In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy is joined by guest Jeff Hancher.  The discussion highlights Jeff's journey from a challenging upbringing in rural Pennsylvania to becoming an executive at Cintas, a publicly traded company, then later an author and speaker on numerous leadership topics.

Jeff recounts the impact of his military service in shaping his character and career, emphasizing the significance of continuous improvement, accountability and engaging one’s motivation as pillars to his success.  Post-military, Jeff transitioned to Cintas, rising from a route delivery driver to a senior leadership position across his 20+ year career. The conversation centers on the critical role of feedback in leadership, illustrating through personal anecdotes how effective feedback can transform individuals and organizations.  

Jeff's upcoming book, 'Firm Feedback in a Fragile World,' aims to equip leaders with tools to provide impactful feedback in today’s volatile work environment. The episode underscores the necessity of balancing empathy with accountability to foster professional growth and organizational success.

For those interested in ordering Jeff's new book, you can go to firmfeedbackbook.com.

In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy continues his survey of Kelly Johnson’s 14 Rules of Management through the lens of his own 20-year career both leading and working within various product organizations.  

Focusing on Rules #5-7, McMenamy critiques the overuse of metrics and status meetings in large organizations, providing anecdotes from his tenure at Precision Planting and other companies. He underscores the benefits of minimizing bureaucracy and fostering direct, transparent communication, especially in supplier relationships.  

The episode emphasizes the utility of a minimalist approach to budgeting and reporting for fostering a nimble and creative work environment while ensuring accountability and efficiency.

In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, host Justin McMenamy is joined by Jeff Snowden to discuss leadership lessons drawn from the career of Admiral Hyman Rickover, the father of the nuclear Navy. They explore Rickover's famed career, including his ascent from an immigrant family to a naval officer known for his meticulous work ethic and unorthodox leadership style. The conversation covers Rickover’s commitment to hands-on experience, his selection of highly competent teams, and his ability to lead from the front. Jeff also shares personal anecdotes and professional insights on leadership, comparing nuanced aspects of various leadership styles. The episode further delves into Rickover's intent to maintain peace in the nuclear age, even as he pushed technological boundaries.

In this episode of 'Grody and UnPrOfEsSiOnAL' Justin McMenamy delves into how principles from rocket science can inform organizational architecture, particularly in disruptive startup environments. Using Kelly Johnson's 14 Rules of Management from Lockheed Martin's Skunkworks, McMenemy emphasizes the importance of organizational elasticity, embedded project management, and the value of small teams consisting of highly competent individuals as building blocks for effective teams. He then contrasts this approach with traditional metric-driven corporate methodologies. McMenemy shares personal experiences from his tenure at Precision Planting to illustrate these points, emphasizing the need for trust, cooperation, and a bureaucratic aversion in driving disruptive innovation.

In this episode of "Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL" Justin McMenamy interviews Lon Stroschein, a former corporate executive who transitioned to writing and coaching after a pivotal season in his life. Lon shares his journey from feeling unfulfilled despite a successful career to finding purpose through helping others. Topics discussed include the emotional struggles of mid-career, the importance of finding one's voice, and balancing professional and personal life. Lon also recounts a poignant story about his daughter Grace, highlighting the need to be present for family amidst career pressures. The conversation emphasizes the value high performing employees place on autonomy and purpose over monetary success and provides insights for both employees and employers on creating fulfilling work environments.

In this episode of ‘Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL’, Justin McMenamy kicks off a seven-episode mini-series focused on his experiences as a curator of a market disruptive technology division housed within a Fortune 500 company.  Each episode in the series is built from the framework of Kelly Johnson’s 14 Rules of Management.  This list, authored in 1954, is the cultural charter document for Skunk Works, the Advanced Development Programs division of Lockheed Martin and the designers of products like the SR71 Blackbird, the U2 spy plane, and the F-35 Lightning.  

In the first episode of the series, McMenamy recounts early career disillusionment with corporate bureaucracy which led him to join Precision Planting, a start-up minded company with an anti-bureaucratic ethos.  In light of Precision Planting being acquired by Monsanto in 2012 and later by AGCO in 2017, McMenemy explores the challenges of maintaining a startup culture within a large corporation. Building from Kelly Johnson's 1st rule of management, McMenamy highlights the significance of executive support for organizational autonomy from the broader company.    

Across the arc of this series, McMenamy focuses on the complexities of sustaining an innovative culture within incumbent companies, along with proven techniques an organization can employ to forestall the logical and rational march into bureaucracy.

In this episode of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, Justin McMenamy discusses leadership lessons with his friend and colleague, Juan Roncoroni.  The conversation covers topics like authenticity, transparency, balancing chaos with structure, and the importance of personal relationships in leadership. Roncoroni shares amusing anecdotes, such as accidentally filling a gasoline rental car with diesel while on a business trip and the plights of snoring while sharing a hotel room with co-workers. The conversation also dives into Roncoroni's career transition from a large international corporation to the startup culture of Precision Planting. Additionally, they explore cultural nuances in leadership styles across different regions considering Roncoroni’s recent transition from South America to Europe. Amidst humor, the episode underscores the significance of empathy, flexibility, and genuine personal connections in effective leadership.

In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' Justin McMenamy critiques the modern employee opinion survey by questioning the effectiveness of employing broadbrush survey results and anonymous free text feedback to gauge employee morale. McMenamy points out that such surveys often fall short of their aim due to participation coercion, the psychology of anonymous comments, and leadership's creativity in results interpretation. He argues for the need for face-to-face feedback and open communication as a replacement for the employee opinion survey.  

“The Modern Employee Opinion Survey promotes a culture of secrecy and gossip, which is nothing but a hindrance to teamwork, candor, and rapid movement towards a goal.  I have always believed that information flows fastest along relationship lines. The modern employee opinion survey largely acts as a relationship blocker between leaders and their organizations.”

In this episode of 'Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL,' Justin McMenamy discusses leadership lessons with Bryce Baker, focusing on distinguishing principle from preference and integrating insights from different domains into your leadership approach. Bryce shares his journey from field sales representative to marketing manager at Precision Planting, emphasizing the importance of sales and marketing synergy along with the pros and cons of tailored marketing. The conversation also delves into the balance between autonomy and centralized control in decision-making, using an NFL quarterback analogy to illustrate the concept of 'loosely coupled' organizations. Additionally, they explore the significance of intelligent failure in fostering a culture that encourages innovation and learning. The conversation wraps up with reflections on the transition from leading individual contributors to leading leaders, highlighting the importance of humility, communication, and continuous learning.

Justin McMenamy, host of Grody & UnPrOfEsSiOnAL, shares his experience as a design engineer in a highly regulated and complacent company within the diesel engine industry. He discusses the aristocratic leadership style that stifled creativity, fostered fear, and led to a toxic workplace environment. Through personal stories and reflections, he details how this environment fostered bitterness among employees and led to significant mental strain, even hospitalizations. McMenamy offers insights on recognizing toxic corporate cultures, the importance of mentorship, and steps he took towards overcoming bitterness, emphasizing the need for proactive self-care and strategic career decisions.