.
Is a manager responsible for creating a "fun" workplace? It probably depends on your definition of "fun". Our guest Devin Thorson and host Artell Smith toss around the notion of fun workplaces and unpack what they feel are a manager's legitimate role in building an environment of engaging [fun?] productivity. Our Website ... https://conversation-with-a-manager.captivate.fm
Nov 6, 2023 • 15min
Managers and Promotions ... Dan Wargolet speaks with Steve King about the in's and out's of promoting team members.
One activity manager typically enjoy handling is the promotion of team members to new roles. But this common managerial activity needs to be handled with care, with thought given to timing, the use of feedback from others, orientation to new responsibilities, and consideration of those who might have wanted a promotion, but did not get it. Our guest Dan Wargolet talks with Steve King around these and other issues related to promoting team members. Our Website ... https://conversation-with-a-manager.captivate.fm
