Our thought leadership in blogs and podcasts

Remote Teams Can Speed Disaster Response--And What It Means At Work

Crowdsourcing, video conferencing and access to information has changed humanitarian efforts forever. A new UN report also has some important lessons for the workplace. Are you listening, IT?
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #278 The Accidental Manager- Hank Gilman

Welcome back, one and all.
How to Get the Best Results From Remote Brainstorming.

Brainstorming is a process, not a result. You can follow the rules and still not make great decisions. 5 questions leaders have to ask before generating ideas.
Time Zones Might Matter More Than Distance

New research indicates time zones may matter more than distance when it comes to helping teams work together. Maybe it's not how people work together, but when.
Why Busted March Madness Brackets Are Good For Your Team

Before you decide that all the bracket-filling and score checking of March Madness are killing productivity, look on the bright side. Your college team might lose but your work team might win big.
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #277 Practice Safe Stress- Sylvia Lafair

Today Wayne Turmel is joined by Sylvia Lafair, author of Don’t Bring it to Work- Breaking the Family Patterns That Limit Success. We’re talking stress, whether your job includes walking into a live nuclear reactor or just dealing with budgets, it’s how we handle it that makes the difference.

Don’t forget great webinar workshops available from GreatWebMeetings.com each month!
Meetings Bore You to Death? Snap Out of It

Are you bored out of your mind during conference calls and web meetings? Maybe it's time you did something about it. Yes, we're talking to you.
Face to Face Still Rules- Tell Your Boss and the Bean Counters

Yes, video conferencing and other tools can save a lot of money, but there are serious advantages to getting your team together that go beyond line items. 3 Reasons to Tell finance to lighten up.
Group Texting May Be the Next Big Thing For Your Team. Oh Joy

Watch for a new crop of start-up companies designed to make group text messaging convenient and cheap. This can be both good and bad for your team--don't say we didn't warn you.
How to Make Virtual Conferencing Work: 10 Steps

Virtual conferences are sort of like flying cars--the idea sounds cool, but it's not at all realistic. Here are 10 concerns that need to be addressed before virtual conferences can become widespread.
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #276 Gutsy Leadership with Bob Herbold

Join Wayne Turmel as he speaks to former Microsoft COO Bob Herbold about his new book, What’s Holding You Back: 10 Bold Steps That Define Gutsy Leaders. And on that vein, we talk leprous kings, why gutsy is better than ballsy, shy Scottish authors and how to get PDUs by taking GreatWebMeetings workshops. A full day at the earbuds, gang.

Don’t forget great webinar workshops available from GreatWebMeetings.com each month!
Forget Millenials:Are You Ready For Generation C?

Just when you got used to the Millennials, along comes Generation C- connected, communicating, content-centric and always clicking. Buckle up, managers.
10 Things You Can Do Right Now To Help Your Remote Team Work Together

If you wait for HR to tell you how to manage your remote team, it will be too late for everyone concerned. 10 tips for taking stock--and taking action.
Remote Teams Don't Have To Suffer From Virtual Distance

Working at a distance is a fact of life. It doesn't have to reduce creativity or team spirit. How "Virtual Distance" is different than physical distance and why it matters.
The Cranky Middle Manager Show #275 Leading the Virtual Workforce Karen Sobel Lojeski

Today Wayne Turmel speaks to Dr. Karen Sobel Lojeski, author of “Leading the Virtual Worksforce”, and it’s a great conversation. How big a deal is it that we often work remotely from our teammates? Not a big deal if the person at the next cube only communicates by email anyway….. distance is relative.
Why IT Sucks, and How to Make it Better

A recent study says most IT people are unhappy with their jobs--far more than other employees. Why are our most critical geeks so miserable and what can managers do about it?
How to Create a Meeting Agenda You'll Actually Use

You know meetings should have an agenda. You know you should create and send one out. Here's a guide to creating a template so you're out of excuses.