Addressing performance issues is one of the most challenging aspects of managing people. The conversations are difficult, potentially explosive. Corrective action plans add another layer to your responsibilities and if performance doesn’t improve, a job is lost and moral is threatened. The situation is not only complicated on the surface, but there are hidden forces […]
Read More →Although it doesn’t always feel like it, honesty is usually the best policy. Three studies conducted by researchers at University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Carnegie Mellon suggests that we overestimate the negative consequences of speaking honestly. Subjects were asked to speak in accordance with their own beliefs, thoughts and feelings to people […]
Read More →In the words of Colin Powell, “Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand.” If you’re in a leadership role, this is an important point to take in. Leaders are visionaries who are responsible for communicating and inspiring others to make […]
Read More →Results recently released from a Binghamton University study prove that kindness and compassion are the key to better employee performance. The University’s researchers surveyed one-thousand members of the Taiwanees Army and 200 fulltime US workers. They looked at three types of leadership: Authoritarian-dominant leaders Benevolence-dominant leaders Classic paternalistic leaders The latter style combines the first […]
Read More →The impact email has had on productivity is arguably positive. It has sped up communication and disrupted limitations on when and where we can do business. But consider these two unintended consequences. First, email inboxes have become to-do lists and communication of record for some. But often, different subjects are discussed in a string, while […]
Read More →Managing by fear is widely recognized as an outdated concept that does more harm than good. According to Organizational Anthropologist Judith Glazer, recent advances in neuroscience show it to be quite damaging. Glazer says in order to be a manager who inspires their team, one needs to understand how the brain reacts to fear verses […]
Read More →In a recent New York Times interview, Mary Abbajay, the author of “Managing Up, How to Move Up, Win at Work and Succeed With Any Type of Boss,” gave these examples of three types of bad bosses. There’s the “ghost boss” who rarely communicates with you and never seems to be around. The “seagull boss” […]
Read More →In one of author Alan Zimmerman’s blogs called “Tuesday Tips,” he quotes Psychologist Jack Berg, who said, “the human mind reaches for understanding like a flower for the sun.” Zimmerman believes people yearn to be understood, and without understanding, we drive a wedge between others and us. Take that idea of people yearning to be […]
Read More →First there was IQ. Then came EQ or Emotional Intelligence. Now Judith Glazer of “The Harvard Coaching Institute” has introduced the concept of CQ or Conversational Intelligence. CQ taps into our need for self-expression and validation. Glazer says that in environments where people can share their aspirations, intentions and fears freely, the door opens for […]
Read More →If you’re in a leadership role, you’re likely juggling two very important responsibilities — being accessible to your people, and generating the strategies and ideas for moving the organization forward. Harvard Business Review Contributor Maura Thomas has recommendations for doing both effectively. Here are two. Mentor in hindsight. In keeping with the rules of adult […]
Read More → If you’re a manager, you’ve probably experienced yourself switching between the roles of visionary leader and hands-on manager. Yet, the role of leader and manager are different. Each requires a particular mindset and set of competencies. Here are examples of when you should wear your manager hat. When dealing with day-to-day tactical, transactional tasks […]
Read More →Switching back and forth between hands-on manager and visionary leader is something many are required to do, especially at the top. Different situations require different roles. Figuring out which competencies to call on at what time can be confusing. Here are some examples of scenarios that call for putting on your leader hat. When setting […]
Read More →Have you heard the saying “good news travels fast?” Well, bad information travels even faster. The rumor mill can quickly take control of your message and cost you hours in damage control and lost productivity. To complicate matters, what is appropriate communication to one can be bad news to others. For example, simply announcing the […]
Read More →Wishing someone at work would say, “I noticed what you did. Thank You. Good job!” Such needs are real and are borne out of frustration and benign neglect. We look up to leadership, expecting them to validate our presence and good performance. We hope team members we’ve helped or whose mistakes we corrected would say, […]
Read More → We’ve all experienced that customer service person who lacks the power to address our problem. If you insist on speaking to the manager, you may be punished with the reciting of policy, more waiting, or being forced to re-explain your issue. Recently, Forbes.com shared how some companies are building loyalty by empowering their customer-facing […]
Read More → If your company values collaboration over independence, Fast Company recommends that hiring managers ask the following questions to find the people who are the best fit for your collaborative culture. Tell me about a time you worked with a team. What was your approach to collaborating with your teammates? What role did you play […]
Read More → If your company boasts an entrepreneurial culture, Fast Company offers these tips to help you find people who will best fit in. To assess a candidate’s ability to work in an independent environment, ask questions like: Tell me about a project you planned and executed with little or no supervision. What approach did you […]
Read More →Today’s leaders need a keen understanding of the people who report to them, and the unique obstacles they must overcome to be successful. Marion Anderson once said, “Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.” Her message provides clear encouragement to seek to understand […]
Read More →When hiring, know what your company culture is and, if it’s changing, what you want it to become. Fast Company has identified three different company cultures and a structured method for hiring those who best fit. The independent entrepreneurial culture is best for people who are resourceful and thrive on autonomy. The collaborative culture is […]
Read More →As companies step up their sexual harassment training, it’s important to make sure it’s effective and relevant. The Society of HR Management reported that when Portland State University’s VP of HR noticed his all-male audience wasn’t paying attention during a training, he gave them an assignment. Each man was to ask one woman in his […]
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