Let’s Sit Down and Talk

Posted on March 5, 2014December 29, 2021 by TimBryce

BRYCE ON SOCIETY
– The need for some simple, candid discourse.

Once a week, I sit down with a group of friends after work for a little get-together. The purpose is simple, to just talk. Eight people regularly attend, but there are a few others who drop by from time to time to listen in and add their two cents. We’ve been doing this for about five years now and find it more rewarding than any other meeting we attend. Actually, it’s quite therapeutic and something I highly recommend.

It all started accidentally. As the secretary of a nonprofit organization, I periodically visit the office after work to check the mail and process paperwork. Following this, I would make it a point to visit with the former secretary, who was my mentor, at his home nearby. At first, we would simply talk about what was going on in our nonprofit, and the events of the day. After awhile, I invited one of the other officers to accompany me to the secretary’s house. Then another, and another, until we had eight people. Let me be clear, this is no “club,” as much as it is a simple get-together of men with common interests.

Over time our discussions grew to cover a wide range of subjects: politics, religion, love, friendship, death, sports, humor, youth, aging, aches and pains, history, military experiences, morality, dining, just about anything was up for grabs. Often I would review an article I was working on and ask for their feedback which would lead to some lively discussion. Personally, I find such discourse invigorating. Someone may also review a news item, read a story, a book or poem, or possibly something from the Internet. Our discussions are always civil and from the heart. Do we agree on everything? Hardly, particularly politics and religion, but this is what makes the group lively and interesting. Afterwards, we always shake hands in friendship.

I think I can safely say, on behalf of all members of the group, these weekly get-togethers are more meaningful than the meetings at our nonprofit. We can argue, laugh, but more importantly try to understand the other person’s point of view and what is important to each of us. We’re not so much concerned with developing a camaraderie, as much as to apply mental gymnastics and enjoy each other’s company. If it was a matter of choosing between this meeting and our nonprofit, the nonprofit would undoubtedly lose.

I have mentioned this forum to other people who expressed admiration, even envy. Some women friends in particular find it interesting when I describe it. They may have several girlfriends, but they never speak with such intimacy as our group does. This is a shame as I believe we all need an outlet to express our views. Certainly we will discuss such things with our spouse, but to be among people of common interest where you can open the kimono, reveal a part of your soul, and know that your privacy will be maintained, can be very rewarding. I believe it to be analogous to an AA meeting without the addiction. There is something about the banter, discovering the commonality of experiences, and the different perspectives that makes this meaningful. This is certainly not the place to reveal your deepest and darkest secrets, which may embarrass yourself as well as others, but to simply talk about anything openly and candidly.

If I had to give some advice as to how to start such a group, there are three things to consider: inviting the right people, selecting the venue, and appointing a moderator.

Inviting the right people is very important and I suggest discretion, particularly in the early stages until the group is functioning smoothly. You do not want to invite just anyone, you want to select people with a common focus; people you trust, respect, enjoy their company, and will contribute to the group. You certainly do not want a clown who will distract it. I suggest you develop a core group first and invite others after the implied rules have been established. Such rules should not be written as too much formality will defeat the purpose of the meeting, which is to simply meet upon the level. So, start small and add members like a snowball until you reach a manageable number. The most people we’ve ever had at our get-togethers is ten, but that is rare.

Consideration should be given to selecting people based on gender. I have learned over the years, there are things men will only tell other men, and I suspect the same is true between women. This may not be a hard and fast rule, but you should give it some serious consideration.

Next, selecting a suitable venue is important. Since we reside in Florida, most of our get-togethers are spent on a screened lanai. We come inside only when it is too cold or rainy, but that is rare. We might also enjoy some libations and perhaps a good cigar, but I realize not everyone would enjoy such pleasures. Instead, invent your own but do not make it too lavish. Keep it simple so that it doesn’t become an annoying burden. Remember, your primary reason for attending is to talk, not snack. Pick a time and date that is convenient for everyone. In our case, it is usually after dinner in the middle of the week.

The last element is selecting a moderator, not someone who will govern with an iron fist, but rather someone who will help lead the conversation. In most cases, the conversation will control itself. Some gentle moderation though can be useful to regulate the conversation and provide everyone a chance to speak. In all of our discussions I cannot think of an instance where someone slandered another person’s opinion. We might not agree with a given point, and argue accordingly, but we certainly respect the individual’s opinion. I heartily encourage the use of a written paper, particularly a composition by someone in the group, be it an article, a letter to the editor, humor, something of historical significance, a book or poem, or whatever. By presenting such a paper, you are establishing a position and encouraging others to refute it. When you present such a paper, be prepared to accept criticism and learn from it.

