Meetings are where productivity goes to die. We hop on our hamster wheel and run from meeting to meeting, getting little to nothing accomplished for our time invested. It’s an unsustainable business practice that sucks joy out of the workplace…. Read More»
Times have changed. We are quick to explain the change by putting it down to the way our needs have altered over the years and how technology is constantly adapting to meet them. However, when it comes to what an employer expects from their employees, are things really that different?
I often think they shouldn’t be. When you strip away all the new technologies, modern processes and latest innovations much of what makes good management is still the same as what it was 100 years ago.
Here are some timeless skills and qualities we should always be thinking about when we hire, train and manage employees.
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Without trust extraordinary results aren’t possible. Without trust and extraordinary results workplace optimism is absent. Without workplace optimism talented people stay away from or leave companies. What’s left? Mediocre results, missed goals and unhappy people.
Workplace optimism is not a viewpoint or belief system. It’s a cultural vibe that influences a positive work experience.
The outcomes of workplace optimism deepen and expand trust. Let’s look at the relationship…. Read More»
When you listen to Ted Coiné and Mark Babbitt talk about the Social Age, you begin to understand how influential it is. The Social Age is marked by a degree of transparency that if leveraged for good can help brands thrive in the marketplace. The Social Age gives customers a voice unlike any other time […] Read more… Read More»
Seven months ago, the Rustic Crust was on track for record sales of its all-natural pizza crust. Investors were enthused about soon-to-launch products that were gluten-free, thin crusts, and basil pesto. Founder and CCEO Brad Sterl was thrilled.
Then-disaster! Fire burned the rural New Hampshire factory to the ground on March 6…. Read More»
Almost everyone seems to think that being vulnerable is a bad thing – it implies that you’re weak or defenseless. In fact, when someone is willing to admit they’re vulnerable, it demonstrates a level of trust and respect with the person or people they’re opening up to. Great leaders recognize the importance of bringing vulnerability to work because it is the foundation for open and nonjudgmental communications. The boldest act of a leader is to be publicly vulnerable…. Read More»
I used to work for a guy named Larry. When Larry went on a business trip or took a vacation, we missed him. We were happy when Larry came back. I want to be the guy they miss. I want to be the guy they are happy to see back.
That’s a fine personal benchmark. I don’t know Larry, but I am pretty darn sure that this benchmark has little to do with Larry’s skill or competence. This benchmark is about Larry’s personal energy.
Are you the Gilda or Frank or Larry they miss?
Consider these simple guidelines for fueling your miss-me personal energy…… Read More»
It is said that a group of people is only really a team when they experience a shared identity. But it is hard to simply create an identity; usually this can only emerge. It often can’t be forced; it’s a natural process. It takes time to grow and nurture a shared feeling of belonging which holds teams, departments, and organizations together. [Magic of Teams, “Constructing a Team Identity”] You don’t develop an identity just by making people share a room or a building with each other. However, there is something you can do to help people develop an identity by themselves…. Read More»
The desire to be liked derails many people. It happens a lot to adolescents and teenagers. Kids want to be accepted. They want to be popular. It’s almost always true that they wish to maintain or improve their social standing. You never see a popular kid roll up to school in the morning, pause, and think deeply about how to become unpopular.
It doesn’t happen. The popular kids want to stay popular. The unpopular kids wish they were popular. That leads to many bad decisions for young people…. Read More»
All business has a human side. Part of it is the obvious one – human resources. Part of it is the fundamental one – customers. Part of it is what makes work satisfying rather than draining – acting like a human being.
The human side of business isn’t easy. It can be difficult to get right and is sometimes emotionally gruelling. But those difficulties are a challenge that we have to rise to, and sometimes they’re what makes the human side worthwhile…. Read More»
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