Wardroom Training

 

The art of spinning plates.

  *  Multiple activities

  *  Confusion

  *  Spin they must!

*  If they fall its because you suck!

And so on…

 

But its not leadership.

 

        Tom’s Big 10

We learn leadership like anything else:  We watch and learn

We’re first and foremost, flawed humans, prone to mistakes:  Please listen closely, but don’t watch what I do!

1.  Keep your eye on the pointy end of the ship.

      *  Mission

     *  Direction

     *  Connects the “WHY” to the “WHAT”

Those who work for you need to know what you’re trying to do.

The most important need people generally have, is to feel that they are contributing something important. 

Here’s mine: 

Feed us all, be a sustainable organization, make us indispensible to Pfizer.

This was my first day:

“Tom, I’m routing for you guys, but we can get someone else.”

Symptoms something is wrong:

-  Low energy/ minimal sense of urgency

-  Lots of gossip

-  arguing among the troops

-  Lots of what, little why

 2.  Everyone’s a Rifleman.

* Marine Corp

*  US Navy 

Everyone.

For us, customer service.

We’re all riflemen.

I still remember those two tiny slips of paper on the floor under Gabby’s desk (at the CRU of course).

3.  Don’t shoot the lookout

Separate the messenger from the message.

-  They’re watching how you react.

-  Bad reaction – no more bad news.

4.  Trust your Chief’s Quarters. 

*  Your people know their  jobs.

*  You know your job.

*  Drive for self reliance.

    -  push decision making downward

    -  hold them accountable for outcomes

    -  delegating means you don’t always get the process you want.

     - The more direction, the worse the outcome.

     - Save detailed procedures for high risk or critical work. 

*  Make them say the magic words.

*  Don’t break the chain of command

     -  confuses ownership

     - makes your leads tentative

     - conflicting directions

     - Shows a lack of confidence

*  Never criticize a lead or manager in public- never!

Symptoms of problems:

-  They’re sitting down watching you

-  My mop fell over what I do next?

-  They’re actions are inconsistent

5.  Your Sailors always eat first.

*  A military tradition… 

Remember why we’re doing all this – to enable us all to feed our families.

*  Praise them before yourself.

*  Always work harder and longer than they.

*  Stop what you’re doing to fix their pay or personnel problems.

*  Convince them through deeds, not words, that you care.

*  Our language is Spanglish!

6.  Inspect what you expect.

                        April 10,1963

          SAILOR, REST YOUR OAR

  *  Thresher…

  *  Its only done when its done.  But when is it done.

  *  You must inspect.

  *  Faulty welds

  *  Rig for dive.

  *  Priority…

7.  Trust  - job one!

The real story…

  *  An unauthorized test

  *  Padlocked safety bypass valves.

  *  A flawed reactor  design that put people in danger but produced lots of electricity.

-  no short cuts

-  no half truths

-  no telling silence.

We don’t clean toilets, we promise Pfizer a clean safe facility. 

8.  Keep them safe.

*  Correct immediately

*  Your attitude  sets the pace and mood.

      - Nervous

      - Calm

*  Nothing says accident like being in a hurry.

*  Equipment and working conditions

*  PPE  

 

9.  Work on you!

-  Exercise

-  Stress

-  Training and education

-  A word about pay

-  Leaders are readers

10.  Shut the hatch.

-   Never risk the ship on someone’s behalf.

-   Don’t coddle or hide your poor performers. 

-  No drama in front of the customer

-  Israeli Army 10%.

 

Tom’s Communications 5

1.  Only I can say No to a customer.

2.  Notify me immediately for:

  *  Safety violations and accidents.

  *  When you have a dissatisfied customer

  *  When something is preventing you from doing your job

  *  When it otherwise makes sense.

3.  Perceptions mean everything in communications.  Everything.

  *  No drama in front of the customers

  *  Don’t air our dirty laundry.

  *  Put a face to the service.

  *  Honest – you screwed up, not them.

4.  Don’t bother everyone with trivia, least of all me.

5.  Don’t ask me to make your decisions for you, but always feel free to ask for advice.

 

Department Heads, Doug and I…

1.  I own policy, Doug owns its execution, you own process, everyone owns information.

Note:  information isn’t airing gossip!

Doug

-  Owns the routine…

-  Maintains a tickler and tracks completion.

-  Oversees Safety

-  Manages TEAMCOACH

-  Intervenes with customer complaints

-  Goes to operational meetings

ME…

-  Meet with Carol, Dan Spellman, Mike and so on

-  Worry about finances, estimating, costing, invoicing

-  Help Dept heads deal with people problems and performance

-  Oversee TEAMFIN

-  Own culture, standards and morale.

-  Do our corporate communicating and reporting.

Department Heads.

-  Focus on your areas of expertise, with an eye on the "big picture”

-  Drive for self reliance in your people

-  Keep Doug and I informed

-  Know your mission and execute it smartly!

Well, at least we all still have youtube.