About a year ago, one of our members brought his son to our group. He was on leave from the Air Force. We made him feel welcome and he sat with us as we discussed a wide variety of subjects. Throughout the discourse he remained silent, just observing the give and take. At the end, I asked him what he thought of our get-together. He said he was impressed by the number of things we discussed, our remarkable frankness, and that it was an excellent forum for a person to state his opinion without fear of retribution. He had never been involved in such candid conversations before and found it most stimulating.

Years ago, such discourse was valued in our society. People would discuss the events of the day on a soap box, in taverns, over a card game, or just between friends. Now, in this age of political correctness, such openness is discouraged and there are few chances for frank discussions. Most people today rely on the talking heads on television to form their opinions. As for my group, we would rather begin the dialog by simply asking, “What do you think?”

If you need help establishing such a group, please let me know.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

Tim Bryce is a writer and the Managing Director of M&JB Investment Company (M&JB) of Palm Harbor, Florida and has over 30 years of experience in the management consulting field. He can be reached at timb001@phmainstreet.com

For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Craftsmanship is a State of Mind

Posted on February 26, 2014December 29, 2021 by TimBryce | 3 Comments

BRYCE ON MANAGEMENT
– It is also a universally applicable concept.

I have been writing on the virtues of craftsmanship for many years now. I have also given presentations on the subject and discussed it at length with different types of companies. Surprisingly, I find few people truly understand the concept. Perhaps the biggest misconception is that it is reserved for certain types of work effort. Some believe craftsmen are limited to furniture makers, machinists, or watchmakers. And, No, we are most certainly not talking about a line of tools from Sears. People seem surprised when I explain it is a universal concept applicable to any job.

My message is simple: Craftsmanship is a state of mind.”

Years ago, Arnold Toynbee, the legendary historian and economist from the UK, made the observation, “The supreme accomplishment is to blur the line between work and play.” Whereas some people like to separate their personal and professional lives, Toynbee rightfully makes the point there is physically only one person, and their personal and professional lives should be viewed as one and the same.

Craftsmanship is based on three rather simple principles:

First, in order to build self-esteem and give an individual a sense of purpose, we need to acknowledge, “Man must lead a worthy life.” This means people should be given meaningful work to perform, thereby creating the desire to master one’s craft. However, not everyone can be a wood worker, machinist, or watchmaker. Instead, they must find meaning in their chosen profession, which leads to our next principle…

Second, “There is dignity in all forms of work.” We should never look down our noses at anyone’s profession, assuming they are doing it competently and professionally. Regardless of the task, it is always a pleasure to be among people who know what they are doing, and perform it seemingly with little effort and a sense of class. In contrast, there are also workers who are apathetic, put forth minimal effort, and only watch the clock as opposed to the work product they are assigned to. Personally, it is difficult to respect such people.

Third, a simple recognition there are “right” and “wrong” ways for performing tasks. It takes discipline not to skip steps and put the work product in jeopardy. Understanding the differences between “right” and “wrong” is more than just training and experience, it also represents the morality of the worker. One reason craftsmanship is in decline is because of the eroding moral values of the country, such as the inclination to cheat.

These principles highlight the fact that craftsmanship is universally applicable. We can find it in any industry and any type of work, be it janitors, waitresses, programmers, managers, assembly line workers, hairdressers, teachers, engineers, athletes, musicians, the medical community, you name it. Craftsmanship is a state of mind. Think about it, who has impressed you not only by the job they did, but how they went about doing it? Inevitably, it is someone you respect, someone you will gladly give a reference to, someone you would like to emulate.

Craftsmanship requires more than just talent, it is a determination to be the best someone can be. Not surprising, there is a close relationship between craftsmen and the products they produce. Expressions such as “I built that” or “That was mine,” denote the pride they take in their work. Conversely, when someone makes a compliment about a product or service, the craftsman takes it as a personal compliment. The bond between craftsman and work product is so strong, the worker sees the product as tangible proof of their quality of work.

Years ago, people learned their craft through apprenticeship programs. Ben Franklin learned to be a printer at his older brother’s print shop. Likewise, young men learned a variety of crafts through such programs. Over the years though, we have drifted away from apprenticeships. Today, we rely on certification programs and college degrees, but this does not necessarily make someone a craftsman. It only denotes the student has learned something and passed tests and exams. Rarely does it give us insight into a person’s mastery of a craft, which cannot normally be evaluated until it is put into practice and studied over time.

In terms of skills, the craftsman must master several things:

The resources used in the product. For example, a wood worker will know the differences between types of wood, their strengths and weaknesses, their suitability for the product, and how to work with it. Likewise, a machinist will understand the nature of the different metals he must use in his work.
The methodologies to produce the product, representing the steps or processes of the project.
The tools and techniques to be used in the development of the product, all of which may change over time. This means the craftsman is a student of his profession and possesses a sense of history to his craft.

