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© Copyright Justin McMenamy
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Hello and welcome to Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, my name is Justin McMenamy, and my mission is to share both profitable and painful leadership lessons I have acquired over a twenty-year career as a misfit in corporate America.
Like everyone, I have worked with and for hundreds of leaders across my career. While some leaders are great, and many are good, the vast majority find themselves tossed into leadership and left to figure it out on their own. Grody & Unprofessional seeks to share leadership stories harvested from my own experiences and from the experiences of others through approachable and candid conversations with the aim of educating and shaping your leadership journey.
Grody & Unprofessional episodes will toggle between focused monologue on specific lessons or mindsets I have acquired from my experiences and conversations with other leaders seeking to understand their convictions and strategies for inspiring, motivating, and maybe sometimes cajoling a group into action.
Grody & Unprofessional is not a memoir, it’s not a forum to gripe or complain about the past or present. The rules are simple, I aim to convey leadership lessons through storytelling. If a given story has a hero, we will use proper names, if the story has a villain, a dolt, or if there is the potential for embarrassment, proper names will be removed. While we do NOT aim to embarrass people or organizations, we do intend to embarrass poor leadership behaviors and mindsets common to many leaders and organizations.
My experience has been that demand for talented leaders outstrips supply by at least tenfold, Grody & Unprofessional is my feeble attempt to improve supply.
I hope you will join me as we seek to uncover people, product, and organizational leadership lessons through the musings of a corporate misfit and his friends.
Like everyone, I have worked with and for hundreds of leaders across my career. While some leaders are great, and many are good, the vast majority find themselves tossed into leadership and left to figure it out on their own. Grody & Unprofessional seeks to share leadership stories harvested from my own experiences and from the experiences of others through approachable and candid conversations with the aim of educating and shaping your leadership journey.
Grody & Unprofessional episodes will toggle between focused monologue on specific lessons or mindsets I have acquired from my experiences and conversations with other leaders seeking to understand their convictions and strategies for inspiring, motivating, and maybe sometimes cajoling a group into action.
Grody & Unprofessional is not a memoir, it’s not a forum to gripe or complain about the past or present. The rules are simple, I aim to convey leadership lessons through storytelling. If a given story has a hero, we will use proper names, if the story has a villain, a dolt, or if there is the potential for embarrassment, proper names will be removed. While we do NOT aim to embarrass people or organizations, we do intend to embarrass poor leadership behaviors and mindsets common to many leaders and organizations.
My experience has been that demand for talented leaders outstrips supply by at least tenfold, Grody & Unprofessional is my feeble attempt to improve supply.
I hope you will join me as we seek to uncover people, product, and organizational leadership lessons through the musings of a corporate misfit and his friends.
31 Episodes
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In this episode, host Justin McMenamy and guest Brad Stoller delve into the history and strategic growth of Precision Planting, an innovative agricultural company from Central Illinois. Founded by a resourceful farmer in 1993, the company prioritized improving planting equipment through unique solutions, fostering a loyal customer base and rapid technological advancements. The episode highlights key influences like Simon Sinek's 'Infinite Game' and Malcolm Gladwell's 'David and Goliath' as part of their strategic thinking to combat much larger competitors. The conversation transitions to the importance of a distinct, adaptable strategy and concludes by emphasizing the need for both strategic thinking and tactical execution in maintaining market relevance.
In this episode, host Justin McMenamy and guest Caleb Schleder share critical insights into team building and leadership, drawing from their extensive corporate experience. They discuss the importance of trust, psychological safety, and culture curation in building effective teams. Strategies for hiring, including prioritizing the right fit over filling positions quickly, and innovative approaches to onboarding and development programs are explored. They also cover the importance of managing team dynamics, including handling underperforming members to maintain a healthy organizational culture. The conversation offers practical advice and personal anecdotes with the aim of helping leaders at all levels improve their team-building efforts.
