Ask any manager what they dislike most about their job, and they’ll respond quickly with something like: “Giving negative feedback” or “Coaching poor … Read more
What to Ask — and Not to Ask — in Employee Surveys
With in-person interactions being few and far between for many teams, employee engagement is especially crucial to your business’ success. It starts with … Read more
How to Turn Down Applicants Tactfully — and Truthfully
Eggs and rejections should be done over-easy. Turning down applicants with class pays off in your long-term recruiting efforts and reputation as a great … 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
Valid Excuses to Avoid Giving Feedback Are Still…Excuses
We spend our entire lives engaging with feedback. It starts in school with report cards, grades, test scores, and even parent-teacher conferences (which … Read more
The Three Most Important Habits of Continuous Learners
Learning new skills depends on creating good habits. The problem is that we live and work in environments that are results-oriented. Why is that a … 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
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
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
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
The Case Against Feedback
If you are a manager or someone who supports people at your work, part of your job is seeking ways to help people succeed and improve your organization. … 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
Teach Your Team How to Give Feedback People Don’t Want to Hear
“Your opinion matters to us.” “We want your input as we move forward.” “These changes will impact you, so please tell us what you think.” For all the talk … Read more
If They Weren’t Afraid, Here’s What Employees Would Tell the Boss
“What would you like to tell your boss but are afraid to share?” A simple question can turn silence into insights. There are a lot of things that employees … Read more
Does Feedback Really Improve Performance?
It frustrates me when things are presented as truths when they are at best opinions, and at worst self-serving fabrications. This is the reaction I had to … Read more
The 5 Wins You’ll Get From Regular Feedback
As HR, you often feel like the sole driver of performance and development processes. And while you are responsible for kickstarting a culture of feedback … Read more
Successful 360 Feedback Takes Coaching and Goals
Feedback is a vital part of performance, growth, and development. Understanding ourselves and how we interact with others helps us to understand the impact … Read more
Every Leader Should Be Asking ‘How’m I Doin?’
“I am so sad… someone I know resigned today. Not for a new job but because they could not work with their employer anymore. The person chose their health … Read more
The Way You Do Appraisals Isn’t Working, So Change It
Performance appraisals are both one of the most crucial parts of a successful business, and one of the most ignored. On the one hand, optimistic HR experts … Read more
How to Coach Employees Through a Failure
How can you mentor employees and turn a failure into success? There’s no magic switch to flip to transform poor workers into employees of the month. But … Read more