The Modern Manager

There are times when rich conversation is exactly what needed to happen, but that’s really the exception, not the norm. For most meetings, a good conversation is simply not enough. Too often meetings that are intended to produce a decision or clarify next steps result in little if any follow through. So what can you do about that?  In this episode, I discuss 5 practices to make your meetings outco...

It's helpful to hear stories and lessons learned from managers who have experienced the daily challenges of working with a team. In episode 020 I speak with Rick Kiley, a founding partner of Soho Experiential. We talk about his experiences as a manager growing his team, holding people accountable, and lots more lessons over his 13 year journey in the business. One word of warning: there is some in...

For many of us, there never seem to be enough hours in the day. Our to-do lists seem to accumulate new tasks faster than we can cross them off. There are demands from colleagues and clients at work, family obligations, and social responsibilities. And in addition to all the things we’re supposed to do, there are things we wish we had time to do - like going to the gym, cooking, playing an instrume...

Whether you're trying to build a high performing team or transform your organization's culture, you need to be a change agent. When it comes to changing culture, thinking like a marketer can help. In episode 018 I speak with Wes Kao, an expert in marketing, product, and growth, and former Executive Director of Seth Godin’s altMBA. We talk about generating buy-in for bigger culture change work as w...

Almost everything you do as a manager can be influenced or framed by the mindset of serving your team: in the level of autonomy you provide, in how you invest in people’s growth, and in the culture of respect and gratitude that you build, and beyond. With the servant leadership approach, your job as a manager changes from that of conductor to that of coach and cheerleader. When you can make a few...

This is the first bonus episode in the Parenting Your Business series. In these episodes, I talk about my experiences as a parent and manager or business leader, comparing situations and learnings.   In this episode, I talk about the things we do for our team members that they should really do for themselves.   I'd love to hear from you! Email me at mamie@mamieks.com Subscribe to my newsletter at...

Is it possible for non-technical teams to benefit from practices like agile that were created by and for engineers? What if we’re not in a tech or software development space? How can non-techie managers take agile and use it for the growth of their teams? If you’ve heard about agile, but are still unsure what it is, you’re not alone. In this episode, I speak with Sinead A. Condon, Transformation S...

The decision to invest in your employees can be one of the smartest decisions you make as a manager. When you allocate money, time, or energy to an employee’s growth, the benefits for them, for you, and for your business can be profound. Learn ways to invest in people individually and as a team.   Get the free mini-guide to investing in your team.   Join the Modern Manager community to get the ful...

Diversity in the workplace is getting a lot of attention these days. As we build awareness of and increase the range of diversity in its many forms, one we mustn’t overlook is personality. Our workplaces are already quite diverse in this respect and as managers, we must be capable of working with people who have different preferences than we do. Todays guest, Rob Toomey is President at TypeCoach....

As managers, we’re constantly communicating with others by email, chat, phone, and in meetings. We share instructions, feedback, praise, and gratitude. We provide information, ask questions, and offer suggestions. In this episode, we discuss the communication skills every manager (not leader) needs.   Get the free mini-guide to help you improve your communication.   Join the Modern Manager communi...

We have conversations every day. We have them with our family and friends, our colleagues at work, and strangers at the grocery store. We have them online. We have them in our heads. Most conversations happen organically, but what happens when you approach a conversation with the mindset that it is an experience which can be designed, and how does it transform the conversation and the outcomes? Da...

Enjoyment may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about work, but it’s a critical ingredient to building a thriving team. In order for each person to flourish, they need feel a bit of joy in the work they do, the team they do it with and the environment in which they do it.   Get the free mini-guide to increasing the enjoyment in your team.   Join the Modern Manager community t...

Meetings have a bad rap, but they're critical to how work gets done. Today's guest, Elise Keith is the co-Founder of Lucid Meetings, which helps organizations run day-to-day meetings to power their organizational success. Elise and I discuss the 'bad meeting doom loop', different types of meetings and how to string together a series to optimize how the team collaborates, and the most important thi...

Expressing appreciation - a “thankful recognition” of the contribution of those around you - is part of the wave of positive psychology that has become mainstream in recent years. But how do we do this effectively in a work setting? Consider three facets of appreciation: gratitude, praise and recognition. Rockstar managers use all three and build appreciation into their daily or weekly routine.  ...

Is it possible that prevailing perceptions about productivity don’t work for everyone? This week's guest Dorie Clark, productivity expert, strategy consultant, author, and professional speaker decided to put them to the test. Through her month-long time-tracking experiment, she was able to further optimize her time, and what she learned might surprise you. Dorie and I discuss misconceptions about...

Connections at work provide a sense of cohesion, which is essential for cultivating teamwork and collaboration. When there are strong relationships, many interpersonal dynamics become less stressful. Conflicts are reduced and those that do arise are often easier to resolve. People are more willing to ask or help and share their ideas. As a manager, your job is to connect with each of your team mem...

Does your work environment provide respect, fairness, and safety? Those are the three key attributes of a healthy workplace culture in which people contribute their best ideas and efforts. Too often we overlook the small behaviors that can have a major negative impact. When people perceive that they're unsafe or undervalued at work, they engage in unhealthy coping mechanisms such as gossip, battli...

Flexibility is a growing concern (or demand) of many employees. As a manager, you have the ability to increase the autonomy of your team, thereby enabling greater engagement, dedication and even performance. But how do you do it in ways that are meaningful while also ensuring high quality work performance?   Get the free mini-guide to help you implement greater autonomy in your team.   Join the Mo...

Who is the best manager you ever had?  How did they make you feel? There are a million different answers to this question, but none of them involve some variation of saying, “They made me feel like a number.  Like a cog in the wheel.” That’s because we value human interactions. We value when people take their time with us, get to know us, and actually act like human beings around us. In this episo...

When you have a culture of respect, people are less stressed and there’s less conflict, which often translates into many positive outcomes, including greater productivity. A culture of respect creates what experts call “psychological safety.” Simply put, it is being able to show your full self and share your ideas without fear of negative consequences.   Get the free mini-guide to help you build a...

Being an intentional manager is a great start, but what does it take to be a rockstar manager? How can you build a culture in which people flourish and accomplish extraordinary results? In this episode, I discuss 8 characteristics of a rockstar manager.   Get the free mini-guide to being a rockstar manager.   Join the Modern Manager community to get the full guide to becoming a rockstar manager an...

What does it mean to be an unintentional manager? If you’re an unintentional manager, you likely don’t even realize the frustrating things that you may be doing. Here are 6 signs of an unintentional manager. Luckily, they’re easily identifiable and quickly correctable. unclear expectations the wrong or not enough feedback not asking for feedback not showing appreciation separation from the team le...

In this intro episode of The Modern Manager, host Mamie Kanfer Stewart shares what listeners can expect to hear from the show. Get ready for a podcast that will help you optimize your time, cultivate your team, and achieve your goals. Check out the Myers-Briggs test here .