Man Talk with Tom

We all have choices to make in life. Some are easy and some require a deep level of will and determination. But what can we do to make the choices easier…or at least clearer? Tom gives some simple advice to help you make your next choice on this weeks Friday Drive.

Colonel McRoberts was one of the first individuals to fly the F-117 Stealth Fighter. Now he is battling ALS. Leadership in the shadow of your own mortality, this episode of Man talk.

Helpful Links:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS Disease)

US Air Force Academy

What is it like to know that death is around the corner? How do you deal with the illness of a loved one? This week Tom interviews Colonel Wade McRoberts. Colonel McRoberts was one of the first individuals to to fly the F-117 Stealth Fighter. Now he is battling ALS. What does it take to lead you family in light of your own mortality?

Helpful Links:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS Disease)

US Air Force Academy

Lockheed C-5 Galaxy

LTV A-7 Corsair II

Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk

Are you struggling right now? Life is hard and filled with seasons of frustration and pain. What place does struggle have in your life? Is struggle a good thing? Find out today on the Friday Drive.

Last week we learned about the type of man it takes to be a member of the Marine’s Special Operations Forces Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit from Master Sergeant John Rudd. Tom brought him back this week to discuss more about John Rudd’s personal story. What led to John joining the Marines and EOD Tech?

Helpful Links:

024 – Master Sergeant John Rudd – A man that can defuse a bomb.

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Mike Frisbie is the Chief Operations Officer for San Antonio Water System. Mike manages the project management, construction, operations & maintenance for the water systems of San Antonio.  He leads over 1000 employees and he loves it! But how does he do it?

Start with organizational purpose (mission) and goals

Providing services and/or productsEarn a profit or maybe non-profitGrow or not grow?

Can your organization be successful with current staffing?

If “yes” – go for itIf “no” – hire well

Add subconsultant – outsource portion of business (example – masonry contractor – financial bookkeeping) Or, add staff – determine job descriptions & # employees needed

Hire well: Recruitment, interviews, looking for:

Education, experience, Character, work ethicPeople skills, teamwork, coachableResearch them – Google, Facebook, etcInterviews – include personality assessments (DISC), writing samples, hands-on exercise (backhoe, spreadsheet, letter writing, database, masonry, etc.)

Current employees – do all to help them be successful but if they aren’t successful they need to move on.  

Happy, satisfied employees – stay, better work, better teamwork

So, what makes employees happy?

Employees Like

Good cause – purpose Good training Trust Freedom to be innovativeFeedback & interactionRespect – everyone wants to be respected (work vs person)Encouragement

Dislike

MicromanagementCriticismBeing embarrassed

In my experience micromanagement is the killer of culture and successMike Frisbie

We Need Culture of “Leaders at all Levels”

Leadership vs Management

Good business management is needed to ensure organizational goals are met.  Management typically tied to positions – supervisors, managers, etc.Leadership can occur with any position:

Dedicated to the causeStrong work ethicBringing own ideas forwardPersonal growth through training, education, research, experienceListening

“A leader’s communication must be consistent, clear, and courteous. But leaders must also be good listeners…ultimately, poor listening leads to hostility, miscommunications, and a breakdown of team cohesion. How are your listening skills?”John Maxwell – leadership author, motivational speaker

Picture everyone becoming leaders – “Leaders at all Levels”

Maximum effectiveness individually and organizationally

Team diversity – not divisive but beneficial

EthnicityGenderBackgroundsEducation, skill setsPersonalitiesIdeas

The best teams are diverse in all ways.Mike Frisbie

Successful Delegation

Goal – spread the workload around so volume can be executed well and growth can occur.

Defining role – job descriptionProper hiringProper trainingEmpowerment – not micromanagementReview task with employee or volunteerListen for feedbackMutually agreeable approachMutually agreeable timelineMethod of delegation – verbal, email, memo?Clear communication of expectations

Example – meet deadline or talk about it ahead of timeAsk Qs and get updates from employee along the wayProgram management – ways to track milestones, deadlines, goals – mechanisms to track several or many tasks, etc.

“Trust, but verify” – Russian proverb

Other ways to foster effective communication – aids in delegation

No horizontal or vertical silos

Leaders at all levels need to mingle at all levels

Share success – celebrate togetherShare the failure – mistakes happen – allow growth to occurBe accessibleEat together (author Bob Briner – “Management Methods of Jesus”)Organizational bowling team – non-profit supportHallway or break room connections

Delegate effectively and Foster a safe, innovative, enjoyable culture.

There are very few men that can say the defuse bombs for a living. Master Sergeant John Rudd is one of them. Tom took some time this week to learn from the man what it takes to be a member of the Marine’s Special Operations Forces Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit. Lot to learn in this episode. Enjoy.

Helpful Links:

TBI – Traumatic Brain Injury

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What’s the difference between people that do, and people that just dream about it? Tom shares some insights learned from recent interviews with a Chaplain, a Special Operations member, and a retired Colonel. What are the common threads that have lead to their success?

30 Amazing Facts About Your Brain That Will Blow Your Mind

Is alcohol bad for you? Is alcohol a GIFT you can enjoy and choose not to use, or is alcohol HANDCUFFS? Could you quit right now if you wanted to? When should you stop drinking alcohol? Those are the questions we dive into on this second episode of Man Talk. Dr. Alex Early and Tom Weaver sit down to talk about the negative aspects of alcohol.

Helpful Links:

2018 Alcoholism Statistics You Need to Knowpaearly.com

Dr. Alex Early’s Books:

The Reckless Love of God: Experiencing the Personal, Passionate Heart of the Gospel

The New Believer’s Guide to the Christian Life: What Will Change, What Won’t, and Why It Matters

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What place does thankfulness have in the place of our lives and the lives of those around us? What does it look like to be a man to be thankful? What do you need to be thankful for? Tom give some simple insights on thankfulness and how it can impact your every day life.