In today’s world, nothing is said to be certain, except death, taxes, and that this Wednesday’s meeting is going to be absolutely worthless. I wouldn’t go as far as comparing meetings with death, but they do bear a striking resemblance to taxes. Often people feel like they’re taxed by their managers to come and spend…
Should I Hire a New Manager or Promote My Best Employee?
Many years ago, when I had a close association with Nike (I had worked there previously), Phil Knight decided it was time to step down as the company CEO. At the time Nike had two co-presidents, Mark Parker and Charlie Denson. Both Parker and Denson had been with the company for many years and both…
Has Your Superstar Lost Motivation? What to Do to Get Them Back in the Game
When you first brought them aboard, it was as though they had been sent by angels. They picked up on processes quickly, worked well with others, and even found new and better ways to do things. Within a few short months, they became your top performing employee that you couldn’t live without. Fast forward to…
Remote Team Conflicts: Why They Aren’t Such a Bad Thing
Office. Hallway. Day. Employee #1: “I can’t believe you’ve decided to print your 2000 page report on the last working printer in the building.” Employee #2: “It’s technically 1977 pages long and it’s not my fault my supervisor doesn’t like to read from a screen.” Employee #1: “Well instead of making the whole marketing department…
Maintaining Professional Relationships in the Workplace
One of the most challenging things about managing a team is establishing yourself as an authority figure while still being a likable boss that your team wants to follow. On one hand, if you get too chummy with your reports, professionalism and productivity will plummet: Problems won’t get dealt with properly, your team won’t do…
The Difference Between a Leader and a Manager and Why it’s Important to Be Both
It’s a common misconception that leaders and managers are interchangeable, but the reality is that the two roles couldn’t be more different from each other! If your job includes directing a team of people, then it’s to your advantage to not only understand the difference between a manager and a leader, but also why you…
How Emotional Intelligence Is Changing the Workplace
When was the last time you took an IQ test? How’d you do? Be honest. Did your score reflect the mind of a genius, or maybe just an average Joe? For years people have put a lot of credence into IQ scores. In fact, it’s common for companies and universities to use IQ scores to…
Is Adaptability More Important Than Talent?
Have you ever seen a contortionist in action? It’s quite amazing, and maybe just a little creepy at the same time. Do they even have a spine? Is the human body really supposed to do that? Anyway, contortionists show an amazing amount of flexibility. Being flexible in their line of work is mandatory. But flexibility,…
Digital Tribe: How Many Chiefs Does a Remote Startup Really Need?
How many Agile project managers does it take to change a light bulb? None. They just sprint to a different well-lit room. If you ever worked in the office I’m sure you’ve experienced this moment: the number of people you need to check in with is greater than the number of people that help you…
How Is Leadership in the Workplace Changing?
As the world evolves and technology advances, businesses, and their workforces have to adapt to the constant changes. That includes leadership. In fact, in order for companies to successfully navigate the changes, leaders have to set the example. In other words, they have to “lead” the way. But just as technology and other workplace practices…