Are you a scary boss? Chances are that if you are, you don’t mean to be. I hope. The problem is that if your team does somehow fear you they likely also don’t trust you. Fear is the enemy of trust and it is trust that underlies your ability to fully engage your teams’ talent.…
Picture this. You have a micro managing boss and it seems that the rules are changing all the time. You have little choice over whether or not you can work from home to finish that report or pop out early if you need to. On top of this you are assigned one of the company’s…
I continue to scratch my head on this one. The internet is rife with books, studies and opinion pieces as to why innovators and creative thinkers are central to business success. One need look no further than the landslide of commentary about Steve Jobs. Visionary, risk taker, game changer, etc. So why is it then…
No matter what the state of the economy, research shows that the best way to sustain a consistently high performing workforce is to have a happy workforce. In their work on creating sustainable performance, Gretchen Spreitzer and Christine demonstrate the foundation of long term business success. Their message is simple: If you give your employees…
I just came from a restaurant where I was powerfully reminded of the importance of an often elusive piece of business success – great customer service. For me, it’s like the elephant in the middle of the room. So many companies flout their extraordinary customer service yet deliver the opposite. I’m particularly puzzled about this,…
What would it be like to have a neighborhood ‘feel’ at work? Would it add or take away from your ability to get things done or for your company to be profitable? In a refreshing take on corporate culture, business psychologist Art Markman argues that creating a sense of neighborhood at work can only help it succeed.
Showing meaningful appreciation to your staff does not have to cost money. I would argue that the most important elements of creating a positive culture have less to do with the benefit plan and more with the ‘softer’ sides of the equation. Certainly fair pay, vacation and health benefits are important, and necessary. However, often…
In spite of traditional corporate values or practice, I’ve always held that all aspects of your life are interconnected, for better or worse. If my clients were thriving outside of work that served to propel their performance at work, and vice versa. Overtime, this common sense philosophy has garnered much attention in the scientific community and is increasingly gaining street cred in the corridors of business.
Despite all the rhetoric, books, resources and money thrown at organizational change efforts, most fall flat. Studies show us that about 70% fail. This stat is both shocking and depressing, especially given the human costs. In my business, I have witnessed the wreckage and body bags of many a haphazard change process.
Have you ever been stung by someone else taking credit for your work? It doesn’t feel very good, does it? In fact, it can feel downright crappy. Similarly, have you ever taken credit for someone else’s or your team’s work? Did you do it because you thought it was “no big deal”? What may seem like such a trivial matter, is, in fact, a big deal…stage hogs take note.