In a tight economy, training budgets can be among the first casualties. That leaves learning opportunities limited for many managers or aspiring managers. I suspect it's among the key reasons we've had over 9 million downloads of the "What Great Bosses Know" podcasts since I began posting them to iTunes U in 2010.
Interestingly, the stats we receive on those downloads indicate that the podcast listeners come from across the world. In fact, only about half of the downloads come from the United States. Clearly, the desire to be a great boss is universal!
The podcasts are free, and that certainly adds to their appeal. But what I hear from listeners is that they appreciate several things about them:
- The practical topics. I share tips about issues that managers face each day.
- The brevity. Typical episodes run between 3 and 5 minutes. I've been told by listeners that I often ride to work with them in their cars, or jog along with them on a run. The concise episodes work well for busy people.
- The optimistic but realistic advice. I think management can be a challenging, frustrating and often lonely endeavor. But because I also believe management can be an absolutely joyful mission as leaders help others do their best work.
This is a link to the podcast library on iTunes U.
It was the success of the podcasts that persuaded me to build on them and develop the book, "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW." It has become a management training guide for individuals and teams in such diverse areas as medicine, municipal management, libraries, IT, and media organizations!
My favored form of management training will always be face-to-face, so it can involve customization and coaching for each participant. I know from evaluations of the many workshops I lead that people truly value the ability to get individualized feedback.
But if that's not a reality for you today, feel free to take advantage of the "What Great Bosses Know" podcasts and the book "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW."
You can also check out the book's Facebook page, where I curate and share worthwhile readings on leadership and management and update it regularly.
March 22, 2013
"Jill Geisler", "low cost management training", "What great bosses know", "Work Happy: What Gret Bosses Know", book, iTunes U
I love working with new managers, because they are such eager learners. I recently spent a week with twenty-one newly promoted bosses. This was a diverse group in age, gender, ethnicity, and geography.
At the end of the seminar, I mentioned to a colleague how energized I was by the group. There was an optimism in the room that was undeniable. It was a special mindset -- refreshing in these days of downsizing, changing demands and tight budgets. The more I thought about it, the more I was inspired to write, so I could encourage veteran managers to recapture an essential part of the new manager mindset. Here's a link to that column and podcast on Poynter.org.
Hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think.
March 15, 2013
"Jill Geisler", "work happy: what great bosses know", book, leadership, management
Wisconsin area friends, I hope you will join me March 27. I've been invited by Cardinal Stritch University's Leadership Center to serve as one of this year's Helen Bader Leadership Speakers.
Over the past ten years, the University has been at the fore of conversations about leadership and its impact on business, education, government and civic life. Stritch brings together people who care about leadership, problem-solving and success in a diverse society. I'm honored to be a featured speaker this year.
I hope I will see you for this special event. More information is below. Please use the following link to access the site for registration, tickets and other information: Helen Bader Leadership Speaker Series. (Links within the flyer below aren't active via this page.)
February 26, 2013
"Cardinal Stritch", "Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", Bader, leadership
33 Voices is a website rich with leadership ideas, lessons and tips. The site's motto is "Smart Conversations about Business and Life." Its founder,
Moe Abdou, himself a voice of leadership, interviews
authors, researchers and business leaders. Moe's goal is to provide as much practical learning as possible on his site and lead people to ideas and answers.
Moe contacted me to talk about the key ideas of "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW," and we had a terrific conversation.
Here's a link to the 25 minute chat on the 33 Voices site.
And this is the SlideShare summary of Moe's key takeaways from our talk. I told Moe I felt less like I'd been interviewed and more like I was installed in the Abdou Hall of Fame -- and I'm truly honored.
[slideshare id=16633107&doc=jillgeisler-130219164034-phpapp02]
February 21, 2013
"33 Voices", "Jill Geisler", "Moe Abdou", leadership, management, success
Stepping up. Asking for additional responsibility. Pitching yourself for a promotion. Questioning the status quo. Offering ideas and solutions. Do you do these things in your organization, or do you hesitate? In my work with managers, and aspiring managers, I find that people often talk themselves out these important acts of leadership.
When the topic came up in a recent workshop -- introduced by one of those reluctant risk-takers, it led me to produce a list of ten common barriers we build for ourselves. Of course, if we build them, we're the ones who can take them down, as well.
For a look at the ten barriers and what to do about them,
this link will take you to my column and podcast on Poynter.org.
