A Case of the Mondays – Détails, épisodes et analyse

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 Cultures

And 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 Innovation

Outro: "Rockaway Beach" by The Ramones

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 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 HERE
Check 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% off

Get some book recommendations at the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club HERE! 

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved

Note: The original version of this podcast was music-less! Hey, we're all just trying our best over here at A Case of the Mondays. Refresh and try it again. 

Today, we're talking reviews! Your review, specifically, and how to be more proactive and use the skills of leading without authority to drive your boss in the direction you want them to go: namely to be an advocate for you inside the organization.

We'll also check in with the Mondaypod Manager's Book Club Book of March: King of the Mississippi by Mike Freedman

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 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 Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 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 Lencioni
Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins
Radical Candor by Kim Scott
True 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 Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 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 LinkedIn
ACotM on Instagram

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 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 matter
What Self-Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate It)
This trait is a manager’s superpower. Here’s how to develop it

Buy Severance by Ling Ma

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 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 Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 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 Group

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 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 References
Why are there so many layoffs? An interview with Stanford Graduate School of Business Professor Jeffrey Pfeffer

How Apple Has (So Far) Avoided Layoffs

List of the Latest Companies Making Cuts (LinkedIn)

The American Prospect: Tech Workers Should Unionize Immediately

What is Stakeholder Management? (Good article, but they are trying to sell you something.)

Project Stakeholder Management, Engineering Management Journal

Writer, Host: Chris Thierfelder
Producers: Sarah and Max Warman
Art: Jennie Jacobs
Music: Kevin MacLeod
IG: @mondaypod
LinkedIn: A Case of the Mondays
Site: A Case of the Mondays

Copyright 2023 TWC Media Group All Rights Reserved