Re: Tar Too Serious
 

I'm not going to dispute the brain drain but there are stil people happy with their lot here. Also, there are still many professionals here. Perhaps the brain drain is associated with the elite professionals like scientists - doesn't the UK have this issue too? I have yet to meet a settled Australian in London. Until I saw the stats, the impression I got was, most nearly always go back to Australia when the family question arises.

THAT IS NOT TO SAY THEY DO NOT EXIST.

I spoke to my dentist today who is an Aussie but has a Brit passport by descent. She said, I've been to the UK twice - and you would have to pay me to live there. She said "I've realised how perfect Melbourne is". I'm sure she knows that it is not, but I got her drift and point.

Each to their own.

BM

Re: British Exodus
 

So this is now the Australian Exodus thread?

All those Aussie professionals lusting after Mammon (Hell's ambassador to England) in dodgy foreign parts. And who flooded their heads with adoration of this strange, alien Clay Idol - The Corporation.

They'll all come to a sticky end, lose their souls to the devil, you know. Surer than the waters swallowing the Pharaoh’s minions.

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stori.../06/mammon.jpg
(Murdock in happier times)

Re: press request
 

Do you participate in any exercise, Mike? Any sports, I'm wondering what a management consultant does to relieve the stresses of his job. Seriously!

And don't give me any stats of Aussies being overweight - I am asking you now. You really hate sport don't you?! Do you? That's the impression you give. Not everyone actively likes sport, fair enough, but some seem to resent it.

Just want to know what all the negativity is for.

BM

Re: press request
 

I didn't know Mike was a management consultant! You'd think one worth a pinch of the proverbial would recognise the importance of team building to a business. He probably prefers to get it running through the woods shooting each other with paintball or on an Army assault course, or building a bridge with plastic straws and drawing pins rather than team sports though. :D (prepare for onslaught).

OzTennis :)

P.S. look no further than the Ryder Cup to see how 12 people can bond and gel through team sport. The US team was badly in need of a management consultant to put them right though. :D

Re: press request
 

I've been trying to explain it to him for weeks.... Personally, I would be suspicious of hiring someone who didn't play sport well to some good level now, or at some time in the past..;)

BM

Re: press request
 

Ah, the mighty Badge and OT get together. All that brain and brawn together ('Neurone and Blockhead')...scary.

Badge, if you bother to read what I've (often) written about sport, it is Oz's obsession with sport that is nauseating. And the fact it matters so much to them - just look at the way they treated that Aussie female olympic rower : viscious. I have nothing against sport, in moderation.

As for team building, building a bridge out of matchsticks provides no insight into turning a business around. Teams are very important in business, but what happens out on the field does not automatically translate into team spirit in a company.

Re: press request
 

Sport, the problem you have is with the media. There were many Australians who saw both sides of the story. I listen to a lot of ABC and often they are tripping overthemselves to be anti -Australian, and liberal, and informed..and challenging..if I can use that phrase here. I'm like "right I'm changing over!"

I'm still not convinced about your management arguments.

I've met forces managers and team leaders who have not only done it in the large, under stressful situations, and have earnt respect along the way; they don't need a 'big office' [your words] or an expensive suit, many were leading 30 men from all backgrounds from the age of 18 or 19 in back streets of Belfast or from the back of a Landrover or sitting on a box, when even your pen and it's spare run out, under torch light, and you had to battle the weather, fatigue as well as the problem at hand; tactics and logistics. Lives are at risk; not profits. Really switches you on. Life is so easy now...(!)

I was myself leading men and women when I was 20. What a privelege! I don't know any other profession where someone so young gets to lead 10 or more people 10 or 15 years their senior in so many different aspects; morale, leadership, policy, tuition in a technical role, all in stressful situations.

By comparison, frankly, in industry, I've never met one single manager anywhere who knew the first thing about people, least of all managing them; for many of them it was all on paper. Manage by spreadsheet/powerpoint. We even had a female management consultant; she was ridiculed and eventually left. Her attitude was all ratios and stats, and finding justifications for her existence - and pay packet.

It is one of the reasons why I am cynical with management in general! The really funny thing is, I stay away from it all now and just watch...I sometimes have to tip toe around managers cos they get v sensitive. They know I am watching their every move - and they know my background..I've had them stuttering and stammering in pieces, and breaking down in front of me when they are alone with me. They seem to know I've got them sussed... I have to pretend to be innocent with it though....it's bloody hard sometimes.. God it's hard sometimes, heck it is.

