Let’s assume an angry reporter doesn’t confront you every day to ask why your organization has committed some scam or why you’re improperly handling … Read more
How to Stop People From Rambling
You run into ramblers everywhere: On a Zoom webinar. In the boardroom. In your training class. The reasons vary: They have extensive experience. They want … Read more
Feeling Trapped by Forced-Option Questions From Leadership?
The old “Have you stopped beating your spouse?” dilemma captures this problem well: “Yes or no?” Either way you answer, you’re in trouble. During a … Read more
How to Keep Hypotheticals From Burying You
Suppose you’re in a staff meeting or rolling out a new policy in an all-hands meeting, and Rani, an employee, poses this question to you: “You say that … Read more
Capture Mentoring Moments for Career Growth
Early in my writing career, an executive assistant to the CEO of a large oil-tool company astounded me with her business acumen — and how she got it. More … Read more
How to Guarantee Employees Understand You
Envision the last time you presented new information to a group of employees in an extended session of one to three hours: Rolling out new software and how … Read more
The One Question You Have to Answer Correctly Every Time
As an HR leader, you get questions every day; some serious, some trivial. “What else is the company going to do to protect us from COVID?” “What did you … Read more
Why Not Publish a Book to Promote Your Career or Organization?
You’ve probably heard of Basecamp, the popular project-management tool for team collaboration. The company, 37Signals, that produced this software hit the … Read more
Great HR Leaders Master These Three Skills Early
When you think of great leaders, what image comes to mind? You might envision a well-known CEO granting a TV interview or a politician taking tough … Read more
Leaders Communicate Differently Than Divas and Deadbeats
HR professionals talk often about data and metrics. They encourage managers to establish and communicate KPIs and insist their training specialists pay … Read more
3 Essentials for Telling Your Story to Insiders
HR professionals need to perfect the same storytelling skills as sales professionals. After all, in selling the executive team’s philosophies and policies, … Read more
Dump That Part of Your Communication That People Skip
When asked by an aspiring novelist the secret to his success, crime novelist Elmore Leonard replied: “I try to leave out the parts that readers tend to … Read more
Communicate Personal Loyalty As a Leader
It would be great if every organization won the heart and mind of every employee so they felt loyalty just because they got a paycheck. But of course, … Read more
4 Interview Questions to Avoid Hiring Toxic Employees
Your success often depends on the emotional intelligence of people you hire in strategic positions. That means you need to make hiring decisions based on … Read more
Structuring the Hiring Interview
In my first few years as owner/CEO of a small business, I wasted far too much time interviewing job applicants. My habit was to ask a few softball … Read more
How to Reverse a Bad First Impression
You’ve heard it said: “You never get a second chance to make a good first impression.” That may be true—but you can definitely change that impression. Case … Read more
Communication Tips From the World of Entertainment
Consider your favorite movie, play, or novel. Which kept you awake at night? Which popped into your consciousness days or months later? Those outstanding … Read more
How to Communicate With Employees During Crisis
During a time of crisis like the Coronavirus pandemic, people’s attention splinters from work to the all-encompassing chaos of what’s happening … Read more
4 Tactics to Speak Up and Hold the Floor Long Enough to Make Your Point
When others conclude that you rarely speak up, your career stalls. The ability to command attention and build a case are attributes closely associated with … Read more
How to Help Employees Who Are Depressed or Suicidal
Dr. Lorna M. Breen, a top ER doctor who treated virus patients in a Manhattan hospital, recently died by suicide. According to her father, her job treating … Read more