In this episode, host Justin McMenamy interviews Billy Samoa Saleebey, a former Tesla and SolarCity employee, about his experiences working in Elon Musk's companies. The discussion delves into Saleebey's roles in Global Sales and Product Training, and Leadership Development. The episode explores Elon Musk's leadership style, the rigorous work culture at Tesla, and the unique onboarding and interview processes. Saleebey reflects on memorable experiences, such as factory tours and collaborative efforts, and discusses the potential future of Musk's companies post-Elon. The episode also examines the qualities of successful leadership and what aspiring leaders can learn from Musk's approach.
In this special anniversary episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' host Justin McMenamy and guest Jeff Snowden discuss various types of leadership styles by humorously comparing them to different birds. They explore the traits and behaviors of each bird type and relate them to characteristics found in management and corporate environments. The episode covers a range of bird analogies—from seagulls and parrots to vultures and crows—highlighting both the positive and detrimental aspects of each leadership style. The conversation delves into how these 'angry birds' can influence organizational culture and the importance of recognizing and managing these traits effectively.
In this episode of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, Justin McMenemy discusses his experiences and insights on leadership, drawing parallels with Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules of Management from Skunk Works. Emphasizing the importance of organizational structure and environment, McMenemy explains how creating and maintaining distinct cultural and operational ecosystems within a company can enable both innovation and stability.He critiques corporate cultures given over to bureaucracy and lack of trust, and shares strategies for fostering a more agile and trustworthy organization. McMenemy also discusses the practical applications of Johnson's rules in modern corporate settings, particularly focusing on maintaining momentum, managing budget and staffing wisely, and retaining top technical talent without forcing them into management roles.The episode concludes with a promise of a bonus installment to explore Johnson's 15th unwritten rule of management.
In this episode of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, host Justin McMenamy interviews Jim Weber, an award-winning inventor, mentor and friend. They discuss Weber's extensive career, his passion for mentoring, and his innovative and humorous approaches to leadership. Weber shares stories of inspiring his team through unique team-building exercises, like crafting a Dr. Seuss-style poem and making a team quilt. The conversation also touches on serious leadership topics, such as avoiding becoming a 'bitter old engineer,' the importance of empathy and honesty, and supporting colleagues through difficult times. Weber emphasizes the value of creating a fun and inclusive work environment and concludes with a humorous recount of his memorable retirement email. The episode encapsulates both light-hearted stories and valuable insights into effective leadership.
In this episode, the fifth installment of the SkunkWorks mini-series which draws from Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules of Management, Justin discusses the importance of clear specifications in product development. He examines the critical 10th rule of management, emphasizing the need for precise scope and proactive communication with clients and among co-workers to avoid scope creep and inefficiencies. Justin then contrasts his experiences working within rigid corporate processes with the adaptable approach taken during his tenure at Precision Planting, illustrating the pitfalls of hierarchical decision-making, the presumption of ease and guilt of others in the organization, and the necessity of flexibility and adaptability in project management. He shares real examples of wasteful efforts due to inflexible specifications and highlights the importance of balancing structure and flexibility for organizational success.
In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' host Justin McMenamy and guest Brad Arnold discuss valuable leadership lessons they've learned across their careers. They delve into transitioning from individual contributors to leaders, navigating significant corporate changes, dealing with acquisition uncertainties, and fostering a culture of transparency and empowerment. Brad Arnold shares personal experiences, including his transition from a Dow 30 company to a family business, and the profound impact his daughter Libby has had on his perspective on leadership. The conversation emphasizes the importance of trust, candor, and caring in leadership, as well as the transformative business impact that can be seen through empowered teams.
In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL', Justin McMenamy continues to explore the practical applications of Kelly Johnson’s 14 Rules of Management in addition to Gordon MacKenzie's book 'Orbiting the Giant Hairball'. The discussion delves into the balance between stability and creativity within corporate structures, contrasting startup autonomy with the rigid norms of established companies. McMenamy recounts his own experience at Precision Planting, emphasizing the importance of maintaining startup culture under larger corporate ownership. The episode also covers insights on continuous improvement, the more-data fallacy, and communications throughout the value chain. By advocating minimal duplication of inspection and encouraging engineers to directly engage with their work's real-world environments, McMenamy underscores the necessity of iterative, collaborative problem-solving within growing organizations.
