Spirit of Purpose · Be A Better People Manager According to Gallup, 3.6 million people resigned in May and a staggering 48% of US workers – across functional areas and up and down the hierarchy – are actively looking for opportunities. Plus, unfilled jobs are at a record high. This “Great Resignation,” is occurring across industries. I […]
Read More →Spirit of Purpose · 6 Ways to Manage Remote Team Members It goes without saying that managing remotely differs from managing in-person. No more managing-by-walking-around. There are fewer opportunities to give spontaneous feedback. Standing and ad hoc meetings may still happen, but the rules are not exactly the same. Harvard Business Review contributor Sabina Nawaz offers 6 great […]
Read More →I hear from leaders I coach that they’re concerned about how their employees are doing, but they’re afraid to intrude and overstep their boundaries. An article in the Washington Post argues that allowing loneliness to set in is a health risk. We humans are social beings. Research shows that people who live alone, or report feeling lonely, […]
Read More →As so many get used to working from home, new feelings may arise about co-workers. Not only has our physical space changed, so has our intimate knowledge of each other’s lives. Harvard Business Review’s Amy Gallo spoke to experts to get some advice on these shifting interpersonal dynamics. Stanford’s Monica Worline says we must accept that our […]
Read More →Leaders who are managing part or all of their teams remotely may be doing so for the first time. Gallup suggests keeping these four things in mind as you chart these untested waters. Individualize your approach. Doing this from a distance may require greater intentionality. Find out what conditions each team member works best under, their workflow concerns […]
Read More →Once the Coronavirus scare passes, Gallup warns that employee’s desire to work remotely may not. Before our national lockdown, fifity-one percent of US workers said they’d quit their current job for one that allowed flexible working arrangements. The off-site working trend, which has been growing steadily, is no longer a privilege. Gallup says it has become the standard […]
Read More →A recent study at Australia’s RMIT University revealed that long-term job insecurity can make people less emotionally stable, less agreeable and less conscientious. The study used national data to answer questions about job security and personality for more than one thousand employees over nine years. They found that the personality traits affected were tied to reliably […]
Read More →Every year, Gallup invites their client organizations to apply for the Exceptional Workplace Award. Part of the process includes nominating the best managers in their organization. Here are two things that stood out when 2019 Manager of the Year Finalists were asked how they lead, navigate change and develop successful teams. One manager said he coaches his […]
Read More →In a recent Harvard Business Review article, the Dalai Lama shared his thoughts on ways leaders can contribute to a happier world and workplace. He offered three ways leaders can BE to cut down on stress and anxiety, as well as build cultures of cooperation. Be mindful. Don’t let destructive emotions like anger and attachment cloud your ability to […]
Read More →Buddhist tradition describes three styles of compassionate leadership. In a recent Harvard Business Review article, the Dalai Lama described how these styles operate. The Trailblazer is someone who leads from the front, takes risks and sets an example. The Ferryman accompanies those in his care and manages the ups and downs of the crossing. The Shepherd sees everyone of […]
Read More →Relationships between leaders and their followers are driven by how leaders communicate their expectations. Gallup recommends using a coaching style that creates engagement. To accomplish that, try asking process-oriented questions. Ask questions that give you perspective on each individual employee’s experience. For instance, if someone is struggling to complete a report, you might say, “This report has […]
Read More →When things go wrong, rather than focusing on identifying who made the mistake, focus on the situation and the solution. Put your energy and attention into what happened, how best to fix it, what process improvements, training, and checks and balances are needed to insure it doesn’t happen again. Resist finger-pointing or blaming. Don’t go on a […]
Read More →In a recent Inc.com interview, Dr. Hossein Rahnama, a CEO and associate professor, says there are things he has learned while teaching that have informed his approach to leadership. Here are three of the lessons he believes leaders can learn from professors. Ditch the “sit and listen” lecture model. It’s not effective and employees would be better […]
Read More →According to Harvard Business Review contributor Jon Christiansen, there are more job openings than there are unemployed people. That fact, along with the high cost of losing talent, makes it critical to keep the good performers you have. Yet, Christiansen says there are several things employers commonly do that make people quit. Here are two. Inconsistent goals or […]
Read More →If you’re losing your most valuable players, talent hoarding could be why. According to a recent Gallup article, when good employees believe that the only way up is out, they’ll look for and probably find new jobs. Managers who are behind this dilemma, are only doing what comes naturally to them. They’re likely experiencing one of two […]
Read More →When managers hoard talent, they may think they’re protecting their turf. But according to Gallup, they’re actually driving the best people away. When great employees realize they won’t be given opportunities to move up, they’ll look for work outside the company. Gallup recommends these approaches to those responsible for managing human capital. Realize you may already have […]
Read More →If you’ve become the ear for an office complainer, you might want to turn the volume up for this advice from CNN’s Kathryn Vasel. Here are four tips she offers that may help you manage this type of co-worker. Look for a pattern. Why are they complaining? Do they complain at the same time every day, about […]
Read More →Today’s high-pressure work environment can take its toll on managers. According to Gallup, the way a manager feels and acts is contagious and can infect their team, as well as others. If they’re burned out and disengaged, it can spread virally throughout the company – which often results in costly turnover and lost productivity. Gallup says there […]
Read More →I bet meetings are a big part of your work life. In his Ted-X-UNC-Charlotte Talk, Steven Rogelberg suggests six ways to make them better. Invite the smallest number of participants possible. No spectators or people there just to listen. Attend only the part of the meeting that’s relevant to you. Be a good host if you’re the meeting […]
Read More →Often, leaders are extroverts with lots of charisma and energy. But two related studies from Ohio State University reveal that there are limits to how effective that personality trait can be. The two subject groups included 260 undergraduate students and 337 employees at a large Chinese retail company. The research found that extroverted leaders tended to […]
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