Mental Model Dōjō | Modern General Management Forum

November 21 Session (free)

Managing Smart People, Managing Quiet People

Book Your Place

  • Session A: Nov 21 (Tue) 08:00 SGP, Nov 20 (Mon) 20:00 US EST, 19:00 CST, 17:00 PST
  • Session B: Nov 21 (Tue) 18:00 SGP, 14:00 DXB, 12:00 PAR, 11:00 LON

Featured Topic

Managing Smart People, Managing Quiet People

Synopsis

When it comes to the topic of how to manage disengaged team members in my (Coach Takeshi) executive coaching sessions, I see two patterns. On one end of the spectrum is the “quiet” people; i.e. people who leaders perceive as passive and instruction waiting. On the other end of the spectrum is the “smart” people; i.e. people who leaders perceive as holding high esteem of their abilities and sometimes causing complications in teamwork, including withholding and closed behavior*.

I think almost all leaders come across these two types of people (in varying degree of course) at some point in their careers managing teams. Therefore I believe managing smart people and quiet people are each important targeted management skills that every leader would find useful to anticipate and develop.

In my coaching sessions, some executives have found breakthrough in this topic with better feedbacking skills, e.g. Radical Candor. Other coachees have found the Delegation, Empowerment Spectrum helpful. And there are many more mental models that leaders can pick and choose in devising their own ways of embracing these two types of challenging people. Come join our session and let’s explore together.

Note*: I am aware of the impression of passing judgement and the risk of stereo typically labelling people as “smart” and “quiet”. Nonetheless oversimplification is sometimes helpful in facilitating thinking exercises so forgive me.

Reference readings: (1) https://agile-od.com/mmdojo/1762/radical-candor, (2) https://agile-od.com/mmdojo/9866/empowerment-delegation-spectrum

About the Mental Model Dōjō

We’ve got to have many mental models in our head, and array our experiences on a “latticework” of mental models, says Charlie Munger. OD (Organization Development) in today’s context is nothing but complex. There’s no magic bullet singular solution to the many challenges that leaders and teams face in day-to-day work. We need a multiplex of tools, approaches, frameworks, i.e. mental models.

We created the Mental Model Dōjō learning community at Agile OD to foster lifelong learning for our current and alumni clients, and to invite anyone with the learning mindset to explore and experiment the many cognitive tools, thinking frameworks, communication approaches, collaboration modalities and, simply put, philosophies created by the great minds of old and new.

About the Modern General Management Forum

Managing teams and organizations in today’s accelerating world is nothing but complex. Whether you are a project lead, division head, country manager or CxO, the ability as an “integrator” of people and processes across different domains of expertise and technology is key.

This is a broad skill – it’s general management, with a modern twist. Let’s take a fresh look at general management in today’s context; come join our forum and learn and explore with us the wide range of Modern General Management KSAs (knowledge, skills, abilities) adaptive to the needs of our evolving world.

Each forum session will be in group coaching and discussion format facilitated by Agile OD coaches. Participation is free.

About Agile OD

Hi, thank you for your interest in Agile Organization Development. My name is Coach Takeshi and I lead our growing tribe of now 30 plus expert coaches, trainers, facilitators and consultants from all around the world.

I created Agile OD as a force for good in our rapidly evolving world. Our focus is on helping leaders, teams and organizations make the workplace a better place for all so that we can enjoy more fullfilling and valuable work.

That’s why we are first and foremost learning professionals – our work is “inside-out” helping people develop and master the knowledge, skills and abilities needed for reaching their individual, team and organizational goals.

We work at all levels of the organization, from C-suite to corporate strategy teams managing mission critical organizational change, transformation and innovation programs, HR teams facilitating learning & development programs for their talent, business units and product development teams aspiring to achieve high and hyper performance, and with love and care any individual person seeking support for their personal and professional development.

We work with all sizes of organizations, from multi-national corporations to public entities, SMEs and startups.

Let us know what you have in mind for your learning needs: