The Manager Code: Recent Episodes
TheoryMind
This podcast was made to help you, as a manager, gain insights and teachings to live by so you can handle the harsh reality of life as a corporate manager. The Manager Code is a set of laws and truths which, if you internalize them, will become the armor you need to survive the struggles ahead.
A manager's work is never done. And if you leave it, it will still be there the next day. But is there a problem with the constant state of "to-do-ism" for your mental health? And more importantly—is it even possible for you to "finish your work"? In this episode, I'll discuss: How a favorite arcade game is a perfect metaphor for a manager's job How the "Zeigarnik Effect" explains why you can't let go of incomplete tasks How Western and Eastern philosophies go about productivity differently How to spot a high-priority task when you have 20 that look the same The easiest 2-method task management system to get things done
Links Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheManagerCode (@TheManagerCode) Website: https://www.themanagercode.com/ (TheManagerCode.com) Support: https://www.themanagercode.com/support (https://www.themanagercode.com/support) Email: themanagercode@gmail.com Referenced Resources Book - https://amzn.to/3w9OhWk (Getting Things Done) by David Allen Article - https://www.rightattitudes.com/2017/03/14/zeigarnik-effect/ (Zeigarnik Effect) by Nagesh Belludi Article - https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-management-visionary-behind-zappos-11647061226 (The Rise and Fall of the Management Visionary Behind Zappos) by Kirsten Grind & Katherine Sayre (Book references include affiliate links.)
When you make a mistake as a manager, that provides a unique opportunity for your staff to feel a certain pleasure from your mistake. As it turns out, the Germans have a word for this type of pleasure, and there’s a whole psychological need we have as humans to seek out any opportunity to feel superior to our own superiors. In this episode, I'll discuss: The German word that captures the joy from other people's misfortune Why your staff are actually biologically driven to feel superior to you 5 cognitive distortions that taint your staff's view of your mistakes How "cancel culture" also targets corporate managers How to deal with your mistakes when they happen
Links Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheManagerCode (@TheManagerCode) Website: https://www.themanagercode.com/ (TheManagerCode.com) Support: https://www.themanagercode.com/support (https://www.themanagercode.com/support) Email: themanagercode@gmail.com Referenced Resources Book - https://amzn.to/3p5pbn9 (The Personal MBA) by Josh Kaufman Book - https://amzn.to/3MtZNBx (The Joy of Pain) by Richard Smith Article - https://www.prdaily.com/6-crucial-parts-of-a-pr-apology/ (6 Crucial Parts of a PR Apology) by Ray Hennessey Article - https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html (Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs) by Dr. Saul McLeod (Book references include affiliate links.)
When you first become a manager, the power you gain seems great and all, but very quickly, you learn that that power has limitations, and if you’re not careful with it, you can lose that power with your staff in a heartbeat. In this episode, I'll discuss: The complex nature of rebellious employees How power abuses and tyranny affect your staff Why your own unconscious hubris comes off as an abuse of power 7 ways to earn power through respect and not empty-conformity
Links Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheManagerCode (@TheManagerCode) Website: https://www.themanagercode.com/ (TheManagerCode.com) Email: themanagercode@gmail.com Referenced Resources Book - https://amzn.to/3plpDOe (The Resiliency Advantage) by Al Siebert Book - https://amzn.to/35ANLFK (Ego is the Enemy) by Ryan Holiday Book - https://amzn.to/3M7cXEv (Macbeth) by William Shakespeare Book - https://amzn.to/3BZYaGR (1984) by George Orwell
Even your best employees will fail and disappoint you at some point. But if we go a little further, are your employees fully to blame for your disappointment in the end? I would argue no, that we as managers play a role in our own disappointment as well, and it’s something I’ve explored in myself recently, with some interesting insights. In this episode, we'll discuss: The nature of failure and disappointment 5 things your best employees do to be the best 7 reasons why even your best employees fail 5 Ways to cope with the disappointment
Links Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheManagerCode (@TheManagerCode) Website: https://www.themanagercode.com/ (TheManagerCode.com) Referenced Resources Book - https://amzn.to/3p5pbn9 (The Personal MBA) by Josh Kaufman Book - https://amzn.to/35bR99I (Tao Te Ching) by Lao Tzu
Appreciation for the staff is a much-discussed and important part of the role of a good manager. But is there any value in hoping for appreciation in the other direction? From employee to manager? Is this even a thing to hope for? In this episode, I'll talk about why appreciation from the employee to the manager is actually more complex than meets the eye. Links Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheManagerCode (@TheManagerCode) Website: https://www.themanagercode.com/ (TheManagerCode.com) Referenced Resources Article - https://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2015/10/12/4-reasons-bosss-day-is-total-bs ("5 Reasons Why Boss's Day is Total BS") Article - https://hbr.org/2012/01/why-appreciation-matters-so-mu.html ("Why Appreciation Matters So Much") https://amzn.to/3GNWsJB (Emotional Intelligence) by Daniel Goleman https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B005X0OKXU&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_X9DFHMD3DT3CNJNXHBHF&tag=themanagercod-20 (The Resiliency Advantage) by Al Siebert
As managers, part of our job is to enforce rules and boundaries for the staff, and this usually leads to some of them getting mad about it. Although it's a normal part of human nature to react this way, it makes doing the job of enforcing rules that much more challenging. In this episode, I'll explore examples of how this plays out in the workplace and offer a strategy using "compathy" to deal with it. Links Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheManagerCode (@TheManagerCode) Website: https://www.themanagercode.com/ (TheManagerCode.com) Referenced Resources Article - https://phys.org/news/2009-08-employee-loyalty-workplace-unfair-treatment.html (How unfair treatment affects employee experiences.) https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B005X0OKXU&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_X9DFHMD3DT3CNJNXHBHF&tag=themanagercod-20 (The Resiliency Advantage) by Al Siebert