Middle Managers « Vivid Epiphany

Managewhich Tips: What is “Too Busy” Saying About You?

Jan 5

Carolann Jacobs on January 5th, 2010

We’re all busy. And, being busy in our culture can be a badge of honor. Busy = Important.
“Busy” is also where Managewhiches get tripped up.
Case Study 1:
Jennifer was on the receiving end of some “unpleasant” news. Her company was cutting back on hours for its hourly employees and reorganizing some of its [...]

Managewhich’s Guide to the Annual Review

Dec 17

Carolann Jacobs on December 17th, 2009

For many middle managers, it’s that time of year again. Fiscal year’s over and review time is upon us. I’m guessing that this is an unpleasant task for most of you, which is a shame.
Corporate America has taken one of it’s better opportunities for engagement and celebration and turned it into a administrivia-laden stress-inducing B.S.-laden [...]

For the Managewhich and Business Owner: Who’s a Team Player?

Nov 10

Carolann Jacobs on November 10th, 2009

Team Player is one of those phrases that we all assume we have the same definition for. It’s one of the performance management buzz-phrases that shows on reviews and on job descriptions. And, we all think we know what it means, but do we?
I was watching a video the other day of Pat Heim talking [...]

Tips for the Managewhich: Is My Staff Doing Anything Resume-Worthy?

Nov 5

Carolann Jacobs on November 5th, 2009

One of the more obvious clues that your group is on the chopping block is when you can’t figure out what real value your group adds. That’s even more true when the company is reorganizing people into that group in ways that don’t make sense. It’s a good thing for the managewhich to recognize this [...]

Manage Which? Up or Down (Part 3)

Oct 22

Carolann Jacobs on October 22nd, 2009

In the saga of Breeze and Hoover, so far Breeze has been able to minimize the number of times her team is derailed by Hoover’s ad hoc requests. We set up three circumstances for which she’ll will accept the mission.
First, she has to fully understand how the ad hoc report or spreadsheet will be used. [...]

Woo Hoo Woo Hoo, Making My Radio Debut

Oct 13

Carolann Jacobs on October 13th, 2009

In case you couldn’t tell, I’m very excited to have been invited as a guest on the “Business Networking Brunch” this Sunday. We’re going to be on the air from 9am – 11am Central time on 1360 am in Dallas.
Managewiches, I am there to beat the drum for the cause. Some of the topics I [...]

The Omniscient Managewich

Sep 10

Carolann Jacobs on September 10th, 2009

I have a question for the sandwich generation of managers, middle managers or owner managers, stuck in the middle of competing priorities and agendas:
Why is it so hard to know what someone else really wants or believes, and yet, how is it that we know others’ intentions just by looking at their body language or [...]

Investing in People Pays 600% Dividend

Aug 25

Carolann Jacobs on August 25th, 2009

I need a picture of me on a soapbox. Anyone know where I can find one?
Engaging employees pays off more than fear. Most of us know this because we desperately want to be engaged and fulfilled ourselves, and we know that when we’re connected with what we do, we go the extra mile gladly. However, [...]

Women Stuck in the “Managewich”, Get Out of Your Own Way!

Aug 20

Carolann Jacobs on August 20th, 2009

There’s a new study out last week that shows women consistently underestimate and undervalue their own performance at work. It gets worse the older women get, so the women who are most likely to break out of middle management (the “managewich”) and into the executive ranks are sabotaging themselves. This makes me furious!
I thought we [...]

How Can I Tick You Off or Disappoint You Today?

Aug 13

Carolann Jacobs on August 13th, 2009

Back in the days when I managed multi-million dollar business applications, there were days that it seemed like I, as a manager, and my team of developers could do no right. Anyone who deals with customers experiences days like these, and our goal is to have these days be few and far between.
Some days, though, [...]

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