Here are some blog posts that caught my attention at mid-week. I'm pointing you to the Carnival of the Capitalists and posts on scientific management, why managers should listen, authenticity, corporate ethics, banking serotonin, and messy relationships at work.

Start with the most recent Carnival of the Capitalists. You'll find pointers to lots of quality posts.

From Business Week: Scientific Management Is Past Its Peak
"Sure, algorithms and software tools can help streamline any business. But more executives are rediscovering that gut instinct is what keeps a company vital"

Wally's Comment: This is a worthwhile read amongst all the current "analytics" hype.

From the Industrial Newsroom: Employees Tell Managers to Shut Up and Listen
"In researching the behavior employees seek from their managers and, in return, experience, Belgium-based training company Krauthammer International reports that managers’ behaviors don’t measure up to employee expectations at least half the time. In particular, managers are poor listeners and fail to provide employees with needed guidance and feedback, according to the results of a survey of people representing various industry
sectors."

Wally's Comment: Reminds me of that wonderful Tom Lehrer line: "If a person can't communicate, the very least he can do is to shut up!"

From Steve Roesler: Success, Authenticity, and All the Things You Aren't
"You read it correctly: All the things you aren't. In a world filled with positive thinking and the pursuit of happiness, why would I lead with that kind of a line? Because the same people who want to be positive and happy also talk about being successful and authentic. So I want to add some authenticity to the whole issue."

Wally's Comment: Maybe it's "authenticity" that's the fix du jour and not analytics.  Before you run off and try to get authentic, read this post and comments.

From Fast Company: Can Corporate Ethics be Rated?
"A relatively new magazine called Ethisphere has come out with its second issue, featuring the '2007 World's Most Ethical Companies.' It looks like quite a piece of work. Ethisphere explains: 'In assembling the 2007 rankings of the World’s Most Ethical Companies, the researchers and editors of Ethisphere examined more than 5,000 companies across 30 separate industries looking for true ethical leadership.'"

Wally's Comment: Of course, I could be wrong. Measuring corporate ethics on some scientific scale would be authentic and also analytical. This could be the issue du jour.

From Brain-Based Business: Bank any Serotonin Today?
"Some people show up at work in great spirits and their tone suggests they seem to hold onto hope even when conflict comes. Their brains appear to be wired for zip and others tend to reward them with promotions, or monetary incentives. Look at a happy-go-lucky – successful person – and you are looking at levels of serotonin that measure higher than the average Joe. How so? Some folks produce higher levels from their unique gene pools – others generate more serotonin by their choices and responses to others on any ordinary day. "

Wally's Comment: Dr. Weber is great at providing helpful advice you may not have known you need.

From ExecPundit: When the Relationship is the Problem
"A scenario: An employee, who is reasonably competent, complains that she is not treated respectfully by an associate. Management checks into the matter, finds that both sides are to blame, and issues the appropriate warnings. The employee then starts openly jotting down notes after conversations and lets it be known, through the grapevine, that she is thinking of filing a harassment complaint. The associate also starts documenting and makes noises about taking legal action because of what he deems false accusations. The situation deteriorates as factions form and various co-workers begin to avoid any interaction with both note-takers out of fear that they will get roped into a lawsuit. Management is reluctant to take any action against either employee because it fears litigation."

Wally's Comment: And now for something really practical.  If you've managed in an organization of any size, you'll recognize the situation in this post.

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Wally Bock has helped people learn to be great bosses for more than a quarter century. His latest book, Performance Talk: The One-on-One Part of Leadership, makes learning key leadership principles almost effortless by teaching through a story and providing lists of resources for further growth.

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