How the lowest vibration in the room is costing you dollars and morale

We all know them, have worked with them, and at some point, have probably been them — “the lowest vibration in the room» guy/gal, or “energy vampire.” This person can suck inspiration, hope, enthusiasm and, at its most basic, peace, right out of the room. And it’s expensive. Consider the cost of negative energy at your next meeting. Negative energy in the workplace costs us time, money, resources, hope, enthusiasm, […]

 

THE DANGERS OF HELPING: ARE YOU TOO HELPFUL

The goal of helping is enabling, not more helping. Over-helpful leaders are over-worked and under-appreciated. Help in ways that strengthen competency and don’t create dependency. Train people to help each other, BEFORE they come to you for help. THE DANGERS OF HELPING: ARE YOU TOO HELPFUL Quit

 

Five things NOT to do in a conflict at work

It’s inevitable. You’re going to have conflicts at work. Most of the time they are minor issues – differences of opinion, low stakes disagreements, and misunderstandings. But there are times when the conflicts are significant. It may be that there is a lot at stake. It may be that the person you’re dealing with is someone you have had difficulties with in the past. It may be that you have […]

 

Avoid These Infuriating Phrases in End-of-Year Feedback

For most managers, the only thing they dread more than going to their own end-of-year performance appraisal is holding end-of-year feedback discussions with their team. Why? Because the performance appraisal system is unnatural by design. Imagine if we burdened our home relationships with some of the same formal systems we impose at work. 8 Things Leaders Do That Make Employees Quit

 

Are you leading with power or force?

Nearly 25 years ago, psychologist David R. Hawkins, M.D., Ph.D., proposed that human beings operate at different levels of consciousness. He outlined his research in a groundbreaking book called «Power vs Force.» 8 Things Leaders Do That Make Employees Quit

 

Tools and techniques for effective communication: The platinum rule

Tools and techniques for effective communication: The platinum rule The late, great Gerald Rosen, a contracts professor at Loyola Law School, used to say, “If you can’t get them on the merry-go-round, get them on the swings; if you can’t get them on the swings, get them on the slide; if you can’t get them on the slide, get them on the monkey bars.”

 

Don’t Let Limited Perspective Destroy Your Team

Recently, I’ve watched an organization of passionate and caring people disintegrate. The limited perspective of leaders and team members has frustrated communication and problem-solving. They’ve devolved into camps of us vs. them. It can happen to any team if you don’t pay attention to how you see the world. Don’t Let Limited Perspective Destroy Your Team

 

Great feedback is "EARNed"

During leadership trainings I will often ask participants to describe what good (and poor) feedback looks and feels like. Great feedback is «EARNed»

 

What are you willing to give up to change the way we work?

What does it take to build the fast, flexible, creative teams needed to challenge entrenched work culture? For transformation expert Martin Danoesastro, it all starts with one question: «What are you willing to give up?» He shares lessons learned from companies on both sides of the innovation wave on how to structure your organization so that people at all levels are empowered to make decisions fast and respond to change. […]

 

Seven key steps to getting out of your team’s way

Early in the year I wrote about my personal vision to create better, happier workplaces and my commitment to focus on the management behaviors that lead to ideal workplaces. In the first blog post I shared the benefits of and best approaches to positive reinforcement. This week we’ll look at getting out of your team’s way. Yes, you read that right. People are happier when they have a leader who […]