The worst is when they find out my background; they can feel very threatened and talk about the time they delivered this "x and that y"...I'm like
"it's OK, I'm not concerned. I'm in your team. I'm on your side etc"

I'm torn between "what's the matter mate, you can talk to me. Relax. ", and "nah they'd feel threatened if I helped them". I'm at a bit of a loss sometimes. I feel sorry for them though. They haven't had the training.

Quite a fascinating subject, sure you'd agree. Team Dynamics etc. I'm not taking the piss, Mike, its just all the things I've noticed.

Jesus I should be a guru or something but I can't be arsed. lol. How about Badge and Mike Staton Management Pty, sorry, Ltd.. cheers

ps many of the people on this forum talk about their overbearing managers etc - makes you wonder how these people get away with it..your people are always first...before yourself...etc etc

Badge

Re: press request
 

I've already registered the company! :D

I agree with your general thrust - most people are lousy managers. And consultants can be some of the worst (no, I'm not joking). People think that by giving someone the title 'manager' makes that person an effective manager (let's not even use the word 'good') - it doesn't. Most management is about managing relationships. And given that 40%+ of marriages end in divorce, why should anybody be surprised about crap performance in the workplace?

Still, it's not all bad. If most managers were any good, we wouldn't have 'The Office' or Dilbert...

Re: British Exodus
 

Nice little prattle on managers c/o of " Madge + Mikey bodgers ltd."

Ozzies have very little to worry about really in the day - to - day work climate in Oz - there are plenty of managers sucking the country dry - sadly no leaders to keep it afloat !!

Ozzie managers are great in dealing with tigger economies, it takes Leaders to create *Tiger* economies.

No wonder the likes of the one dimensional Badger has the managers shi**ing themselves and the likes of Mike the bodger gets a comfy office and puffy management title to feel good about himself c/o of *your* labour.

Lets see what the next few years when Ozzie property price collapse, poor to negative economic growth, high interest bank loans and recession bring along from management and leaders alike in Ozzie.

Heres a tip when - wait for a management soundbite on employing yet more "work smart" managers just as the company / economy goes pearshaped. :confused:

Re: British Exodus
 

Your not Mark Latham are you ???

Re: British Exodus
 

Re: British Exodus
 

I can't believe the amount of people bad mouthing Badges ideas. Look, I always find the people that criticize your ideas in life are generally unhappy people with mixed up feelings. Badge, you have a good, fresh, happy outlook in life and do not let anybody try and change that. ;)

As for this previous statement "No wonder the likes of the one dimensional Badger has the managers shi**ing themselves and the likes of Mike the bodger gets a comfy office and puffy management title to feel good about himself c/o of *your* labour." :eek: WHAT; Has everybody out there read this and interpreted this load of gobshit. Just because you have a nice comfy office etc etc does not make you happy.

Infact, the reason i think you like arguing with Badge so much (if you could even call it that) is because you want some of his secret charisma to rub off on you. :D

Re: press request
 

Some good stuff here Badge.....but not all managers behave like plonkers. There are some who are excellent "people" managers as well as exceptional strategists [true Leaders] :D

Never believe in your own propaganda ;)

Re: press request
 

A shepherd was herding his flock in a remote pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him. The driver, a young man in a Broni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the shepherd, "If I tell you exactly how many sheep you have in your flock, will you give me one?"

The shepherd looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing flock and calmly answers, "Sure. Why not?"

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his cell phone, surfs to a NASA page on the internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation system to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo. They young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored. He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with hundreds of complex formulas. He uploads all of this data via an email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response. Finally, he prints out a full-colour, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the shepherd and says, "You have exactly 1586 sheep."

"That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my sheep." says the shepherd.

He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the boot of his car.

Then the shepherd says to the young man, "Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my sheep?"

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?"

"You're a consultant." says the shepherd.

"Wow! That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?"

"No guessing required." answered the shepherd. "You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew; to a question I never asked; and you don't know anything about my business " ... Now give me back my dog."

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...nsultant+sheep

Re: press request
 

I know..I've met some good ones...can't resist it though!! I still miss some of the really GOOD ones..can't remember the last time I was inspired by a manager...

BM