What Motivates People If you’re a manager, you are called on regularly to motivate others. Being a successful leader relies on your ability to help others perform well.  Traditionally, we use the carrot and stick approach.  We bribe people with money or other incentives.  But, once the incentive goes away, so does the drive to […]

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Celebrating Women’s History Month: Tools and Tactics For Women At Work In her weekly blog, author and organizational development expert Dr. Anne Litwin sites study after study that conclude that women perform better than men in areas of leadership, management and decision-making. Yet women only make up 3 to 4 percent of CEO’s worldwide. For […]

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Quick to Judge Science now confirms that you only get one chance to make a first impression and that judgment happens more quickly than you’d expect. Psychologist and neuroscientist Dr. Bastian Schiller and a team of researchers in Switzerland have discovered that subconsciously, we decide within milliseconds who or what we like or don’t like. […]

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The folks at Mind Tools say an average office worker receives about 80 emails per day. If your message is one of 80, or more, it can get lost in the shuffle.  As creators of solutions, Mind Tools has developed several tips that will help your emails get noticed and answered. Don’t over-communicate. Write only […]

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What’s your approach to introducing a new initiative? Do you plan alone or with just a select few?  Do you make the decisions and tell others?  Do you push for closure, focused primarily on getting the task done? If you answered, “Yes” to the above questions you may find that your good ideas often fail […]

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Are your goals for the year ahead on your mind? I’m thinking about mine. For the most part, we’re accustomed to writing SMART goals: Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Relevant. Time-bound. This year, experiment with by adding another take on your process. Create a ‘Want’ and a ‘Don’t Want’ list for each goal. Here’s how: At the […]

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What’s your office environment like these days? Many companies are moving to the new open space concept. Doing so represents a change – and in many cases, a significant one. If your work environment is shifting to the open plan, with fewer to no walls and private offices, utilize change management techniques as you lead […]

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Environment is important to us, even if we’re not fully cognizant of the role in plays in the way we feel and behave. Research suggests it affects creativity, efficiency, productivity and satisfaction. Today’s work environments are morphing into spaces that are open, few to no walls or private offices. For some people, this is great. […]

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What did you learn last year? About yourself? Leadership? Team work? Relationships? Your company? Your colleagues. The world around you? Reflect on the various experiences you had – those you consciously choose and those that just showed up and presented themselves for you to deal with. What did you learn from them? In what ways […]

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Before the year ends, take some private time with your journal – electronic or old-school paper and pencil – and make note of everything 2015 brought to you. Make special note of what was good. Much of the good you may have planned for and expected. Some of the good may have been unanticipated surprises. […]

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  Happy Holidays! I hope you’re enjoying this season that begins at Thanksgiving stretches straight through to the New Year. Festive sights and sounds and positive energy are all around. Even in the workplace, there is an air of joy as colleagues gather for luncheons and parties. In meetings over the last few weeks, I’ve […]

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It’s the end of quarter AND the end of the year. If you’re feeling under pressure to get it all done, you’re not alone. Most of us are walking around with the physical or e-version of long lists. We want to wrap up loose ends, clear the slate, and prepare for a fresh start in […]

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This year, the social climate feels a little different to me. I’m aware of the tension in relationships across groups – political, religious, racial, etc. There seems to be more sensitivity and more potential than usual for disagreements to erupt. So, as you move through your procession of holiday gatherings, add an extra measure of […]

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My husband likes to say, “A plan is one thing. Planning is everything.” His mantra speaks to the idea that a plan is an important tool, and being flexible and adapting as you move forward is essential to success. Do you create a plan and get locked in, when what’s really needed is the flexibility […]

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Using the Implicit Assumption Tests, IATs, as well as, visualization and the loving kindness meditation, a Buddhist practice known to engender feelings of happiness and kindness towards oneself and others, researchers have made an interesting discovery. They’ve found that just seven minutes of the loving-kindness meditation, with the meditator focused on a person of a […]

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Thanksgiving initiates a season of celebration that lasts for nearly five weeks. For so many of us, a festive air prevails that permeates life, even in the workplace. We enjoy celebratory lunches and dinners with colleagues and friends. We laugh and dance the night away at the company holiday party. Bring in savory treats to […]

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Attending networking events is a great way to meet new people who can help you with your goals or career ambitions. But if you’re someone who finds such events difficult and uncomfortable, consider this option. Volunteer for a non-profit organization. Join a board or a committee. Or become a regular participant with a leadership role […]

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In her book “Strategize To Win,” Carla Harris writes about performance currency and relationship currency. Performance currency comes from doing your job well, building a strong track record through stellar performance and delivering on time and above expectation. Performance currency is most important to build when you’re starting out. Early on in your career, it […]

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Consider the people around you – those at home and at work. You have a story about each of them. They have one about you. These static stories seldom change, unless we challenge them by intentionally expanding our thinking. Two steps are involved. 1. Acknowledge you don’t have a complete, accurate picture. 2. Consciously open […]

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Recently, I called on a number of technical experts for assistance. I found more disappointment than satisfaction. People seemed to be reading scripts, absent real understanding of their products and processes. If you’re looking to stand out in your workplace, insure that each customer you come in contact with leaves feeling good about the interaction […]

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