Craftsmanship is something we have taken for granted for many years. Consequently, it has been fading from view. Interestingly, when I teach these concepts to students and business professionals, they are usually surprised by the simplicity of the concepts involved. I warn them though that craftsmanship requires a personality which includes such things as discipline, an intuitive mind, pride in workmanship, a willingness to be the best in your chosen profession, and some good old fashioned morality. Craftsmanship is not for everybody, but we should celebrate those willing to lead such an existence, for they are the people who create the products we admire and cherish.

For more information, see my earlier paper, “Craftsmanship: the Meaning of Life.”

If you want a presentation on craftsmanship, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Has Cheating Reached Epic Proportions?

Posted on February 24, 2014December 29, 2021 by TimBryce | 3 Comments

Or is it just isolated incidents?
BRYCE ON SOCIETY

When did cheating become an acceptable form of behavior? Did I miss the memo? According to the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and the Ad Council, “73% of all test takers, including prospective graduate students and teachers agree that most students do cheat at some point, and 86% of high school students agreed.” Translation: cheating has reached pandemic proportions and is now an inherent part of the American culture.

It may start out innocently, but cheating rapidly becomes a lifestyle. We can now find it on school tests and exams, plagiarism, cheating on our taxes, etc. I have a friend who teaches illustration at a Midwest college. Recently he told me his students were copying the illustrations of other students as found on the Internet. My friend rightfully resents being turned from a full-time instructor, to a part-time sleuth to determine if his students are doing original work. I have heard of college students copying term papers, but artwork?

Students are also hacking into school computers to gain access to exams and alter grades and scores. A prime example of this was recorded last month in Los Angeles where eleven high school students were caught hacking into the school’s computers. Subsequently, they were expelled. This scandal captured the attention of the press, as well as the FBI who joined the investigation.

Cheating has also extended into the military where scandals have recently emerged, such as the Navy sailors who stand accused of cheating on tests training for nuclear reactors. Likewise, the Air Force discovered officers cheating on proficiency tests to launch nuclear weapons. These stories are particularly disturbing when you consider these people are managing our military nuclear resources. Obviously, we want people who can be trusted and are proficient in these positions, not someone of questionable character.

In the Information Technology community, it is not uncommon for employees to hack and steal program source code, thereby expediting the production of programming. This occurs so often, it is now considered SOP in many companies. Such attitudes obviously present a threat to intellectual property and a disregard for our laws pertaining to copyrights, patents, trade secrets, and trademarks. Frankly, it is a violation of the “Copyright Clause” of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 8) whereby, “To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.” From this perspective, cheating is unpatriotic.

If caught, cheating results in a variety of penalties, be it a fine, a suspension, an expulsion, etc., all of which becomes a part of a person’s permanent record, and I do not believe young people understand this until it is too late. Perhaps the biggest danger is it may do irreparable harm to a person’s reputation. To illustrate, I know of a student who, after graduating from college, produced a resume with false college scores to secure a well paying job. Remarkably, he was caught by the employer who pressed charges against him. Even though the matter was settled nearly forty years ago, his High School classmates have not forgotten and whisper about it at reunions, even to this day. In the eyes of the other students, his reputation remains in tatters.

Cheating ultimately denotes a person’s character; is he honest and capable of performing the work, or incompetent and inclined to cut corners? Even though cheating appears to be on the rise, evidently there is little shame in getting caught. Perhaps it is a new twisted red badge of courage awarded to those who somehow beat the system. If we are to believe the recent cheating statistics and scandals, we can reasonably conclude there is no longer any disgrace in cheating, and it will likely continue unabated. All of this reveals the declining moral values of the country.

Perhaps the only way to stop cheating is to make the punishments more severe. If shame cannot deter people, perhaps stiffer penalties are in order. Such should rightfully be the price of cheating.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Bryce’s Laws on Life

Posted on February 21, 2014December 29, 2021 by TimBryce

BRYCE ON SOCIETY
– We’ve done management, systems, and project management, now how about Life?

We introduced the concept of “Bryce’s Laws” back in the 1970’s as a means to explain our concepts of systems, data base management, and project management. Over the years though, we introduced many other axioms applying to life in general which we hope you will find beneficial. Enjoy!

