The objects of disaffections may vary but griping is always in season at work. When things go from bad to worse the discussions end up in the manager's office. When they don't, they form an undercurrent of discontent and resentments that is counter-productive. People spend vast amounts of time … [Read more...] about From Complaints to Commitments
Communications
Facing Conflict: Tough Conversations
“When conflict is ignored– especially at the top– the result will be an enterprise that competes more passionately with itself than with its competitors.” Howard M. Guttman, When Goliaths Clash, 2003 Managers spend an inordinate amount of time putting out fires, particularly interpersonal … [Read more...] about Facing Conflict: Tough Conversations
Changing Minds: How Hard Is It?
“All leadership comes down to this: changing people’s behavior.” – Alan Deutschman in Fast Company, “Change or Die”, May 2005 Changing the behavior of people is the most important challenge for leaders of businesses trying to compete in unpredictable environments. According to John Kotter, … [Read more...] about Changing Minds: How Hard Is It?
Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
The concept of emotional intelligence became popular after the immense success of Daniel Goleman's book in 1995: Emotional Intelligence, Why it can matter more than IQ. It was followed by a second best seller in 1998 by the same author, Working with Emotional Intelligence. The business … [Read more...] about Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace
Human Relationships at Work: The New Frontier
“Today we are faced with the pre-eminent fact that, if civilization is to survive, we must cultivate the science of human relationships.” —Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1945 Leaders and managers can study, train and be coached. But if they fail to work on their interpersonal skills, they will not … [Read more...] about Human Relationships at Work: The New Frontier
Generations at Work: Boomers, GenXers & Nexters
Never before in the history of the workplace are so many different age groups working together in such close quarters. Veterans, Baby Boomers, GenXers and now the Nexters are working shoulder to shoulder, cubicle to cubicle. Never have so many different generations with such diversity in … [Read more...] about Generations at Work: Boomers, GenXers & Nexters
Managing with Emotional Intelligence: Developing Empathy
The business community has embraced the concept of emotional intelligence and its importance ever since Daniel Goleman's best-selling book, Working with Emotional Intelligence (1998). But the challenge is to demonstrate that such competencies can be acquired and when they are, that they … [Read more...] about Managing with Emotional Intelligence: Developing Empathy
Survival of the Fittest: Feedback is not for Sissies
"It is not the most intelligent of the species that survive the longest, it is the most adaptable." -- Charles Darwin In order to be persistently successful, people and organizations need to adapt continually to their environment. This requires information from the environment. The more open … [Read more...] about Survival of the Fittest: Feedback is not for Sissies
Personality Types in Executives: What Works
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is one of the most frequently used self-report assessment tools in management and leadership development programs around the world. It is used in leadership development, team-building, communications training and executive coaching. Yet many who take it put it … [Read more...] about Personality Types in Executives: What Works
Understanding Basic Human Behaviors at Work: What Drives You?
One of the earliest studies of human behavior at work was done at AT&T's Western Electric Hawthorne Plant from 1927 to 1932 by Harvard's Elton Mayo. Their principle findings are still relevant today: when workers have an opportunity to contribute their thinking and learning to workplace … [Read more...] about Understanding Basic Human Behaviors at Work: What Drives You?