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 […]
Read More →While studying to become a certified Core Energetics Therapist, I was introduced to an insightful model that explained the three layers that make up our personalities. The concept delved beyond what we might think of as the good and bad parts of ourselves. This model provides a way to look beneath the surface and explore […]
Read More →How many times a day are you asked, “How are you?” What’s your reply? For most of us, it’s, “Fine. Good. Ok. Pretty good.” What if you considered the standard greeting, “How are you,” an opportunity to initiate contact and start a dialogue? Would you then consider responding in a way that’s novel, yet sincere? […]
Read More →As a certified user of Benchmarks, a 360 instrument developed by the Center for Creative Leadership, I find it an effective tool for helping leaders understand how they’re experienced and perceived along 16 competencies, rated by a range of stakeholders. Another important section of the report describes five problems that can stall your career. Problems […]
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 →What do you do when conflict emerges? How do you deal with another person’s anger? Here are several techniques that just may prove helpful: First, make a simple statement like, “I can tell that you’re really upset.” Acknowledging their upset may be all you need to do, at this point. Now, allow the person to vent. […]
Read More → One proven way to build leadership skills, elevate yourself in the eyes of higher ups and network in a meaningful way, is to volunteer for a non-profit board or committee. Find an organization you can really get behind and offer your skills, expertise and energy. Volunteering is an outstanding resume builder. More and more, employers […]
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 →Negative thought spirals can hijack our ability to power through situations we perceive as difficult. Forbes.com contributor Alice Walton offers some new ways to beat back those debilitating voices in our heads that make our fears feel real and infuse doubt. In addition to meditation and mindfulness, Walton recommends Cognitive Behavior Therapy. It sounds intense, […]
Read More →When the clients, individuals or organizations I work with want to improve in any area, I often take them through exercises designed to open their eyes to the ways in which they’re already doing part of what they say is needed. With that awareness, the focus shifts from “all the ways we’re falling short” to, […]
Read More →A recent Harvard Business Review article suggests that when trying to change someone’s mind, the best thing to do is listen. The article sited a powerful example where this approach led to change of a deeply-rooted and troubling custom among some Pakistani tribes. Frequently, instead of listening, we tend to craft an argument in favor […]
Read More →Labels are part of how humans make sense of the world. But, when we reduce things to categories, we falsely convince ourselves that we understand our unknowable universe. Labels are, and have always been, the great separator. At work and out in the world, they’re used to make uneducated snap judgments. Labels influence the way […]
Read More → Sound consultant Julian Treasure advises companies around the world about using sound to their advantage. His book, “How to be Heard: Secrets for Powerful Speaking and Listening” reveals how to speak effectively – and goes beyond the sound and cadence of your voice. In his Ted Talk, Treasure explains that if you want to […]
Read More →Human nature can lead us down the path of emotional comfort. For example, Gallup says one of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when they build their team is picking people who are too much like them. As a result, they surround themselves with a homogenous group. While homogeneity may reduce conflict, Gallup points to research […]
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 →Weekly team meetings – those regular check-ins – are still standard practice; a common occurrence in many workplaces. To keep pace with changing times, some have morphed into conference calls. Often, the purpose and format of these meetings were established long ago. Out of habit, they remain on calendars. But should they? It’s always good […]
Read More →Increasingly, many of us have the flexibility of working from home. It has its benefits, and it can also wreak havoc on one’s ability to stay focused. Fast Company contributor Amanda Zantal-Wiener offers these 6 tips for staying on task when no one is present to hold you accountable. Maintain a routine. Start each day […]
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