You cannot treat a patient if he doesn’t know he is sick.
A man’s trustworthiness is measured by the number of keys he holds.
Most children are raised by amateurs, not professionals.
Never trust a person who doesn’t have at least one known vice (e.g., drinking, smoking, swearing).
Don’t watch the clock, watch the product or service to be produced.
Lawsuits primarily benefit the attorneys and nobody else.
You eat elephants one spoonful at a time.
If you are not pissing someone off, you are probably not doing your job.
If the mind really is the finest computer, then there are a lot of people out there who need to be rebooted.
we tend to worry about the wrong things. This is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.
It’s hard to keep going forward when logic tells you otherwise.
Forget about today, build for tomorrow.
As the use of technology increases, social skills decreases.
There is more to building a team than buying new uniforms.
How we look and act speaks volumes.
Everything begins with a sale.
“Bullshit” is the most versatile word in the English language.
Just because someone understands what you are saying, doesn’t mean they necessarily agree with you.
Never let a job be held hostage by an employee.
The Baby Boomers will be more remembered for the problems they left behind as opposed to anything they accomplished during their tenure.
Youth is our only true vacation in life, and our most unappreciated.
There is no such thing as a bad cigar. It’s a matter of matching the right person with the right cigar.
We write to communicate, not to put people to sleep.
If you do something wrong long enough, you think it is right.
It’s not the time you put in, it’s the work product you put out.
Simple economics motivates everyone, particularly politicians.
Your most lethal weapon is your mouth.
Nothing irritates your opponents more than to see you succeed when you are expected to fail.
Do not underestimate the power of the company party.
Progress is arrested when we surrender to the status quo, that we no longer strive to exceed it.
If a single picture is worth a thousand words, imagine what a video provides.
It takes a brave soul to divert from the path of least resistance.
Appearances mean little if people can see through your disguise.
It is a fallacy that a cluttered desk is the sign of a brilliant mind.
The naysayers of the world take pleasure in chiding you as to what cannot be done.
Prove them wrong and return the favor.
Sometimes intelligence is nothing more than experience in disguise.
How to become financially responsible: Start each day by paying a bill.
The road to truth is rarely without bumps and bends.
The longer you delay admitting a mistake, the more expensive it will be to correct.
All arguments are settled at the cemetery.
There is always a heavy price to pay for keeping up with the Jones’.
Two irrefutable facts regarding investing in the stock market: The moment you purchase a stock, you can count on it declining immediately, and;
The moment you sell your stock, it will either immediately soar to new heights, split, or both.
You know you are getting older when you begin having arguments with inanimate objects, and you lose.
Everything eventually ends up in the garbage dump.
Traffic lights are green only when you do not have an appointment to make.
In every person’s life, you must eat at least one spoonful of dirt.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Across the Generational Divide

Posted on February 5, 2014December 29, 2021 by TimBryce | 3 Comments

BRYCE ON SOCIETY
– The Baby Boomers versus the Millennials, and beyond.

There is a divide widening between the Baby Boomers and its succeeding generations, the Millennials. Both sides are frustrated and do not understand the other. What was commonplace in the Boomer generation is not so anymore, and the other generation look upon the Boomers as fossils who should be put out to pasture (and out of their way). The truth is both sides need each other if, for no other reason than to accommodate a smooth transition from one to another.

The differences between the two groups are primarily based on perspectives and priorities; to illustrate:

A Different Sense of “Class”

Office organization and decorum has changed considerably. Offices used to be very structured and tidy. This was done for two reasons: it was believed an organized office ran better if people knew where everything was, and; to demonstrate the professionalism of the office to its customers, thereby leaving a favorable impression and encouraging a longtime business relationship. Offices today are noticeably less tidy and more relaxed thereby allowing employees to think of it as a second home. Customers are no longer offended by disorganization in the workplace as it is essentially no different than their own office. Instead of encouraging craftsmanship and seeking perfection, there is now a tendency to settle for second best.

Focus of Attention

Instead of focusing on work products, the emphasis today is on the amount of time spent. Whereas the Boomers would think nothing of working nights or weekends to complete a task, their successors are obsessed with the number of hours they spend at work.

Compensation

Back in the 1970’s you could hire a programmer fresh out of college for as little as $15K/year. Not anymore. Today, college programmers expect as much as $85K or higher, plus a signing bonus of perhaps $20K. According to a recruiter friend of mine, the idea of a signing bonus originated with pro-sports. If the student-athlete can get such a bonus for joining the pros, why not everyone else? In other words, young people fully expect hefty salaries without having to demonstrate their abilities. The concept of apprenticeship is no longer accepted. This is the antithesis of yesteryear where you started low and proved your worth over time. This represents a delineation of entitlement versus responsibility. Whereas the Boomers sought responsibility in order to demonstrate their worth, the Millennials expect entitlement. Not surprising, there is no corporate loyalty, and “job hopping” is the norm today.

Sense of History

Whereas the Boomers were taught the background of their craft by their predecessors, the Millennials frankly couldn’t care less. By learning their craft, the Boomers were less inclined to repeat mistakes.

