Many business leaders have lost sight of what motivates people at work. In fact, some companies haven’t updated their incentive practices in years, which means they’re probably struggling to create and sustain high-performing teams. Companies continue to ignore the obvious: Offering incentives and … [Read more...] about Motivate without Over-Managing
Managing
Are You Over-Led and Under-Managed?
“It has become popular to talk about us being over-managed and under-led. I believe we are now over-led and under-managed.” ~ Henry Mintzberg, Simply Managing: What Managers Do—and Can Do Better (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2013) Much has been written about the difference between leaders and … [Read more...] about Are You Over-Led and Under-Managed?
Set a Big Hairy Audacious Goal
“Goals are one of the most misused and abused concepts in business and life today. Quite often, they’re set but not met, or set without providing realistic aims and/or equipment to achieve them. As a result, goal outcomes are often lowered until they are met or scrapped entirely in favor of new … [Read more...] about Set a Big Hairy Audacious Goal
Accountability Essentials
Is accountability becoming even more important in 21st Century business? In an age of ubiquitous social media and cell-phone videos, Big Brother’s watchful eyes seem to loom large. Rudeness, politically incorrect slips of the tongue and outrageous conduct are digitally captured and immediately … [Read more...] about Accountability Essentials
Genius or Genius-Maker?
How Smart Leaders Bring Out the Best in People
Do you work for a genius? Are your organization’s leaders really smart, and do they focus on bringing out the best in other people?
Some corporations have made hiring the most intelligent individuals a core strategy on the basis that smarter people can solve problems more quickly than the … [Read more...] about Genius or Genius-Maker?
How Smart Leaders Bring Out the Best in People
Inside the Mind at Work:
Manage for Progress
“So much of what we call management consists of making it difficult for people to do work.” ~ Peter Drucker
As any fan of The Office can attest, negative managerial behavior severely affects employees’ work lives. Managers’ day-to-day and moment-to-moment actions also create a ripple effect, … [Read more...] about Inside the Mind at Work:
Manage for Progress
Managing for Peak Performance: 5 Key Steps
Most managers want their people to achieve excellence at work. We really can’t ask for more. In fact, peak performance can be defined as a combination of: Excellence Consistency Ongoing improvement How can managers bring out the best in their people? To achieve peak performance, each … [Read more...] about Managing for Peak Performance: 5 Key Steps
How to Be a Better Boss
The word “boss” conjures up memories of the good, the bad and the ugly ones we’ve endured throughout our careers. Bosses shape how people experience work: joy versus despair, enthusiasm versus complaints, good health versus stress. Most bosses want to be good at what they do, yet many lack the … [Read more...] about How to Be a Better Boss
Leadership Power, Politics and Persuasion
Some executives are uncomfortable using power or office politics, viewing them as the dark side of workplace behavior. They believe morale and commitment erode when politics dominate the environment. But research clearly shows that being politically savvy and building a power base pay … [Read more...] about Leadership Power, Politics and Persuasion
Debunking Multitasking Myths:
10 Tips for Getting More Done
In the business world, where time management is always a priority, multitasking skills are expected, especially in younger workers reared in multiple media environments (i.e., computers, iPods, iPhones, TV, video games, online social sites, texting and instant messaging).
Beginning in 2005, … [Read more...] about Debunking Multitasking Myths:
10 Tips for Getting More Done