In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy is joined by guest Jeff Hancher. The discussion highlights Jeff's journey from a challenging upbringing in rural Pennsylvania to becoming an executive at Cintas, a publicly traded company, then later an author and speaker on numerous leadership topics.Jeff recounts the impact of his military service in shaping his character and career, emphasizing the significance of continuous improvement, accountability and engaging one’s motivation as pillars to his success. Post-military, Jeff transitioned to Cintas, rising from a route delivery driver to a senior leadership position across his 20+ year career. The conversation centers on the critical role of feedback in leadership, illustrating through personal anecdotes how effective feedback can transform individuals and organizations. Jeff's upcoming book, 'Firm Feedback in a Fragile World,' aims to equip leaders with tools to provide impactful feedback in today’s volatile work environment. The episode underscores the necessity of balancing empathy with accountability to foster professional growth and organizational success.For those interested in ordering Jeff's new book, you can go to firmfeedbackbook.com.
In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy continues his survey of Kelly Johnson’s 14 Rules of Management through the lens of his own 20-year career both leading and working within various product organizations. Focusing on Rules #5-7, McMenamy critiques the overuse of metrics and status meetings in large organizations, providing anecdotes from his tenure at Precision Planting and other companies. He underscores the benefits of minimizing bureaucracy and fostering direct, transparent communication, especially in supplier relationships. The episode emphasizes the utility of a minimalist approach to budgeting and reporting for fostering a nimble and creative work environment while ensuring accountability and efficiency.
In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy is joined by Jeff Snowden to discuss leadership lessons drawn from the career of Admiral Hyman Rickover, the father of the nuclear Navy. They explore Rickover's famed career, including his ascent from an immigrant family to a naval officer known for his meticulous work ethic and unorthodox leadership style. The conversation covers Rickover’s commitment to hands-on experience, his selection of highly competent teams, and his ability to lead from the front. Jeff also shares personal anecdotes and professional insights on leadership, comparing nuanced aspects of various leadership styles. The episode further delves into Rickover's intent to maintain peace in the nuclear age, even as he pushed technological boundaries.
In this episode of 'Grody and UnPrOfEsSiOnAL' Justin McMenamy delves into how principles from rocket science can inform organizational architecture, particularly in disruptive startup environments. Using Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules of Management from Lockheed Martin's Skunkworks, McMenemy emphasizes the importance of organizational elasticity, embedded project management, and the value of small teams consisting of highly competent individuals as building blocks for effective teams. He then contrasts this approach with traditional metric-driven corporate methodologies. McMenemy shares personal experiences from his tenure at Precision Planting to illustrate these points, emphasizing the need for trust, cooperation, and a bureaucratic aversion in driving disruptive innovation.
In this episode of "Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL" Justin McMenamy interviews Lon Stroschein, a former corporate executive who transitioned to writing and coaching after a pivotal season in his life. Lon shares his journey from feeling unfulfilled despite a successful career to finding purpose through helping others. Topics discussed include the emotional struggles of mid-career, the importance of finding one's voice, and balancing professional and personal life. Lon also recounts a poignant story about his daughter Grace, highlighting the need to be present for family amidst career pressures. The conversation emphasizes the value high performing employees place on autonomy and purpose over monetary success and provides insights for both employees and employers on creating fulfilling work environments.
In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, Justin McMenamy kicks off a seven-episode mini-series focused on his experiences as a curator of a market disruptive technology division housed within a Fortune 500 company. Each episode in the series is built from the framework of Kelly Johnson’s 14 Rules of Management. This list, authored in 1954, is the cultural charter document for Skunk Works, the Advanced Development Programs division of Lockheed Martin and the designers of products like the SR71 Blackbird, the U2 spy plane, and the F-35 Lightning. In the first episode of the series, McMenamy recounts early career disillusionment with corporate bureaucracy which led him to join Precision Planting, a start-up minded company with an anti-bureaucratic ethos. In light of Precision Planting being acquired by Monsanto in 2012 and later by AGCO in 2017, McMenemy explores the challenges of maintaining a startup culture within a large corporation. Building from Kelly Johnson's 1st rule of management, McMenamy highlights the significance of executive support for organizational autonomy from the broader company. Across the arc of this series, McMenamy focuses on the complexities of sustaining an innovative culture within incumbent companies, along with proven techniques an organization can employ to forestall the logical and rational march into bureaucracy.
In this episode of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, Justin McMenamy discusses leadership lessons with his friend and colleague, Juan Roncoroni. The conversation covers topics like authenticity, transparency, balancing chaos with structure, and the importance of personal relationships in leadership. Roncoroni shares amusing anecdotes, such as accidentally filling a gasoline rental car with diesel while on a business trip and the plights of snoring while sharing a hotel room with co-workers. The conversation also dives into Roncoroni's career transition from a large international corporation to the startup culture of Precision Planting. Additionally, they explore cultural nuances in leadership styles across different regions considering Roncoroni’s recent transition from South America to Europe. Amidst humor, the episode underscores the significance of empathy, flexibility, and genuine personal connections in effective leadership.
In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' Justin McMenamy critiques the modern employee opinion survey by questioning the effectiveness of employing broadbrush survey results and anonymous free text feedback to gauge employee morale. McMenamy points out that such surveys often fall short of their aim due to participation coercion, the psychology of anonymous comments, and leadership's creativity in results interpretation. He argues for the need for face-to-face feedback and open communication as a replacement for the employee opinion survey. “The Modern Employee Opinion Survey promotes a culture of secrecy and gossip, which is nothing but a hindrance to teamwork, candor, and rapid movement towards a goal. I have always believed that information flows fastest along relationship lines. The modern employee opinion survey largely acts as a relationship blocker between leaders and their organizations.”
In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' Justin McMenamy discusses leadership lessons with Bryce Baker, focusing on distinguishing principle from preference and integrating insights from different domains into your leadership approach. Bryce shares his journey from field sales representative to marketing manager at Precision Planting, emphasizing the importance of sales and marketing synergy along with the pros and cons of tailored marketing. The conversation also delves into the balance between autonomy and centralized control in decision-making, using an NFL quarterback analogy to illustrate the concept of 'loosely coupled' organizations. Additionally, they explore the significance of intelligent failure in fostering a culture that encourages innovation and learning. The conversation wraps up with reflections on the transition from leading individual contributors to leading leaders, highlighting the importance of humility, communication, and continuous learning.
Justin McMenamy, host of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, shares his experience as a design engineer in a highly regulated and complacent company within the diesel engine industry. He discusses the aristocratic leadership style that stifled creativity, fostered fear, and led to a toxic workplace environment. Through personal stories and reflections, he details how this environment fostered bitterness among employees and led to significant mental strain, even hospitalizations. McMenamy offers insights on recognizing toxic corporate cultures, the importance of mentorship, and steps he took towards overcoming bitterness, emphasizing the need for proactive self-care and strategic career decisions.
In this episode of 'Grody and UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' host Justin McMenamy is joined by longtime friend and colleague Benoit Blateyron. Across the conversation, they discuss international business expansion, adapting strategies to different cultures, the significance of cultural understanding in team dynamics, and experiences working with diverse teams in Europe. The conversation delves into personal anecdotes, such as the impact of cultural practices like 'fika' and 'sauna' in Swedish work culture. The episode culminates in discussions on resilience and human-centric leadership amid challenges like the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The dialogue is peppered with humor and personal stories, making complex leadership and cultural concepts relatable and engaging.
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