I’m not really sure how well history is being taught to the Millennials. Recently, I overheard a college professor of management make the observation, “The PC did away with middle management in the 1990’s.” When I asked him to explain, he admitted he had generalized a bit but insisted the proliferation of the PC led to a reduction of many types of jobs, and claimed studies suggested a reduction in middle management due to this technology. I had a hard time swallowing this. During the 1990’s there was an effort to flatten bloated organizations a la General Electric’s Jack Welch (who earned the nickname “Neutron Jack” for such efforts). Interestingly, this approach was derived from Joseph Stalin’s purges of the Soviet government, not from the proliferation of technology.

True, the PC helped reduce clerical staff, but I did not see it have much of an effect on eliminating middle management. However, it displaced clerical burdens on management; e.g. word processing, spreadsheets, etc.). Today, you do not see many secretaries in offices, which is a shame in my opinion. A good secretary could make an office run like a top. I still question the need to place clerical burdens on management. For example, consider air-travel; instead of contacting an in-house or commercial travel agent to arrange ticketing and reservations, we now spend an inordinate amount of time performing this task ourselves (with frequent screw-ups being common place). By doing so, we have substituted the professional with the amateur.

Interpersonal relationships

Whereas the Boomers were taught to master skills involving human relationships, such as persuasion, negotiation, presentations, interviewing, etc., the Millennials are more inclined to rely on technology to get their point across. Instead of trying to understand the requirements of their customers, there is more of a push to simply juggle numbers. This means people are viewed as nothing more than objects and not treated with respect.

This phenomenon regarding generational divide is essentially no different than when the Greatest Generation was being replaced by the Boomers. To the Greatest Gen, the Boomers were perceived as more permissive, more tolerant of mistakes, and somewhat lazy. This shouldn’t be surprising when you consider the Greatest Gen survived the hardships of the Great Depression and World War II. The difference though was both sides found a way to bridge the gap. To illustrate, during the 1990’s, when aircraft manufacturers cleaned house and retired their older workers, they found themselves helpless when technical problems arose (anybody remember Clint Eastwood’s “Space Cowboys”? Same idea.). Because of this, companies are not so quick to eliminate older workers in the event of a reduction in the work force.

Neither the Boomers or the Millennials understand each other and, as such, can find no room for compromise. Thereby the generational divide expands and gridlock ensues. The Boomers perceive the Millennials as addicted to technology and easily swayed by the media. They appear to lack social skills, work ethic, and empathy for others. Because of this, it should not be surprising that micromanagement is on the rise. This suggests the Millennials tend to go on auto-pilot and prefer to be told what to do.

Each generation wants to leave its mark on the world, and each sees it a little differently. Perspectives and values understandably change over time. What one generation considers normal and rational, may not be so by another. It’s called “change” which is actually quite natural. The Baby Boomers learned the practices of the Greatest Generation, adapted, and modified them to suit their needs. Not so between the Boomers and the Millennials where the younger generation is ignoring the Boomers and inventing their own sense of reality. By not studying the past though, they are likely to commit the same mistakes as their predecessors. In other words, they are doomed to learn the hard way.

The question next becomes, how will the Millennials relate to Generation Z who is now going through school and is much more imbued with technology than their predecessors. For example, 25% of two year-olds now have a smart phone. Their dependence on technology is much stronger than the Millennials. I suspect such technology addiction will cause another divide between generations, but not to the degree we are currently experiencing.

Regardless of the reason, be it parenting, the Boomers dropping the ball, the effects of technology addiction, the brainwashing by the media, or changing moral values, a growing chasm exists between the Boomers and their successors, and I can see no way of stopping it other than to simply reach out to the other side and talk, and listen as well.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Who Do We Trust?

Posted on January 24, 2014December 29, 2021 by TimBryce | 1 Comment

BRYCE ON SOCIETY

– Our family and friends, our co-workers, our boss…?

Have you ever noticed there doesn’t seem to be a lot of trust anymore? We tend not to trust our government, our companies, our coworkers, the media, our neighbors. Heck, we’re even suspicious about the motives of our own relatives. It wasn’t always like this. We used to openly trust people and never feared political back stabbing. Alas, no more. We used to leave our house and cars unlocked; even going so far as to loan a friend a car with no questions asked. Again, no more. When we delegated a task or responsibility to someone, we knew it would be completed properly. No more.

It is natural to gravitate to people we trust, and it’s understandable as to why:

We respect their judgment.
We value their opinion.
We feel free to exchange ideas and thoughts with them, including secrets.

Think about it, aren’t these the attributes of a true friend or business colleague? In other words, they exhibit the same moral values we do, if not better. When a trust is broken though, it is difficult if not impossible to repair, and our interpersonal relationships rapidly deteriorate.

The decline of trust denotes a change in our culture and not necessarily for the better. I believe it indicates a more permissive and immoral society whereby a person’s word is no longer his/her bond and people become more concerned with self-preservation as opposed to the welfare of others around them. In other words, the decline of trust represents a splintering of people. As an example, instead of delegating responsibility and empowering people to do their job, we tend to micromanage their activities, which is an open admission we do not trust their judgment. This leads to discontent among the workforce and promotes individualism over teamwork.

