Managing Genius™

A CEO hired me as for his $5M retail business in Seattle.  During the interview process he had expressed how much he needed me to help lead and change his company. I found it interesting what he wanted me to do in the first week.

Have you ever felt some employees are not “with you”?  You hear them complaining about senior management, or the direction of the company, or even you. You wonder if they’re committed to what we’re doing.

Jack's calling you again, he needs your quick help.  Can you do him a favor? 

Jack is one of your sales managers, and he called you last week from Chicago...can you FedEx his sales packet, it's on his desk, and he needs it for the sales presentation tomorrow morning.  While you’re at it, could you send his laptop charger, it's in the top right drawer.  You stop and ask, is it a good thing to keep rescuing Jack?

Sarah manages a large IT services organization for a wireless carrier. Sarah is a likeable manager, but she has an annoying passion for organization, and she expects her employees to adopt her work style.

Jeff is a clown in a big-name traveling circus show, and he’s the administrative manager for a group of performers—that’s right, he’s says he’s the head clown.  Jeff shares that his Cherry Pie job is to “walk elephants in and out of the arenas".

Ken Griffey, Jr. is a popular sports hero in Seattle. In 2008 we were elated when he decided to return for the finishing years of his career. We’d all get the opportunity to watch him wind down his professional baseball career where he started.