Innovation appears in most organizations’ strategy or mission statements. But what does it actually take to achieve innovation? It takes people. … Read more
Giving Feedback Can Be Stressful, But Do It Anyway
Does the thought of giving negative feedback make your heart race and your palms sweat? Would you rather avoid your direct report than tell them their … Read more
Build Teams By Knowing the Right Personalities
Note: Artificial intelligence is helping HR professionals predict an individual’s personality, work habits and communication style more easily and … Read more
The Problem Of the Overconfident Leader
We like our leaders confident. Confidence is the leader’s best friend, the one attribute no leader can be without; the keys to the kingdom. There’s no … Read more
You Can’t Innovate Without Sometimes Failing
One of the greatest players to step up to the plate, Babe Ruth revolutionized baseball by hitting 714 home runs while compiling a lifetime batting average … Read more
Let Employees Do What They Do Best By Stopping ‘Responsibility Creep’
Responsibility creep is where top performers (because of their success record) continually get new responsibilities piled on them. Eventually, they don’t … Read more
Survey Shows How Little Leaders Know About Their Temps
His elves may be the most depended-on workers in the world. But how does Santa Claus keep track of them all to achieve maximum productivity? If he’s … Read more
Don’t Neglect Training Employees On How to Receive Feedback
With all the emphasis today on the importance of giving employees regular feedback, there is a tendency to forget that feedback is a two-way channel, and … Read more
What It Takes to Retain Your Best People
Retaining high-performing individuals is one of the most difficult problems facing organizations today. With a strong economy and a tight job market, top … Read more
Avoid Having Ratings “Nosedive” Engagement
As Lacie and Bets step into the elevator, they begin the typical morning-commute banter, gleefully chippering away about work, career prospects and Bets’ … Read more
Don’t Just Hire, Inspire
Shouldn’t it be hiring and inspiring, rather than hiring versus inspiring? If companies were in optimal conditions, then yes. But most companies are not … Read more
Managers As Coaches Is No Longer Optional
These days we keep hearing about the disengaged workforce and the struggle to retain talent. Coupled with that, millennials are a growing segment of … Read more
Incentive Systems Won’t Substitute For Good Management
For two decades I designed compensation and performance management systems for large and medium companies. I always had this nagging thought that after two … Read more
Psychologically Safe Cultures Need Courageous Leaders
During a sales meeting, an eager, young employee shared an idea. Two seasoned sales representatives looked at each other and snickered. In many … Read more
Giving Power to the Edge: The Challenge of Making It Real
Throughout this century, companies have struggled with how to distribute decision-making power to their employees. Whether these companies want more speed … Read more
Teaming: It Could Be Your Answer to Engaging and Retaining Millennials
Note: The following is an excerpt from the recently published book, The Team Game: How Your Business Can Dominate Year after Year ∼∼∼∼∼ During industry … Read more
What You Believe About Feedback Is Probably Wrong
Note: The following is an excerpt from the soon to be published book, Fair Talk: Three Steps to Powerful Feedback ∼∼∼∼∼ “Those who take management … Read more
Embrace Change and Make It Work For You
Most of us recognize that the pace (and magnitude) of change has dramatically increased over the last several decades, in large part due to technological … Read more
How Managers At Smaller Firms Should Approach Employee Reviews
The hiring process is often long and difficult and then comes the challenge of employee retention and continued growth and upskilling of the entire … Read more
The Importance of Mental Toughness In Your Workforce
Throughout history, society has admired and celebrated sport. Whether it’s playing as a high school athlete, watching your child succeed on the field, or … Read more