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“You did a good job!” Aren’t those nice words to hear? Most of us appreciate a little appreciation once in a while. But there’s one surefire way to make recognition backfire. (more…)
Lots of executives, small business owners, and managers talk about the importance of strategic planning. But usually, that’s a terrible, terrible idea. (more…)
Time to put a stake in the ground. A line in the sand. To choose a side. Whichever cliché phrase we use, here it is: managers and employees should not be friends. (more…)
In an old comic strip, parents watch their son play video games and envision of a future of lucrative job prospects based on this expertise. That was the joke, back in 1990. (more…)
There’s a cultural disease plaguing almost every organization in human history. It’s a mind virus which insists that if we didn’t come up with it, then it can’t be any good. (more…)
The phrase “toxic workplace” is having a moment. It is popping up on all of the workplace blogs and industry rags. And yes, it’s a serious problem. But no, this isn’t helping. (more…)
The greatest tool in the world is useless without the knowledge of how to use the tool. And likewise, all of those productivity apps are a waste if you have bad habits. (more…)
Management wants employees to be more efficient. Customers want answers, resolutions, and deliveries faster. So, should we expect productivity increases to be relatively constant over time? (more…)
You know how to do things. You were trained, or you taught yourself, or you went to school. But skills aren’t enough to succeed in the workplace. (more…)
Imagine there’s someone at your organization who is insanely productive. They get as much done as five people combined. Their work is flawless. But there’s only one problem: nobody can stand them. (more…)
Most of life is not black and white. This includes the workplace, which is full of gray areas. But there’s one aspect that should be absolute—whether you are or are not working. (more…)
We all have work we want other people to do. We can ask or we can plead. But there’s a way that sounds great but almost always backfires. (more…)
Every year companies line up to promote themselves as among the “best places to work.” They also insist they adjust policies based on employee feedback. But it’s not what it sounds like. (more…)