Google’s Eight behaviors
March 16, 2011 at 3:02 AM | Posted in Annals of Management, Business | 10 CommentsTags: Bill Parcells, Bobby Knight, Burroughs, Dean Smith, Google, Tom Landry
In the SundayBusiness section of the NY Times, Adam Bryant (he of “Corner Office” Fame) reports on Google’s “Project Oxygen” in which the famous company seeks to analyse what makes for an excellent manager. As I began reading I expected to find that Google had discovered the qualities that, well, define me. Then, early on in the article I read that “What employees valued most were even-keel bosses ….”
Well, I thought, I’m pretty even keeled — except for the times I’m not. Then over a solo sushi meal I recounted the bosses I’ve actually had, discounting the ones that I’ve heard about, like the famous Jack Shivillo (get the f… out of my sight till you get an order) from the Burroughs days. Virtually all my old bosses were more even-keel than I am and I’m scoring myself gently. Like Newt Gingrich, most of my indiscretions were from my younger days but isn’t that always the case?
I did get better news as I read “Google’s Eight Behaviors” as they rated “Be a good coach” as the number one key. I see myself that way (at least that’s what I’m trying to do) but even that brings issues: am I fiery like Bobby Knight or the Tuna, Bill Parcells (both wonderfully sarcastic) or am I more the gentleman, like Dean Smith and Tom Landry.
Who the hell am I and am I Google material?
10 Comments »
RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI
Leave a Reply
Blog at WordPress.com. | Theme: Customized Pool by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds.
That’s a great article. I’m going to share with others on linked in. Thank you for posting it.
Comment by David Shugars— March 16, 2011 #
You are welcome!
Comment by tommackey— March 16, 2011 #
Tuna!!!! You are still a great coach.
Comment by Ed Boclair— March 16, 2011 #
In the great words of the Tuna: “No one cares” (so stop complaining.) !!
Comment by tommackey— March 17, 2011 #
Tom, though I never had the opportunity to work for you my observation from the sidelines wouldn’t rate you as even-keeled! However I’m surprised that this is a highly-rated quality. Give me a passionate leader any day – I’d rather work for someone who cares even if they blow off steam occasionally.
You struck me as an inspirational, thoughtful and entertaining leader – all great qualities, and what’s wrong with a bit of sarcasm!
Comment by Graham Page— March 16, 2011 #
Yes, without sarcasm where would we be?!
Comment by tommackey— March 17, 2011 #
Not in England – that’s for sure!
Comment by Graham Page— March 17, 2011 #
Now, lad, is there even a hint of St. Paddy’s Day in Merry Olde ….?
Comment by tommackey— March 17, 2011 #
Only on the part of some commercial entities who would like to make money out of it, having made some progress with Halloween. Not much. Though we probably have as many (genuine) Irish descendants as you do it may be that distance lends enchantment and so they celebrate the motherland more there. Then of course every American is an Irishman on St Patrick’s Day, especially, hitherto, the President. What was Obama’s stance?
Comment by Graham Page— March 18, 2011 #
I don’t think he played the schmaltz to the hilt … but he may have.
Comment by tommackey— March 23, 2011 #