27 Dynamic Power Phrases for Managers
February 19, 2008 by David Zinger
Filed under Business
Years ago there was a popular book called The One Minute Manager. Who has a minute anymore in 2008? We need to shorten our management time cycles.
Why read a textbook when you can text? Why read when you can scan? Why have a conversation when you can interact with the people you manage with just two words.
Think of all the time you will save when you respond to everything with just two words.
Here are 27 power phrases to get you started on the path to being a 2-word manager:
If you care to comment, please make sure you do it in 2 words. Got that?
Photo credit: Two! by http://flickr.com/photos/boklm/486678763/
Written by David Zinger
Visit David’s 91 member Employee Engagement Network.
But…but…
You forgot
Stop it!
Oh well.
Try again.
Nice try.
Keep going.
Don’t stop.
Your problem.
No way.
I notice “thank you” isn’t there!
“Sounds good” I hear a lot when managers aren’t really sure what you’re talking about.
“We’ll assume…” usually comes before implying that their method is the best (or only).
Thank You
Well Done
Good Comments
Any more?
I cannot express how strongly I disagree with your concept. It is a symptom of the search for easy answers that has come to dominate our society. It is injurious to every working manager and serious leader that tries to do their best for their people, organization and customers.
This simplification of the complex is an excellent example of the “dumbing-down” that inhabits so many organizations. Leadership is HARD, management is HARD and both should be practiced by adults that can make a difference. Two word management is not the way to make a difference; ask the Founding Fathers, FDR, JFK, MLK, Gene Krantz and the NYFD on September 11, 2001. They went way beyond a two-word philosophy.
Robert,
I think you just did express how strong you disagree with a 2-word management system.
I disagree that is injurious as this was satire. Good management is HARD and soft, SERIOUS and playful, REVERENT and irreverent.
When the tough management decisions were taking place for the NYFD on September 11 you don’t joke around. Yet I have been around enough fire department members and police officers to know that humor helps and if they can laugh they can last. Walt Whitman once said, “do I contradict myself, very well I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes.” I believe an effective slacker manager can both laugh and cry and is not locked into either perspective on themselves or their management.
I think you have miscontrued this as a real proposed management method and if you did I have two sincere words for you: I’m sorry. The two-word system was to be playful about the lack of authentic connection not to advocate for 2 word intercourse between managers and the people they manage.
I encourage you to look at the image to accompany the post. It was the number 2 with the old fashion hand sign for peace, it was never my intent to be disrespectful to any of the great leaders you referred to or the tought times that call upon great leaders and managers to do their best.
David
Got it
So what
Now what
Dont yet
Not bad
Chris,
Right on.
Write on.
David
All done?
You think?
Can we?
Not really
Cut it
Praveen,
Good points.
David
(nice list.)
my bad.
show me.
help me.
why not?
great effort.
try again.
need help?
take five.
I’ll buy…
That’s Funny.
Good Stuff.
What fun
This was
Some laughed
Some objected
But overall
Really something.
Next time,
Try haiku! :-)
Sabrina,
Thank you
I’ll do
Hai – ku
Gesundheit
David
Foxtrot Oscar