I tend to notice how people respond to certain words. I guess that's something of an “occupational hazard” for me. As I watch how people respond, I look for patterns. While tone and body language can often turn minor disagreements into full-on arguments, it's more often the words people use that cause conflicts to grow. So which words are guaranteed to start or escalate a … [Read more...]
Before You Send that Email, Read (and Follow) These Rules
It’s best to keep work emails short and to the point. Typically, a couple of brief paragraphs will suffice. At times, of course, you’ll need more space, but it’s still a good idea to limit your word count. Restraining yourself will help ensure that readers don’t misunderstand your message, and it will save you valuable time—both worthwhile goals. Here is a third reason to … [Read more...]
Managing Tricky Conversations in the Workplace
We are living in complicated times, friends. People seem to be up in arms over everything. Take this week's brouhaha over Nike deciding to include Colin Kaepernick in a new campaign. There seem to be two very distinct opinions regarding the company's decision, and neither side is pulling any punches. Once upon a time ago, our opinions were kept to ourselves or shared with a … [Read more...]
9 Tips to Encourage a Group of Loners to Work Together
You are leading a team and some (maybe all) of the members see themselves as individual contributors, not necessarily members of a team. They state and show that they’d rather work alone, and prefer individual accomplishments and results over tying their fortunes to a team. You want a cohesive team. That is, a group collaborating freely and harnessing the synergy that comes … [Read more...]
The Secret to Success? Focusing on What You CAN Do
As I travel around the country to lead workshops, I often hear frustrations with or objections to some of the supervisory/leadership techniques and approaches that I advocate and teach. I seldom hear an outright disagreement with the general approach. Instead, people express their frustration or objection like this: “That sounds great, but … “I work in the … [Read more...]
Make Everyone Feel Acknowledged and Respected
Few people get as much positive feedback as they need or deserve, especially at work. So if you see morale taking a nose-dive (or even if you just want to do something nice for your employees), complete this super simple activity to give everyone a big morale boost. Create an envelope with each team member’s name on it. Inside, include a piece of paper that also has that … [Read more...]
When Employees Just Don’t “Get It”
When you have explained something a number of times to the same person or group of people, it is really easy to allow your frustration with the communication process to build. It's a small step from frustration to anger and another small step from anger to an escalating conflict. Other people's failure to understand you generally indicates these possible scenarios: You … [Read more...]
4 Really Great Reasons to Write Positive Feedback Down
Every leader has been told that offering positive feedback is one of the most valuable things you can do. You've heard of all the benefits. You may have heard that you don’t do it enough. If you’ve been reading this blog, you've likely learned the basics of giving positive feedback successfully, such as: Make it timely Make it meaningful. Make it about the behavior, … [Read more...]
Ensure Cooperation (Even From Your Most Reluctant Employees)
How many times have you heard this before: “But this is the way we have always done it”? Employees often have problems adapting to organizational change and growth. Accustomed to the status quo, they are afraid of how changes will affect their positions. Will I have new duties? Will I need to work longer hours? Is everyone affected equally? Is my job in jeopardy? The fears … [Read more...]
It Can’t All Be About Work
You want to be an all-star manager, so it’s natural that your brainwaves—at least while at work—are concentrated on your team’s goals, progress and accomplishments. While it’s great to be focused on your work, don’t lose sight of this fact: Your employees are people. As a leader, your job isn’t just to motivate your team to meet and exceed expectations; it’s also to build … [Read more...]