A Case of the Mondays

Today we're getting in the wayback machine to 2019--remember that? We were still living in 2016 back then, and we were such summer children. Are you innovative? Do you know what it means to be innovative? Probably not, but that's ok because today I'm brining back my 2019 conversation with Harvard Business Professor, Gary Pisano.In his own words: "Over my three-decade career, I have explored fundamental questions about how organizations learn, innovate, and compete. A researcher, teacher and consultant to many of the world’s largest corporations, I focus on the management of innovation, strategy, enterprise growth, the commercialization of science and international competitiveness. My work on these topics has spanned a broad range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, apparel, electronics, entertainment, financial services, health care, manufacturing, restaurants, semiconductors, software, specialty chemicals and web services."The article that blew my mind and made me need to talk to Prof. Pisano: The Hard Truth About Innovative CulturesAnd another great one from 2021, applying the lessons of evolution and Gary's own research in a case study about how Moderna developed their COVId-19 vaccine: What Evolution Can Teach Us About InnovationOutro: "Rockaway Beach" by The RamonesWriter, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, we revisit our 2020 talk with Moe Carrick!Moe is an Executive Leadership Coach who focuses on my favorite subject: building leaders who are good leaders to the people they are leading! And if you are lucky enough to get in to her Leading People Program, you can be just such a leader. She's also, among other things, a speaker, an author, and, since we last talked... a Podcast Host!Learn more about Moe by clicking HERECheck out the "Let's Make Work Human" Podcast with Moe and Mei HERE (or probably wherever you're listening to this very podcast)Go enroll for the Project Manager's Masterclass Now! Offer code: MONDAYPOD25 for 25% offGet some book recommendations at the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club HERE! Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, Chris wraps up season 3 with a recap of why Team Leadership is important, how good team leadership can led to better executive leadership, the Five Strengths of getting better at anything, and where you can go to learn more (SPOILER ALERT: Chris is referring to his free webinar and his not-free 12-part Course on Mastering Project Management.) He also gives you the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club picks for the summer. Thanks for listening, everyone!Mastering Project Management Webinar (Click to Register!)The Project Management Masterclass (Enrollment opens on May 9th, but you can get a sneak peak, now! And listeners can put in coupon code MONDAYPOD25 for 25% off!)Mondaypod Manager's Book ClubWriter, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Hey, better late than never! We're just trying to put out an honest podcast folks, sometimes the plane comes in late and sometimes, it doesn't land at all. That's a reference to today's topic, "The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Chris talks about the book, what it's about and what a novel written in the 30's has to tell us about life and work here in the cozy embrace of 2023. (Hint: people haven't changed as much as we might have hoped.)Chris also talks about the "Mastering Project Management" Webinar hosted by this very podcast host, that you can sign up for by clicking that link! Tune in next week and Chris will give you the code for 25% off registration.Project Manager's Masterclass (enrollment opens on May 9th!)Glad Bitch Podcast (it's excellent, better than this one!)Mondaypod Manager's Book Club on Amazon"The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald (publisher's site)Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

What does it all mean? Why bother with any of it? Today Chris takes a look at the world of Project Management gurus and Rise and Grind Culture, and the ocean of leadership books and wonders: "Does any of this stuff matter? Does it get to why any of this is important? Who cares about being a good project manager or a good team leader, anyway?"Spoiler alert: it does matter. It matters for deeper and better reasons than the prevailing messages would have you believe. Two more episodes left, folks! Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Even a lot of experienced team leaders forget that the job of leading teams isn't just to chase down dates and deliverables. The job is leadership and to have an effective team, you need good team morale. Chris talks about building team morale and offers a few hard-won lessons from his own tenure as a leader on what to do...and what NOT to do to manage the micro-culture of your team. He also gives a nod to the indie radio DJs of yesteryear, and spins a little nostalgia for those people who placed "a little doubt" on the pillows of those of us growing up in the 'burbs.Today's Outro: An early version of R.E.M.'s "Radio Free Europe" that doesn't appear on any commercial album. Damn the man. Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, Chris talks about the Mondaypod Manager's Book of the Month: "The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and why it's so weird that people seem to have a hard time picking out who the villain is in movies. Then, he gets in to one of the common misconceptions that team leaders have: that you can't push back on Senior Executives. He gives you five strategies to consider when you find yourself needing to (gently) correct the people who run the show.Mondaypod Manager's Book Club on Amazon"The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald (publisher's site)"The Man Who Broke Capitalism" book on Jack Welch by David Gelles (interview on NPR)Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

On the lucky 13th episode of the Monday Pod, Chris talks a bit about "The Great Gatsby" and why he loves that book. Why is that relevant? Because he also announces the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club pick for April: "The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald.He then gets in to the six most common mistakes, misconceptions and limiting beliefs that Project Managers--or any team leader, really--tend to have about their role, and offers a couple of stories about making those mistakes and learning from them. Mondaypod Manager's Book Club on Amazon"The Last Tycoon" by F. Scott Fitzgerald (publisher's site)Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

