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 →When we think we know we stop asking questions. Perhaps, we even stop listening. Sometimes, we assume we have the right answer or know what another is thinking. But, in reality, we don’t? If we want another’s truth, or we’re trying to collaborate and be inclusive, it’s important to ask others for their thoughts. A […]
Read More →If you’ve been labeled shy, aloof, arrogant, distant or reserved, here are a few tips that could help you be experienced as more approachable: Be the first to speak. Initiate interaction. Don’t wait to be approached. When conversing, make steady eye contact. Don’t stare the person down, but connect enough, eye-to-eye, to give the other […]
Read More →Can working for someone you consider a bad manager damage your health? A recent Gallup blog post, characterizes having a bad manager as a one-two punch. You feel miserable at work, and as a result you feel miserable at home. This compounds stress and harms overall well-being. When employees are unhappy and unhealthy, absenteeism, performance, […]
Read More → While it’s fairly common for people who are successful as an individual contributor to rise to levels that involve managing others, research conducted by Gallup says that about one in ten people possess the right talents to manage others. If you’re wondering who to promote into positions where they manage people, Gallup says you […]
Read More → Are you starting an entrepreneurial venture? Have you already begun one? Or, do you work in a place where the entrepreneurial spirit thrives? If so, here are the 3 types of people Gallup says you need on your team. The Rainmaker. The aggressive, optimistic, risk-taker who is intensely motivated by sales and revenue. The […]
Read More →The leaders in the room were Baby Boomers and members of Generation X. The panelists were Millennials. I was their facilitator for a candid conversation. Here’s how the panelists answered questions about how they want to be managed. The Millennials said they want feedback – clear, honest communication about what they’re doing that’s working well […]
Read More →During a recent panel discussion where Millennials shared their views with one company’s leaders, they expressed their desire for work-life balance and continuous learning and growth. The group told a room of Baby Boomers and GenXers that if they’re not growing and developing, they are more likely to leave. Doing the same thing every day […]
Read More →For some people, the first time they’re approached with a new idea or question, their reflex response is, “No.” Immediately, they put up a wall that halts progress toward innovation or needed change. If that feels familiar, try this… When confronted with something new, give yourself permission to delay acting reflexively. Give the cortisol in […]
Read More → When someone at work suffers a great loss, it can be hard to find the right words to comfort them. Although loss and grieving happens to everyone at some point, we may not know the best way to offer support. Mindtools.com suggests that to be empathetic, we should keep these six things in mind: […]
Read More →Part 1: 3 Questions To Assess Your Organization’s Readiness Are big changes on your company’s horizon? William and Susan Bridges, authors of “Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change” suggest asking three questions to make things go smoothly. First, what is changing? When high-level leaders communicate change in a vague, abstract way, it’s hard for […]
Read More →Here are some unexpected things we do that Forbes.com says can determine whether people judge us as likeable or not. How you treat waiters, receptionists and support staff can provide insight into how you treat people you assume don’t have the power to do anything for you. How often you check your phone. If you […]
Read More → How to Get Yourself Out of The Middle At one time or another, you’ve probably found yourself smack dab in the middle of other people’s tensions, tussles and antagonistic relationships. A very uncomfortable place to be. Here are a few principles to keep in mind that can help you extricate yourself from the middle, […]
Read More → It’s wise to think through a sticky, difficult to discuss issue, before raising it for open dialogue. Developed by the late Harvard Professor Chris Argyris, here’s an exercise that can help you think through hard to discuss topics, and perhaps find the clarity and courage to surface them for dialogue: Identify the specific situation […]
Read More →4 Ways to Survive If Someone Loses It On You Here are a few tips to consider when you’re faced with another person’s angry meltdown, in the office, or in your personal life: First, remain calm. Breathe. If you also get upset, the situation is sure to escalate and spiral in the wrong direction. Don’t […]
Read More → Do You Really Communicate As Effectively? William Butler Yeats once said, “Think like a wise man, but communicate in the language of the people.” While you could interpret, “language of the people” in a lot of ways, in my view, Yeats is saying know your audience and speak to them so they will understand. […]
Read More → The prevalence of overly biased thinking is something we seem to be confronted with more and more. Increasingly, I hear people questioning how we got here, why, and what can be done about it. Virginia Tech professor Ann-Sophie Chaxel conducted a study to see if people can be led toward less biased thinking and […]
Read More →Study Says The Answer is Yes Do the people in your life know how good you feel about them? How proud you are of his performance? How optimistic you are about her future? How excited you are about their new venture? Or the fact that you admire her skill as a presenter, appreciate her can-do […]
Read More →The Rules Are Changing. Are You? Company holiday parties are an important place for coworkers to bond and get to know each other outside of the work environment. But this year, scrutiny of everyone’s behavior is more intense. It’s important to keep in mind that not all harassment is sexual or physical. Here are some […]
Read More →Pledges and Commitments That Create Accountability Ever held a meeting where everyone seemed enthusiastic about the topic and next steps? But, soon after, it was back to business as usual? Here are two tips that may increase commitment and foster progress. After introducing the meeting’s purpose, objectives and agenda, ask participants to respond to this […]
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