As indicated earlier, building trust is a difficult task, particularly if it is broken. The best thing is not to break it in the first place. To build or restore trust it is necessary to offer some visible demonstration of trust, be it something as simple as delivering on a promise, maintaining a confidence, or lending a helping hand when push comes to shove. Speaking from experience, it is always comforting to know that someone is watching your backside as opposed to your wallet.

Regarding the diminishing role of our national motto, “In God We Trust,” some would say this is simply an issue regarding the separation of church and state. As for me, I see it as another sign of the decline of our culture. If we cannot trust God, regardless of our religious denomination, who can we trust?

Originally Published: 1/6/2009

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

How Much Do We Really Use Our Head?

Posted on August 23, 2013December 29, 2021 by TimBryce | 2 Comments

Not as much as you may think.
BRYCE ON MANAGEMENT

Ever wonder what goes through people’s heads? Or maybe you have heard yourself say, “What the hell are you thinking of?” It shouldn’t come as a surprise to find a lot of people don’t use their head during the day. A couple of years ago I wrote a paper entitled, “Increasing Brain Power.” Although the intent of the paper was to suggest ideas for sharpening worker acuity, I made the observation we typically don’t use our head as much as we assume we do.

First, we typically rest or sleep for eight hours each day whereby the brain is not truly engaged. We then spend eight hours for work and eight hours for personal time. In the typical work day, office workers are normally 70% effective, meaning they spend about five and a half hours on productive work. During personal time, we perform pet projects and hobbies, pay the bills, run errands, attend a meeting or function, relax, and wake up or go to sleep. During this time we typically spend two hours on concentrated work. All of this means in a typical work day, we only spend about eight hours to really exercise the brain, but from a management perspective, we can expect to get only three hours at peak performance. Actually, this number fluctuates based on how well the worker is able to engage the brain. Some people are able to engage their brains for several hours, some for only an hour, and some not at all.

I guess what I am getting at is that people tend to operate at a primal level most of the day representing nothing more than their basic instincts and reflex actions (I call this the “autopilot” mode). We see this on our commutes to and from work, we see it as we shop in stores, and we see it as we “zone out” watching television. Basically, people prefer to tune out than to tune in to what is going on. As a systems man, I tend to make the analogy that we take in more input than we produce output. Because of this, we are highly susceptible to subliminal messages from the media and are easily influenced.

We commonly make extensive use of technology to assist us at work, but because technology often supersedes our thought processes, it actually causes us to be less sharp intellectually. To illustrate, not long ago a study was performed by Kings College in London for Hewlett Packard, the purpose of which was to study the effect of technology on worker performance. According to Dr. Glenn Wilson, the author of the study: “Results showed clearly that technological distraction diminished IQ test performance.” Basically, the study said excessive use of technology can have an adverse effect on a person’s brain power. This is somewhat disturbing as technology permeates our society.

So, the next time you have a confrontation with the human animal, just remember they are probably not operating at the same level as you are; they could be a lot smarter or a lot dumber than they may appear.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Listen to Tim on WJTN-AM (News Talk 1240) “The Town Square” with host John Siggins (Mon, Wed, Fri, 12:30-3:00pm Eastern), KGAB-AM 650 “The Morning Zone” with host Dave Chaffin (weekdays, 6:00-10:00am Mountain), and KIT-AM 1280 in Yakima, Washington “The Morning News” with hosts Lance Tormey & Brian Teegarden (weekdays. 6:00-9:00am Pacific). Or tune-in to Tim’s channel on YouTube.

Boxes of Rules

Posted on August 12, 2013December 29, 2021 by TimBryce

Too many leads to a bureaucratic nightmare.
BRYCE ON MANAGEMENT

When I first started in the work force, I asked my boss about the scope of my responsibilities. He simply told me to go as far and hard as possible. If I started to wander out of bounds, he would reign me in. This worked remarkably well. I quickly discovered the boundaries of my job and which ones not to cross. Rarely do you find such companies anymore, even small businesses. The work place is now organized into small boxes which defines the duties and responsibilities of just about everything. Whether you are in business or participate in a nonprofit organization, there seems to be more of these “boxes of rules” emerging, and they are inhibiting our ability to get things done. I’m not sure where this mindset came from. I can only suspect unions, who only perform no more than what is inside the box, influence this type of thinking; government likewise.

Laws, rules and regulations are written for those who will violate them, not people who will adhere to them. I learned this lesson when writing corporate policy manuals specifying the “Do’s” and “Dont’s” of the business. Such manuals are common in big companies, yet are equally beneficial in a small business with just a handful of employees. It takes no more than one employee to misinterpret the rules, either deliberately or accidentally, thereby triggering a lawsuit.