On today's show we talk about the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club pick for March: "King of the Mississippi" by Mike Freedman. Chris gets in to what "writing what you know" really means, how story and myth inform us, but can also get out of hand, why satire--good satire--is necessary so we can laugh at ourselves and maybe modulate some of our worse impulses, and why you need smart people in your life, especially in your 30's, to make sure you don't suck. If you haven't yet, go grab a copy of "King of the Mississippi" by Mike Freedman at your local book store. Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, Chris talks about the stories we tell and the myths we make about leadership, and how that too often contradicts reality. This might make for great copy, and excellent social media engagement, but it ultimately hurts everyone and prevents us from doing work that might have value. Then, we discuss the kind of story you need to tell yourself when you step in to a new leadership role, and how that's going to help you make a break from the past and step in to a shiny-new future. I’ve been employed in tech for years, but I’ve almost never workedWriter, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Hell might be other people, but other people are how you're going to be successful in your career so you better start making some friends. Today we talk about networking! Why you need a network at every stage of your career, what sort of people you should have in your network and how to go about getting them. Not even the GOATs were successful without their networks, and the same will hold true for you you. Time to pop a mint, stick your hand out and start making connections. Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, Chris talks about the state of Leadership and Management books and why despite their being a lot of books, there isn't a lot of readily-useful ones. He gives his short stack of nonfiction books for new- and middle-managers to read, and gets in to a discussion about Severance by Ling Ma, the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club Pick of February. Chris' (Practical) Nonfiction Picks for Leaders:The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick LencioniDare to Lead by Brene BrownThe First 90 Days by Michael WatkinsRadical Candor by Kim ScottTrue North by Bill George (tied with Leading with Gratitude by Adrian Gostick)Bravespace Workplace by previous ACotM guest, Moe Carrick.Mondaypod Manager's Book Club pick for March: King of the Mississippi by Mike Freedman Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, Chris gives you a sample of the tips and tricks he gives Project Managers wanting to take their practice to the next level. He also talks a bit more about Severance by Ling Ma, the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club February Book. ACotM on LinkedInACotM on InstagramWriter, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today Chris opens the discussion up on Emotional Intelligence and why leaders need to develop it and keep developing it through out their careers. We get in to the first pillar of Emotional Intelligence: Self-Awareness, and talk about why knowing yourself is the first step in knowing and understanding how to lead others. We then get in to another aspect of Emotional Intelligence: Social Awareness, and Empathy as a key element of that. That brings us to a short chat introducing the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club Book of the Month: Severance, by Ling Ma, and how following the heroine, Candace, is a great way to discover a perspective many of us have never had. Self-aware leaders and why they matterWhat Self-Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate It)This trait is a manager’s superpower. Here’s how to develop itBuy Severance by Ling MaWriter, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

In this episode, Chris talks about Informal Governance, or the network of relationships that influence you, your team, and the people who govern your projects. We talk about empathy, getting in to the heads of these people and, despite some unpleasantness, what they're being told about you and your colleagues. Also! Chris launches the Mondaypod Book Club! We'll be reading a series of fiction books that will help expand our minds to encompass the perspectives of people who are different than us, and may be representative of people whom we call our colleagues and friends. Mondaypod's Books for Managers #1: Severance, by Ling Ma"America's Fever of Workaholism is Finally Breaking" (Except, no; it's not)"America’s Work Ethic Is Under Assault" (Also no)"The Hidden Link Between Workaholism and Mental Health""ChatGPT is about to dump more work on everyone"If you want to find the LinkedIn post that got Chris so incensed, he's not linking it here. That dude got too much traction as it was. I'm sure your CEO read it. Go ask him.Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, we're talking about risk! Why it's hard for people to understand and assess, how to make it easier (or less risky) to evaluate risk, and why being good at risk is a practice that scales with you along your entire career so the risks you take can be handled better and smarter than some examples in industry.Link to the article Chris mentioned:ChatGPT is 'Down all the time' and it's a good thing...Check out the Project Management Masterclass and other offerings to help you or your enterprise improve leadership and management: TWC GroupWriter, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

On today's episode we talk about the recent spate of layoff, and how they aren't good for anyone, including the company doing the layoffs. We talk about empathy, treating people like the human sacks of emotional baggage they are, and how all that relates to today's topic of Stakeholder Management!That's a terrible phrase. We'll really talking about how you, as the Project Manager, need to create relationships with the people who have interest in, and influence over your project and your team. Additional Reading and ReferencesWhy are there so many layoffs? An interview with Stanford Graduate School of Business Professor Jeffrey PfefferHow Apple Has (So Far) Avoided LayoffsList of the Latest Companies Making Cuts (LinkedIn)The American Prospect: Tech Workers Should Unionize ImmediatelyWhat is Stakeholder Management? (Good article, but they are trying to sell you something.)Project Stakeholder Management, Engineering Management JournalWriter, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Today, we're talking about Project Management as an "Accidental Profession." The fact that despite its proliferation (16 million NEW PM gigs in the last decade!) companies still seem to think of it as a nuisance and a "necessary evil."What to do to understand how YOUR company views project management and, by extension, project managers is going to be your first step at making your current reality a stepping stone to your long-term career goals. Oh, and we also check in with our pals at Southwest Airlines because no matter what's going on in your career, at least you're not them. Some articles from the show:NY Times: Southwest CEO Bob Jordan on "What Went Wrong." Business Horizons: Lessons for an Accidental ProfessionPMI: The Accidental Project ManagerUniversity of Minnesota Press: Creating a Project CultureWriter, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Welcome back to A Case of the Mondays!This episode, Chris introduces the concept for Season 3: a series of mini-pods designed to give Team Leaders a little something useful every week. We'll talk a little about why front-line or "middle" managers are so important, how they don't get the love they need, and why investing in them can save your company from massive headaches down the road. Sit back, tune in, and enjoy while wearing your corporate-branded t-shirt. Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Having now taken a couple of weeks to consider Season 2, Chris sits down at the mic to give his thoughts on some overall themes to the season and what he himself has been working on. Chris gets personal (kind of) and draws out a lesson in karma and the awesome power to alter realty that we all carry around with us, if we'd only just stop to consider it. Writer, Host: Chris ThierfelderProducers: Sarah and Max WarmanArt: Jennie JacobsMusic: Kevin MacLeodIG: @mondaypodLinkedIn: A Case of the MondaysSite: A Case of the MondaysCopyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved