Managing Yo-Yo Style
Does being managed by others smack more of "Survivor" than Stephen Covey for you? Could there BE any more management styles out there-have you gotten to experience all of them yet? And what kind of manager are you-or should you try to be?
If you're reading this, you're probably familiar with too many types of management and leadership styles-more flavors than months, for the most part. On the leadership, not so much. I offer to you now an additional insight into a newly designated style that you will recognize, and may even find funny. Or not, depending on life at work.
And speaking of life at work, what could be more fun than children's toys at work? How about just the thought of them? No, wait-how about BEING them?
Before I go on, I must tell you I am at work on a book on management styles, because we definitely need more fun at work, but this type of "leadership" stands alone, and was recognized and developed by a colleague and myself, with one disclaimer only: No alcoholic beverages were consumed in the making of this theory!
Now back to our theory, which shall be forever called The Yo-Yo Style of Management?-which by the way, does not involve cellos or classical music. It is purely and simply based upon that amazing device that delights and mystifies one and all-the yo-yo.
Three Rules
There are only three rules in The Yo-Yo Style of Management:
1. You are the Yo-Yo
2. You are the Finger
3. You are the String
Let's look at these components:
1. You are the Yo-Yo-this means that you are the doer, the impacter, the thing that moves. It also means you are probably pretty low on the corporate food chain. In other words, you are done to.
2. You are the Finger-now here's where the power is! By mere pointing (either a true gesture or metaphorically), you control the yo-yo(s). All of them. Imagine the power of watching multiple yo-yos fly! You became an executive for precisely this purpose. Skill is a necessity-if you have it, great. If you don't, well, that's the String's failing. Of course, you can be the Finger at any level of the organization, as long as there are at least two levels "beneath" you. You know your place-and theirs.
3. You are the String-well, this means you are in middle (high or low middle, depending on how flat your organizational structure is) management, and you are conveying the Finger's commands. High, Low, Walk the Dog, Around the World! (That's for all you road warriors and commanders out there). You are a CONNECTOR, and hopefully a skilled one at that. You get things done, and MOVE those yo-yos, while making the Finger proud. On the other hand (or is it Finger?) lackluster Strings drop a lot of yo-yos. Be a STRONG String!
Yo-Yoing your way to the simple life
Now that this theory has been defined for you, could life BE any simpler? Because you can apply the Yo-Yo Style of Management? to personal life, too. In which case, it becomes more of a principle. (And if you want to have any type of relationship, you may want to go light on the Management.)
Do you realize how simple your life at work will be now that you know this theory? Now that you know what you want, are you ready to put your best efforts into your current position, and then, and only then, determine what you must Yo-Yo for? You can even be all three-Yo-Yo, Finger, and String-all at the same time, with only one caveat: Keep in mind that to become a national champion, you must practice, practice, practice! And then, maybe, just maybe, you can BE the Finger. Can you feel it?
You can? Good! It's as simple as Rocking the Baby.
© JoAnne Scalise
JoAnne Scalise has served in multiple levels of healthcare and business management at local and national corporate levels, and has gotten to play at all aspects of the yo-yo as a healthcare professional in both hospitals and national organizations. Her goal, as was that of a mentor, is "Work has to be at least 51% fun". Her collaborator on recognizing the Yo-Yo Style of Management? is a business leader and is also a healthcare professional committed to fun at work.
JoAnne is currently at work on an information empire-with a majority focus on fun-that will first include a book examining management styles and offering strategies for your success-no matter the environment in which you swim. Think Stephen Covey meets Leona Helmsley meets Jacques Cousteau, and you'll be there. If you would like to be placed on a mailing list to learn when The Moody Manager? website is complete, please send an email to MoodyManager@msn.com and in the meantime, Grab Every Opportunity For Fun!?
 Google News Updated : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:51:03 GMT Singer Lisa Marie Presley gives birth to twins - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - LOS ANGELES (AP) - Lisa Marie Presley is a mom again. A publicist says the 40-year-old singer gave birth Tuesday to twin girls, whose names were not released. Lisa Marie Presley delivers twins: report Today's News: Our Take - Lisa Marie Presley Gives Birth to Twin Girls Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:11:28 GMT Van driver's work in Mass. aided Nobel winners - Boston Globe
Boston Globe - HUNTSVILLE, Ala.—When two American scientists won a Nobel Prize this week in chemistry, the driver of a car dealership's courtesy van had reason to take special interest. Video: Nobel Chemistry Prize Goes for Jellyfish Protein  Comment by Jeremy M. Berg, Ph.D., Director National Institute of General Medical SciencesPubl.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:14:18 GMT Five killed in New York fire; 300 acres burn in Napa Valley - Austin American-Statesman
Austin American-Statesman - NEW YORK - A family of five, including three children, died in a blaze that filled an apartment with thick smoke and kept the victims from escaping through the front door, fire officials said. Napa County wildfire forces evacuations of over 100 homes Fire Threatens Napa Valley Homes and Wineries Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:27:05 GMT Bush, allies seek to calm jittery investors - BusinessWeek BusinessWeek - By JENNIFER LOVEN and MARTIN CRUTSINGER President Bush and financial leaders from nations rich and poor pledged Saturday to intensify their efforts to unblock a frozen financial system before it does more damage to an increasingly shaky global economy. Bush Says US Must Take Lead in Solving Crisis (Update3) Bush, allies seek to calm jittery investors Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 01:30:21 GMT On the trail to the White House - Fort Worth Star Telegram
Fort Worth Star Telegram - Sen. Barack Obama, Democratic presidential nominee, at a rally in Philadelphia on Saturday. AP/ALEX BRANDON Today’s headlines Report stings Palin over troopergate flap; Raw anger showing up in McCain crowds, candidate taking steps to minimize it; ... McCain Asks Supporters to Show Obama Respect Obama Thanks McCain for Urging Supporters to be Respectful Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:17:46 GMT Theatrical Review of Body of Lies - DVDTOWN.com DVDTOWN.com - By Jason P. Vargo "Body of Lies" is a certain type of movie designed for a certain type of moviegoer. I think the tagline describes the movie perfectly, actually. Body of Lies 'Body of Lies': Desert Norm, By Kurt Loder Publ.Date : Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:19:39 GMT McCain supporters face uphill climb in blue Jersey - Newsday
Newsday - By WAYNE PARRY | AP Writer WOODBRIDGE, NJ - Walter Zjawin is trying to help John McCain do what no Republican has done in 20 years: win a presidential general election in New Jersey. Maine now on McCain radar McCain inches closer in Saturday's Gallup Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:04:37 GMT RSS Software |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Can Project Managers prevent projects from slipping?Ask a techie to... Read More Most of us have found ourselves working on a team... Read More The CultBecoming a part of the Cult, consists of being... Read More As a training manager, there are two important aspects to... Read More Do you have some goals you want to achieve or... Read More Because of my work as a consultant, trainer and coach... Read More There are papers on the floor, across the desk and... Read More Direct reports-people who need direction and leadership-rely on their leaders... Read More It seemed like a good decision at the time. A... Read More Teleconferences can be a boon or a bust. On the... Read More Six Reasons to K.I.S.S. "Very often, people confuse simple with... Read More "The best Leader is one who knows how to pick... Read More Many operations leaders have been there, done that with re-engineering.... Read More Maybe it's the season or just a more buoyant job... Read More Many entrepreneurs and chief executive officers are unaware that there... Read More Every one of us, in reality, has two people inside:... Read More Here's a productivity tip that will save you a lot... Read More There are 12 essential elements of a successful internal communications... Read More Business owners and managers are busier than ever. As their... Read More The Julian calendar we use to pass the time every... Read More There are seven essential elements to successful business communication:StructureClarityConsistencyMediumRelevancyPrimacy/RecencyPsychological Rule... Read More Do you have more projects than time? Help might be... Read More Another IT White Elephant!It seems that almost every day we... Read More An ongoing series of articles exploring the seven critical areas... Read More Is building your own inventory management solution really your best... Read More
Adsense
websites
Project Management - Preventing Project Slips
Help for the Meeting-Weary Manager
The Walmart Cult
How to Manage Your People Well: Tips for Managers of Training
Creating A Vision ? Bringing Your Dreams Into Reality
Five Ways to Influence Change in Others
Out of Control?
Four Steps to Better Performance Reviews
New Job, New Culture: Do You Fit In?
Effective Meetings by Phone - Part 1, How to Plan a Teleconference
Six Reasons to K.I.S.S.
Developing Your Mission
Ringing Doorbells Without Howitzers
My Companys Leadership Sucks!
Have You Always Thought That The Best Ideas Come From Research Or Management? Think Again
What Every Manager Should Know About How to Maximize the Two People Inside
Using Outlook to Count Responses
Internal Communication: 12 Essential Elements
Passion for Profits
The Retailers Calendar
The Seven Essentials of Business Communication
Let the Intern Do It - Affordable Help for Your Business
IT Expenditure - Why Businesses Spend Huge Amounts on Ineffective IT Investments
The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - Communication Breakdown
The Top Six Reasons to Buy Rather Than Build an Inventory Management Solution
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Employee Ideas Achieve Work Life Balance
This article relates to the Work/Life Balance competency, which investigates... Read More
Are You Managing to Lead?
For many people, the terms "manager" and "leader" are synonymous.... Read More
Transform Any Business into a Go-Getting Power House by Working SMART
Probably as well known as SWOT, SMART turns goals, objectives... Read More
Create Your Dashboard for Success
Driving down the road our eyes frequently scan the vital... Read More
The Seven Cs: Partnership Danger Signs - The 4th C: Cumulative Money Problems
A series of articles exploring the seven critical areas that... Read More
Einstein - Definition of Insanity
Insanity in the Sign & Graphics IndustryEinstein's DefinitionAlbert Einstein once... Read More
Hiring a Book Keeping Service
Whether you choose to do your own books and accounting... Read More
How to Make the Best of it - Take Your Weather with You
I once worked in a place where there were three... Read More
Try It Out On Your Team First
Wow! You're brilliant! You have a great idea. You've looked... Read More
Can Your Corporate Policy Pass the Monkeys, Bananas, and Water-spray Experiment?
Five monkeys were placed in a cage. A banana was... Read More
Its All In The Systems
Have you ever noticed french fries taste the same at... Read More
Managing Dickheads
"We are so different and individualistic that we can't work... Read More
Demise of the Lone Ranger Manager: A Lesson in Management Communication Style
When executives see themselves as solely responsible for the overall... Read More
Knowledge Management - Learning Whilst Doing - Facilitating an After Action Review
Introducing a learning culture into organisations can be difficult at... Read More
Budgets!
Budgets! There I've said it. For some the most hated... Read More
Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Adapting Human Resource Functions
This article relates to the human resource functions competency, commonly... Read More
Why and How to Work with a Consultant
A good consultant provides specialist abilities and experience, innovative ideas,... Read More
Critical Success Factors - Next
The Critical Success Factors Focusing on the... Read More
How to Help Your Company Become a World Class Company
Most people think real change in an organization occurs as... Read More
Faith is the LIFE-blood of Your ACTIONS before the Benefit -
Nothing has changed. Your ancestors lived by faith. Some planted... Read More
Have You Fixed the Broken Window?
Left alone it doesn't take long for a building with... Read More
How to Fire an Employee
One of the most difficult tasks you will face as... Read More
Temporary Employees and Operational Problems; Your Use of Temps Might Reveal Warning Signs
A recent Washington Post article, described the life of temporary... Read More
The Compliance Officers Killer Application
It used to be that only the largest multi-nationals needed... Read More
Innovation Management ? The Need For Knowledge Managers
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Business Management |