Your 6 Word Management Story Contest
March 27, 2008 by David Zinger
Filed under Business
My friend Jodee Bock from Fargo (very close to Winnipeg and you probably don’t know where either of these places are) wrote a challenging post last week: What’s Your Story (In 6 words…)? From Jodee’s post:
The six-word concept isn’t a new one. Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was asked to write a novel in only six words and his simple yet profound contribution was “For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.”
She challenged both Phil and I to write our story. My story was: David opened slowly and reached out.
Okay, it might not win a literary prize but it was a succinct way to capture my life. Come to think of it, I might have to tell my wife to have someone etch this on my urn after I die.
Of course, when I think about it, I can see some future grandchild reaching out to grab the urn, accidently dumping it on the rug, and making an ash out of me.
But I digress, what is your management story?
The Contest
You have 6 words to capture your management approach, style, and way of working.
Write your 6 work management epiphany in the comments. I will send a real Canadian “Toonie” with a polar bear in the middle of our fine Canadian coin to the person who writes the coolest management 6 word or less story.
I will force my 3 teenagers to judge the winner(s) because they have a better handle on cool management than their 53 year old father.
You have 6 days, until April 1st to get your comment posted. That means you have to write just one word a day to complete this assignment.
Come on…you can do it!
Hey did you notice, 6 words?
I just created and completed my management story!
David Zinger
View my page on The Employee Engagement Network
When working as a motivational speaker, I used to say:
“You will rise above and conquer!”
And now that I’m not working outside of my home and am spending long hours writing and promoting my books, my management style is boiled down to this:
“Honeydew this,
Honeydew that,
I’ll watch.”
:) Cheryl Kaye Tardif
Cheryl,
A great progression of lines.
I think in my family I just might be the honeydew person.
David
Once knew all. Now know better.
My sixword story:
Flawless complexion magic in a week
True but false, real but imaginary
Is that a good 1 for you??
I know it doesn’t matter now, but I thought I’d put this up anyway. Ignore it. It’s no good.
Her heart. His heart. Who’s heart?
Like Mindy I will submit anyway. Either:
Do what is right, every time or
show them how, by your actions
Don’t walk away. It will hurt.
If she leaves, go with her.
Hurt’s doesn’t it? I feel.
Never fall asleep. You won’t wake.
My heart hears nothing but beat.
I meant: Don’t walk away. It always hurts.
Lol. Those were more quotes than novels.
Wow,
A real plethora of comments in 6 words. That is a lot of comments for this post!
David
Eddie ate dynamite, good bye Eddie
Focus: Change the Change to change
Facilitating, guiding and motivating personal initiative.
Undesirable traits: Cognizant disonance and Narcissism.
Transparency, honesty, integrity, and respected leader.
Enough of the babble. Get to work!
Really. The real truth must be physical, Words are just that, and we as a country and world seem to think that if you can speak well, read good speech’s by great writers and carry yourself with confidience they you will be a great leader. Sorry people. Most the time this is not the sign of a good leader. A leader must be a good communicator I agree, but their are few stories you read about the action that backs up the talk. Read the story about Stone Wall Jackson and you’ll get my point. I don’t think that to be a good leader (manager) you have to well liked, but you must have actions that yiled a response of respect from those you lead. If not, you are doing something seriously wrong and shouldn’t be leading. Also ask youself a question of WHY do you want to be, or have become a manager. If you have to think about this more than 15 seconds you probably didn’t do it for the right reason. If it has anything to do with control or money, then do everyone a favor and leave.
Peace Out Bra!
Anthony,
that is really true what you say! ‘truth must be phisical’ what you have written is just poetic! beautiful if you will.
Keep ‘em coming!
TK
Love is lost, they don’t realise.
Learn, listen, learn, listen, talk, lead.
The next isn’t my quote, nor doe sit fit the six words, but if spoken with meaning has some profundity to it:
“Help me, help you”
A comment I have heard almost verbatim about three times from different managers in the last two years is after I have spent 15 minutes pointing out the obvious and detailing what I need and why I need it they ask me, “so what do you want me to do about it?”
“Nothing sir. I’ll just back to my cubilce and stab myself to death with a spoon. If you hear a loud gun shot just ignore it”.
Where do they get these people. I am telling all of you, we are doomed!!!
The smart people never become leaders. They cannot put up with the BS. It is the delusional ones that lead. Self proclaimed idiots that don’t have the tools upstairs to lead and get work done efficiently and effectively. They have no clue about the people laughing and making jokes behind their backs while they go to their meetings with people of the same mind patting each other on the back, and feeling good about accomplishing very little. I think Dilbert has it pretty well pegged. Good managers like teachers, are very rare. But when you do find one, they are typically very unique people, which we need a whole lot more of every where in the world.
Peace and tranquility, and whatever else tunes you on.