February 16, 2013
"Jill Geisler", "work happy: what great bosses know", leadership, management, success
"WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" is a book that had its roots in a podcast. That podcast, "
What Great Bosses Know," is available on iTunes U, which is the learning center on iTunes. All sorts of colleges, universities and academics post courses and collections there.
Apparently lots of people have found "What Great Bosses Know," according to the weekly download reports for 2012 that come to us from ITunes.
Because it's usually among the top ten podcast collections, I knew it had a following. But the final tally for 2102 was remarkable. Are you ready for the total? Drum roll, please:
3,187,324!
Yes, that's three million, one hundred eighty-seven thousand, three hundred and twenty-four. It amazes me, too. But it's a tribute to the interest worldwide in becoming a better leader and manager. Many people who've purchased "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" discovered it through the podcasts.
The production isn't sophisticated. My studio is wherever my laptop and I happen to be. This photo is from my home office, but I've recorded in many locations, including on the road when I'm away teaching or consulting.
The podcasts are brief, practical and conversational. People tell me they listen to them while driving to work and even while exercising. Perhaps the real secret to their popularity, though, is that they are FREE!
If you'd like to be among the 2013 downloaders, just click on this link and it will take you to iTunes U and the "What Great Bosses Know" podcasts. And of course, if you like what you learn by listening, just think what "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" -- with its greater depth -- could do for you!
January 3, 2013
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", iTunes, iTunes U, leadership, management, poynter
It's the time of the year that we look back on what we've accomplished and look ahead to setting goals for the future. With that in mind, I developed a column for Poynter.org to help you. I've been asked by so many people to help them focus on which of many leadership skills they should focus on in these times of change and challenge. And since change will now be a constant part of our lives, this list should be helpful (perhaps with some tweaks) a year from now, when it's once again time to take account of our achievements.
Here's hoping you'll have a great year ahead -- and that these ten skills will play a role in your leadership success. To read the column, just
click on this link.
December 6, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", 2013, leadership, skills
Want to boost your team's performance? Spend a great day at Poynter for our Great Bosses Boot Camp: Performance Management. My colleague Butch Ward and I will help you learn the secrets to providing the kind of feedback -- both positive and negative -- that employees say is lacking in most workplaces today.
Your day at Poynter will be one of the most interactive, fun and practical learning experiences of your management career. You'll learn skills you will be able to put to work immediately.
You can register for this program online. Here's
a link to information and registration.
See you in November!
October 16, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", Boot Camp, Nov. 9, poynter, workshop
My latest column on Poynter.org blows the cover on something many people don't know: Their bosses keep secrets from them. In fact, great bosses keep very specific secrets from employees. They do it not to be mysterious or misleading. They do it to help people. So, what are those secrets?
I made a list of ten of them for my latest "What Great Bosses Know" column on Poynter.org. I wrote it in recognition of a holiday I didn't even know existed: National Boss Day -- which the calendar (and greeting card companies) say is October 16.
Here's a link to the column. Perhaps, after reading it, you'll take a moment to thank a great boss, on October 16 -- or any day of the year.
October 15, 2012
"Jill Geisler", "What great bosses know", "work happy", leadership, management, poynter, secret
Listeners across Canada tuned in to the the CBC's popular show, "Cross Country Checkup" to hear host Suhana Meharchand and I discuss best and worst bosses. I provided advice to people with challenging bosses and discussed how today's managers can become much more effective. One key we discussed is the matter of trust -- and how great bosses build that trust with employees. When that exists, staffers are more open to trying new things, feel more motivated and don't want to let the boss down.
If you'd like to listen to the program,
here's a link that will take you to the CBC site, where you can tune in now or download the show for future listening.
I know there must have been quite an audience the day of the broadcast, because "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW" jumped into the Top 100 books on Amazon's Canada site, amazon.ca, shortly after the program! It also hit the top of the business/motivational management chart. Thanks, neighbors!
September 4, 2012
"cross country checkup", "Jill Geisler", "work happy", cbc, leadership, management
It was the success of the podcasts that persuaded me to build on them and develop the book, "WORK HAPPY: WHAT GREAT BOSSES KNOW." It has become a management training guide for individuals and teams in such diverse areas as medicine, municipal management, libraries, IT, and media organizations!
My favored form of management training will always be face-to-face, so it can involve customization and coaching for each participant. I know from evaluations of the many workshops I lead that people truly value the ability to get individualized feedback.
