#139: The vice in Vice-President

What does the word ‘vice’ in Vice-President mean to you?

The common meaning is ‘person acting or qualified to act in place of’ the CEO. But it has another meaning, one that I have come to appreciate as a nonsense consultant, because it highlights how many senior executives actually spend their time and energy.

The word ‘vice’ also means ‘instrument with two jaws between which thing may be gripped’.

In many organizations there is a divide between the CEO and the employees. In other words, between vision and execution. You need both to be successful. If you have only one, you are like a vice with only one jaw. You just cannot get to grips with the thing to be done.

And that’s what an effective vice-president does. She is the instrument that brings the CEO and the workers together so that they can get a grip on reality.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am

#138: Perform better, painlessly

How is your self-efficacy? For your sake I hope it is high because if it is low, then you are likely to be a painfully poor performer.

What is it and where can you get some? Basically, it is your belief in yourself. If you have confidence in your abilities to perform effectively, then you have high self-efficacy.

Research has highlighted three interesting things about self-efficacy:
(1) If you are low in self-efficacy, then you are more likely to feel helpless and depressed.
(2) If you have high self-efficacy, then you are likely to perform effectively. In other words, belief in yourself does lead to better performance.
(3) If you have high self-efficacy you tend to tolerate pain better. Your body actually releases a natural painkiller that enhances your performance and reduces stress.

What is the message? Believe in yourself and you will perform better, painlessly.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am

#137: It’s the idea, stupid

Here’s a game I want you to play. For this one week listen to the message, not the messenger. I’ll say it again: listen to the message, not the messenger. In other words, focus on what is said, not on who is saying it.

Too many good ideas are not heard simply because we focus on the person with the idea instead of on the idea itself. And if we don’t like the person or think the person a weirdo or whatever, we tend to transfer these feelings onto the idea as well. Because we have discounted the person, we discount the idea.

It’s known as arguing against the person. That’s right, politicians and their hangers-on do a lot of this during election time. But why should you?

It is quite possible for a weirdo to have a pretty powerful idea now and then. So, please, for this one week listen to the idea and ignore the person.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am

#136: Sisyphus at work

At work, do you feel like Sisyphus? Sisyphus was condemned by the gods to roll a rock to the top of a mountain. This might not have been such a bad fate if the rock stayed put. But, unfailingly, the rock would roll down the mountain and Sisyphus would have to start all over again.

Many people experience an equally absurd fate at work. But it’s not always the gods who have condemned them; more often it is their desire for more money that numbs their senses to the absurdity of what they are doing.

And yet, being numb at work is not always a bad thing. Because the minute your real feelings get through, you will be compelled to do one of two things: change your situation or suppress your feelings, again.

You can also do what many others do: blame your superiors for the absurdity of your situation and then scorn them openly. But how pitiful that would be.


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am

#135: Don't misunderstand your employees

Why should you bother to understand your employees? Simply put, understanding people enables you to influence them.

Consider the skills required at different levels of management. At lower levels of the hierarchy, technical skills matter most; at top management level, conceptual skills matter more. The one skill common to all levels of management is that of being able to work with and through people.

You do need to understand an employee if you want to communicate your wishes clearly, and to predict her behavior accurately when allocating tasks and setting deadlines.

And yet, managers can be very insensitive to what really matters to employees. According to research conducted more than 30 years ago, what workers said they wanted most from their jobs was rated as least important by their superiors.

Don’t be surprised if this research finding still applies today. Do you really understand what your employees want most from their work?


I’m james@nonsenseatwork.com

Copyright: 2007 James Henry McIntosh

James can be heard on Public Radio, 88.9 FM WCVE, Richmond VA.
Monday - 7:19am and Saturday - 8:19am