My family got XM radio for me several birthdays ago and it has proven to be one of the best gifts ever. We live far from any metro area, so regular FM radio consists of a couple classic rock stations (I never thought I’d get sick of ZZ Top, but…), some Spanish/ethnic stations, and many, many country stations. AM is mostly Rush, Beck and the odd UFO enthusiast. My tastes are varied, but basically rock. Classic rock, hair metal, acoustic/folk, new wave/80s, jam bands, alternative – if it’s in the rock genre I probably listen to it regularly. One of the highlights of my day is listening to Gone Phishin on the Jam On channel on my way home. Today I worked so late I missed most of it – I’m an idiot.
I have a moderately long commute, which means I get a good opportunity to listen on both legs. On the way into work I’m gearing up for the day ahead – what meetings do I have and what do I want to get out of them; what tasks do I need to complete and which deadlines can I blow off (because I always have to ignore something); how can I help the supervisors and engineers do their jobs more productively; how I can motivate the mechanics to do their jobs safer; etc. My perception of the radio often fades in and out with my thoughts.
So…why it is that I regularly become conscious of the fact that I’m listening to a really crappy song and it is already half over? This morning I came out of the coma in the middle of The Human League. After swearing to myself I tuned to Jam On and found that I had missed most of Phish’s cover of “Crosseyed and Painless”. Is it possible that the radio can curse your day before it has had a chance to start? It’s like I had eaten my fill of Brussels sprouts only to find steak around the corner.
My concentration seems to flit around at work, too (although with a much longer time scale…no five minute ditties here). I will focus on something and either get satisfied with the progress or lose interest, and next thing I know it has degenerated into total crap.
My role in middle management, as some of you may remember, is that of a supervisor of supervisors, who are in turn supervisors of folks who actually work for a living. You know, people who get dirty, turn wrenches, drive forklifts, that sort of thing. We are always concerned that the mechanics will injure themselves or others, and we have an extensive safety programs to try to halt these heinous crimes against humanity. Here’s the story of the situational awareness cards…
The cards, or SACs in TLA-talk, began in a different plant and migrated to us. Physically they are the size of recipe cards, filled with potential hazards that the craftsmen are supposed to identify and put an “X” in the box if they are germane to the tasks at hand. This is hazard ID at its simplest. As with any program it was effective for some and nonsense to others. By the way, if you have a one-size-fits-all behavioral safety program and you think it works you are smoking some serious weed. Where was I? Oh yeah, nonsense to others. We got the program started. Both the supervisors and a majority of the craftsmen seemed to have embraced the program. I felt it was going along swimmingly, and mentally left it to fend for itself. OOPS.
The next thing I know, the Human League Syndrome kicks in. (Can I patent that phrase? If Pat Riley can have “three-peat” [very stupid, right?] why can’t I have the Human League Syndrome?) By the time I finally clue in the program has morphed into something that was nearly unrecognizable.
Middle management is always a juggling act and we always have more than three objects in the air at one time. The trouble is that we’re trying to juggle a flail, a machete, a chain saw, and a Tasmanian Devil all at the same time. As soon as you focus on catching the chain saw by the handle, the machete whacks off your pinkie at the second knuckle. Then the organization, who insisted on all those objects in the first place, bawls you out for not paying attention to detail.
I just spent the last few minutes running a mental countdown of all the initiatives we have going on right now – there are a bunch, some good, some worthless, some so harebrained you’d think Bugs himself was CEO. (He’s not but has a striking resemblance to the guy who is.) I’ve come to the conclusion that I have to come up with some means to remind myself of the things I expect to see from the supervisors so that I can remind them when things are due. Outlook actually works pretty well for this. There may be other good ticklers out there, also. Drop me a line in the comments box if there is one that has been particularly helpful for you.
Now pardon me, because I’ve gone Phishing…
I have a moderately long commute, which means I get a good opportunity to listen on both legs. On the way into work I’m gearing up for the day ahead – what meetings do I have and what do I want to get out of them; what tasks do I need to complete and which deadlines can I blow off (because I always have to ignore something); how can I help the supervisors and engineers do their jobs more productively; how I can motivate the mechanics to do their jobs safer; etc. My perception of the radio often fades in and out with my thoughts.
So…why it is that I regularly become conscious of the fact that I’m listening to a really crappy song and it is already half over? This morning I came out of the coma in the middle of The Human League. After swearing to myself I tuned to Jam On and found that I had missed most of Phish’s cover of “Crosseyed and Painless”. Is it possible that the radio can curse your day before it has had a chance to start? It’s like I had eaten my fill of Brussels sprouts only to find steak around the corner.
My concentration seems to flit around at work, too (although with a much longer time scale…no five minute ditties here). I will focus on something and either get satisfied with the progress or lose interest, and next thing I know it has degenerated into total crap.
My role in middle management, as some of you may remember, is that of a supervisor of supervisors, who are in turn supervisors of folks who actually work for a living. You know, people who get dirty, turn wrenches, drive forklifts, that sort of thing. We are always concerned that the mechanics will injure themselves or others, and we have an extensive safety programs to try to halt these heinous crimes against humanity. Here’s the story of the situational awareness cards…
The cards, or SACs in TLA-talk, began in a different plant and migrated to us. Physically they are the size of recipe cards, filled with potential hazards that the craftsmen are supposed to identify and put an “X” in the box if they are germane to the tasks at hand. This is hazard ID at its simplest. As with any program it was effective for some and nonsense to others. By the way, if you have a one-size-fits-all behavioral safety program and you think it works you are smoking some serious weed. Where was I? Oh yeah, nonsense to others. We got the program started. Both the supervisors and a majority of the craftsmen seemed to have embraced the program. I felt it was going along swimmingly, and mentally left it to fend for itself. OOPS.
The next thing I know, the Human League Syndrome kicks in. (Can I patent that phrase? If Pat Riley can have “three-peat” [very stupid, right?] why can’t I have the Human League Syndrome?) By the time I finally clue in the program has morphed into something that was nearly unrecognizable.
Middle management is always a juggling act and we always have more than three objects in the air at one time. The trouble is that we’re trying to juggle a flail, a machete, a chain saw, and a Tasmanian Devil all at the same time. As soon as you focus on catching the chain saw by the handle, the machete whacks off your pinkie at the second knuckle. Then the organization, who insisted on all those objects in the first place, bawls you out for not paying attention to detail.
I just spent the last few minutes running a mental countdown of all the initiatives we have going on right now – there are a bunch, some good, some worthless, some so harebrained you’d think Bugs himself was CEO. (He’s not but has a striking resemblance to the guy who is.) I’ve come to the conclusion that I have to come up with some means to remind myself of the things I expect to see from the supervisors so that I can remind them when things are due. Outlook actually works pretty well for this. There may be other good ticklers out there, also. Drop me a line in the comments box if there is one that has been particularly helpful for you.
Now pardon me, because I’ve gone Phishing…
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