CONFIDENTIAL

Good Boss, Bad Boss

presented by

July 8, 2010 2

Bob Sutton Dan Portillo VP, Organizational Development

Rypple

rypple.com

Professor, Stanford Author of Good Boss, Bad Boss

bobsutton.typepad.com

Your host Our guest

Bob Sutton

Our guest

Dan Portillo

Your host

July 8, 2010 3

What kind of B.O.S.S. are you?

Find out at rypple.com/boss

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How to be the best….and learn from the worst

Robert Sutton Stanford University

 Two points, starting with Jimmy Buffett

“Some things are still a mystery to me, and other things are much too clear.”

To be a great boss, you’ve got to be remarkably self-obsessed.

Not for egotistical or selfish reasons, but because staying “in tune” with your people is a hallmark of great bosses.

 The “interesting shoes day” story.

Followers are hyper-focused on those who wield power over them; bosses are remarkably oblivious to their underlings.

Typical member of a baboon troop glances at the alpha male every 20 to 30 seconds.

 Effects of giving people power:

•  Focus on their own needs and concerns

•  Focus little attention on the needs of others

•  Act like the rules don’t apply to them

Three Berkeley students, five cookies

Two students brainstorm and the third has the power to evaluate their ideas

Those with power tended to:

• Take the fourth cookie

• Eat with their mouths open

• Leave more crumbs

  Assertiveness   The small wins strategy   Wisdom   Superstars and rotten apples  Got their backs?

“The best bosses are rated roughly average by followers on terms like competitive, aggressive, passive, and submissive– they are moderately assertive.”

Having a “perfectly assertive” boss is like eating perfectly salted food… you tend not to notice it’s excellence.

“I believe managing is like holding a dove in your hand. If you hold it too tightly you kill it, but if you hold it too loosely, you lose it."

Managers often overestimate their value – and don’t realize the damage – caused by watching and nagging employees.

“First do no harm” is especially crucial to innovation – manage by getting out of the way.

After you plant a seed in the ground, you don’t dig it up every week to see how it is doing.”

Long term, “big hairy goals” are essential – but when people don’t know the little steps required to make constant progress, they freeze-up and freak-out.

The best bosses frame what they – and their followers -- do as a series of manageable and doable steps.

Her people were freaking-out and overwhelmed by a crucial sales campaign.

Until…..

The best bosses dance on the edge of overconfidence, but a healthy dose of self-doubt and humility and saves from turning arrogant and pig-headed

The attitude of wisdom:

The courage to act on what you know in concert with humility to doubt your assumptions and actions

“Investment decisions or personnel decisions and prioritization don’t wait for the picture to be clarified. You have to make them when you have to make them. You take your shots and clean up the bad ones later.

I think it is very important for you to do two things: act on your temporary conviction as if it was a real conviction; and when you realize that you are wrong, correct course very quickly. “

For decades, I would always go first in meetings to discuss opinions on stories, a sequence, design, artwork or a music score. I don’t like to go first anymore. I actually like to hear what other people have to say first.

Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of Dreamworks

 Fight as if you are right, listen as if you are wrong.

 The best bosses make it safe to fight like crazy over ideas, in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

“When two people in business always agree, one of them is unnecessary.”

“Everyone will get humiliated and encouraged together.”

Who are your stars?

Do they undermine or enhance collective performance?

•  The “top” salesperson in the Seattle Men’s Wearhouse store

Bad apples -- including deadbeats, downers, and assholes -- bring down performance 30% to 40% compared to teams that don’t have them.

Research by Will Felps

“5 to 1 rule” whether it is encounters in personal relationships or at work.

Negative emotions, laziness, and stupidity are remarkably destructive and contagious.

Baird CEO Paul Purcell “During the interview, I tell them that if I discover that they are an asshole, I am going to fire them.”

 The best bosses protect their people from intrusions, distractions, idiots, and idiocy of every stripe

 Ignoring bad rules and procedures

 Changing bad rules and procedures

 Taking the heat for your people

 Battling enemies and idiots on their behalf

Two key diagnostic questions:

1. Do you know what it feels like to work for you?

2. If they had the choice, would your people elect to work for you

again?

Robert.sutton@stanford.edu

www.bobsutton.net

Answering your questions

July 8, 2010 4