The ISO 9000 family of standards also encourages boxes of rules by documenting the many business processes in an organization, thereby providing sufficient instruction even a novice worker can follow. Such instruction may be useful for training purposes and for establishing the criteria for quality work products, but beyond this, they can become rather bureaucratic. I question the wisdom of doing virtually everything “by the book.” It seems to me, this would restrain people, stifle creativity, inhibit innovation, and promote more of a robotic existence in the workplace. It would also inevitably lead to a corporate culture of micromanagement whereby managers spend more time supervising as opposed to managing. In talking with employees faced with such boxes, they claim it has a tendency to discourage productivity and corporate loyalty by creating a tedious bureaucracy. Basically, they feel restrained by trying to operate with one armed tied behind their back.

Our “PRIDE” Methodologies for IRM were packaged as a manual, yet they were never meant to be a paper mill used to drive the process of designing and developing information resources. Unlike other paper-driven methodologies, we touted “PRIDE” as a philosophy of management; a way of looking at a business and its systems. This is why we referred to it as, “Software for the finest computer – the Mind.” In the end, it is people that make things happen, not books.

Frankly, I think we need more people with common sense as opposed to inanimate objects doing the thinking for us. Documentation has its place, but the tail need not wag the dog. Frankly, I prefer managers who challenge and embolden their workers to strive higher, as opposed to supervisors who sit over their employees with a whip and a chair. Companies need to learn to manage from the bottom-up, not just top-down, and treat employees as professionals, not robots. Only when we learn to manage more, and supervise less, can we begin to dispense with the boxes of rules.

There is a fine line in terms of the amount of rules and regulations needed to be documented in a company. There is always a need for a little wiggle room. It ultimately depends on the intelligence level and morality of the employees. Dolts need lots of rules, your better employees, who accept responsibility for their actions, do not. Personally, I prefer the sharp manager who tells me to go as far and hard as possible.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

Performing a Job You Hate

Posted on July 31, 2013December 29, 2021 by TimBryce

Things to consider before tackling that ugly job you despise.
– BRYCE ON WORK

Years ago, my grandmother made the observation, “In everyone’s life, you must eat a teaspoon of dirt.” There is a lot of wisdom in this comment. Throughout our lives there are little jobs we are called upon to perform, be it at home, school, the office, or wherever, tasks we simply hate to perform. Whether you have been asked to do it or realize it is something you have to do of our own free will and accord, tasks you simply do not want to undertake. Maybe it’s a job requiring physical skills and talents you simply do not possess, or maybe it’s a “dirty job” involving unique situations that are not exactly the most sanitary, such as cleaning up after an animal. Or maybe it has to do with a boss you do not like or respect, someone with an unsavory character. Working for a boss you like is one thing, working for someone you despise is something else altogether. Bottom-line, it’s a job you dislike and are reluctant to perform. So what do you do?

Quitting is the easiest alternative, if you can afford to do so, but it also means you have been defeated, which may be the reason you were asked to perform the task. Sometimes you are asked to perform no-win jobs simply because someone is looking for an opportunity to watch you fail and eliminate you. Sadistic managers are notorious of assigning such tasks. It’s a setup for which you are not expected to succeed. When I discover I have been put in such a position I usually rise to the occasion and conquer the task quickly, professionally, and with great zeal. There’s nothing quite like turning the tables on an adversary. It unnerves them.

For all other difficult tasks, I have found it’s a matter of having the right tools and working conditions for performing the job, and putting yourself in the proper frame of mind. Just resign yourself to your fate and “Get ‘R Done.” This, of course, requires patience and determination, two elements which seem to be in short supply these days.

Read: The 80-20 Rule

Early in my career, we were developing a series of seminars to promote our software product line. Working with an ad agency, we devised a clever invitation which included a beautiful brochure, and an egg housed in a photo cube (you remember, those little plastic boxes where you could insert photographs). Inside the egg was an invitation to the seminar with the person’s name on it. In other words, they were instructed to crack open the egg where they found their invitation and instructions. From a marketing perspective, it was brilliant and garnered a lot of attention. To implement it though was another story.

As this was my pet project, I found myself selecting the seminar sites, compiling lists of potential attendees, and assembling the invitations. That’s right, I found myself burdened with blowing out hundreds of eggs, inserting the invitations, and resealing the eggs (using “White Out”). Assembling the boxes and brochures was easy, but preparing the eggs was another story. I simply resigned myself to the task, setup a radio and blew out hundreds of eggs and packed them up. I quickly discovered blowing eggs requires a certain knack. If you do it wrong, the egg blows up on you and creates a mess, but if you take your time and find your rhythm, you’ll do just fine. You just cannot push it too hard, and I found the job took me all night to perform. Even though our seminars were a success, I still loathe the thought of blowing out eggs. I’m sure there are other jobs that are worse, but you get the idea.

So, when you find yourself harnessed with a job you hate, either rise to the occasion and overcome adversity, thereby earning the respect of the people around you, or toss in the towel early, assuming you can afford to. Just do not let a teaspoon of dirt turn into a table spoon.

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.

The Art of Patience

Posted on July 29, 2013December 29, 2021 by TimBryce

BRYCE ON LIFE
– An art that is difficult to master.

Ever since college, I have been an admirer of Rudyard Kipling’s classic poem, “If,” whereby he writes:

“If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:”

The lesson here is in order to lead a mature and positive life, we should actively try to practice patience and understanding. Further, life is short and the best way to socialize and get ahead in this crazy world is to simply keep your wits about you. This isn’t quite as easy as it seems, particularly in the 21st century where road rage is common, office rage, marriage rage, etc. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I blame a lot of our problems of impatience and intolerance on the excessive use of technology where our expectations are programmed to do everything instantaneously, and we resent any form of delay, be it a speed limit, waiting in line, or arguing with another, particularly regarding politics. Patience seems to be in short supply these days.

Patience means biding your time; to wait for the proper moment or opportunity. This may be rather agonistic particularly as we seem to be spending an eternity waiting in lines for something. The right moment may never occur. Further, our patience is tried by the multitudes of people trying to invade our space mostly for purposes of advertising. For example, consider the pop-up windows suddenly appearing on our desktop, the uninvited video clips constantly harassing us, the voluminous spam e-mails we receive, and how audio volume is increased on television or radio whenever a commercial comes on. It’s like screaming kids clinging on to a mother’s dress.

Impatience is caused by many different situations:

When our focus is broken by an irritating distraction.
When plans and expectations are not realized thereby causing frustration.
You cannot seem to connect with another person in conversation (they do not understand you).
You are stymied by technology, either inexplicably working too slow or considered “unfriendly” to use.
When your progress is unfathomably impeded by others, particularly among motorists texting or talking on their smart phones.
Someone rants on and on about something trivial or nonsensical, aka “gobbledygook” or “BS”.
Or you are just inconvenienced and feel slighted, such as waiting in line.

Simple frustration is the prime cause of losing our patience. Knowing this, customer service representatives should be more sensitive to our frustrations, but they seldom are and go on autopilot instead, thereby compounding the problem. It takes an empathetic person to be sensitive to the frustrations of others.

Read: Seeing Ghosts in Lodge

If you have got all the time in the world, you can afford to be patient, such as retirees. However, if you are still working and trying to get things done, regardless of their importance, you are more likely to be aware of the clock and not want to waste your time. However, where is our time going? To technology. I would suggest a national “Turn Off the Technology” Day, but it is so imbued in our society, a lot of people would spazz out and suffer withdrawal.

We all have our breaking points. Some fuses are longer than others. I would like to believe my fuse is longer than most, but I have my moments, such as trying to digest the BS of “political correctness,” watching an injustice go unchallenged, or driving behind someone who obviously believes he/she is the only person on the highway. I sometimes find it necessary to simply walk away from something as opposed to compounding the problem, or in some instances, pull off the roadway until the problem has dissipated. This is probably why I prefer driving early in the morning or late at night in order to avoid such problems.

Some people find it necessary to step back from a problem and take a deep breath before continuing, thereby refreshing one’s focus. Since technology is often the culprit for becoming impatient, simply turning it off works wonders, be it a radio or television, a smart phone, a computer, or whatever device you are plugged into, thereby eliminating irritating distractions. Just turn it off, clear your head, and refocus. It’s that simple.

It’s also important to find time during the day for ourselves. We do a lot for others during the work day, such as customers, employees, vendors, or our boss and family. Our inclination is to assist or serve others, which can easily add to stress. To overcome this, find some private time during the day for you to collect your thoughts; nothing radical, just something simple, such as reading a book, closing your eyes for a cat nap, taking a walk, or just stopping to smell the roses. Such respites break up the monotony of the day, allows you to collect your thoughts, and brings your stress level down.

Practicing patience is an important part of our ability to socialize with others. Quite often, we believe it is someone else causing our frustration, and maybe that’s true. However, we must also admit we create our own problems by being self-centered and not practicing a little courtesy to others. Just remember, if you can maintain your focus, if you can remain calm in the midst of catastrophe, and do unto others as you would have others do unto you…

“Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!”
– Rudyard Kipling

Keep the Faith!

Note: All trademarks both marked and unmarked belong to their respective companies.

For Tim’s columns, see:
timbryce.com

Like the article? TELL A FRIEND.