E318 | Lessons from Bad Managers with Ben Arendt

Summary

In this episode, Dominic Monkhouse speaks with Ben Arendt, author of How to Suck Less as a Manager: A Practical Guide to Making Your Team Less Miserable Today, about the real-world challenges of leadership and effective management. They delve into the importance of emotional intelligence in leadership, the critical need for proper management training, and how a leader’s actions directly impact the well-being of their team. Ben shares actionable insights from his book, focusing on practical strategies to improve management skills and create a more positive, productive work environment. They also explore the role of company culture, the power of trust in leadership, and the importance of clear, consistent communication in building successful teams.

On Today’s Podcast:

• Nobody ever gets trained to be a manager, so it’s not surprising they suck.
• Emotional awareness is crucial for effective leadership.
• If you can’t get joy from management, you won’t be good at it.
• Caring about your team is essential for motivation.
• Hypos crave autonomy; micromanagement drives them away.
• Not everyone is suited for management roles; self-awareness is key.
• Invite scepticism and disagreement to foster better solutions.
• Leaders often don’t have all the answers; collaboration is vital.
• Company culture should reflect authentic values, not just window dressing.
• Everything in business is made up; trust your instincts.

Follow Ben Arendt

• Website – https://depthchargeconsulting.com/
• Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-arendt/
• Book – https://www.amazon.com/How-Suck-Less-Manager-Practical/

Who Is Ben Arendt

Ben’s approach to consulting was cultivated through his years at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), CEB, and Gartner. Through these experiences, Ben has supported hundreds of executives around the C-Suite and won awards for the quality of his analysis and the execution of his craft while empowering leaders to achieve their goals, whether double-digit growth, improved employee experiences, or successful transformation.

Ben’s skills as a facilitator have been honed through over 6,000 hours of live presentations. Ben’s style takes advantage of his diverse background–including his stints as a White House Briefer and Improv Comedy Instructor–and has earned him consistent participant satisfaction ratings over 95%. Ben served as an adjunct professor of Business Communication at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, where he received the highest teacher ratings in his department.

What You’ll Learn from Ben Arendt

• Management is about continuous improvement, not perfection.
• Understanding your team’s personal goals can enhance motivation.
• Mental wellbeing is crucial for productivity and engagement.
• Trust and autonomy are key to effective leadership.
• Company values should be authentic and practiced, not just stated.
• Not everyone is cut out for management roles.
• Effective communication can resolve conflicts and improve team dynamics.
• Leaders should invite skepticism and differing opinions to foster innovation.
• Self-awareness is essential for effective management.
• Leadership impacts team members’ well-being significantly.

Quick Questions

Q: What drives you every day?
Ben Arendt: The opportunity to connect with people and help them achieve the things they want to achieve.

Q: What’s your genius?
Ben Arendt: Understanding my own emotions and helping other people understand theirs.

Q: What unpopular opinion do you hold?
Ben Arendt: I actually don’t think the Lord of the Rings movies were that great.

Q: What’s the most significant risk you’ve taken in your career?
Ben Arendt: I started my business about four months ago, breaking away from the corporate world to try my own thing.

Q: How do you measure success?
Ben Arendt: I measure success based on the things I personally want to achieve. Right now, I want to learn about entrepreneurialism and how to become a writer who helps people with their careers.

Q: What’s the most recent thing you’ve learned or a recent skill you’ve acquired?
Ben Arendt: In preparation for being a parent, I took an infant and child CPR class two nights ago. I’m ready to resuscitate if needed!

Q: What’s your biggest source of inspiration?
Ben Arendt: People who don’t complain, deal with their challenges, and overcome adversity.

Q: What’s the biggest myth in business?
Ben Arendt: That the leaders actually know what they’re doing and are smarter than everybody else. 

 

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