Quick Review As we noted in our last article, 36% of employees say people issues cause them the most heartburn at work, and another survey found that 35% of workers say their boss is a cause of their workplace stress. And we began talking about using an understanding of communication...
More Solutions for Performance Punishment
Performance Punishment is when managers assign extra work to their best employees because they need to get it done! Employees are thus punished for their good work. Read about some strategies to avoid having to resort to this.
The Paradox of Success: When Reward Becomes Punishment
What do good workers often get as a reward? More work! AKA "performance punishment". This is a complex issue that undermines employee morale and productivity.
Today’s Communication Challenge: Really Listening and Giving Feedback
One communication style most finds it challenging to listen deeply or give a certain kind of feedback. What is the challenge and what are the solutions?
The Power of Inquiry: Creating Better Questions
What is the power of inquiry? Asking the right questions the right way will do more than get information. It will build better relationships.
How to Best Connect with Decision Makers
When presenting to a decision maker, it's essential to adapt to make the best impression. Learn key tips for identifying and aligning with each of the main decision-making styles.
Turnover: Its Cause and Cure
What causes turnover? Three frequently cited causes are: pay, toxic culture, and lack of advancement. We offer strategies to address the two causes supervisors can control to increase retention.
The M-Style Challenge: Saying “No”
One major challenge for people with the "M" TEAM style, is the confidence to say no, and create healthier boundaries. It feels like it goes against their goal of having harmony in the workplace. In this article we explore some strategies to make it easier to say "no" constructively.
The Listener — Tips for Strategic Listening
I’ve been having a very interesting discussion with Colin Smith from the UK about strategic communication. Here we discuss strategic listening.
Losing Your Listeners? How to Get People to Really Listen
How do you get people to listen when they are not skilled listeners? Use the Universal Motivator! or the Golden Rule 2.0®. Learn to adapt your style to each individual.
What Makes Team Communication Effective?
I had a good time talking about the keys to effective team communication at the Capital Region Chamber BusinessU last week. It was a lot to cover in a short time! We explored what needs to happen to build strong teams and how communication plays a key role in that....
Be Strategic! How to Make Your Meetings Successful
According to a recent post on booqed.com, on average, people go to eight meetings a week. There is wide agreement that we meet too often and when we do meet, our meetings are not efficient. I've included a few key strategies to reduce the number of meetings, and, when you...
How to Develop and Sustain Employee Engagement
What is Employee Engagement? Depending on who you ask, employee engagement consists of either 4 elements, 3 C’s, or 5 C’s. My definition of employee engagement is simpler: "a measurement of how committed an employee is to their job and how connected they are to the company and their work...
Team Building for Remote Workplaces
Team building for remote workplaces is even more important - and challenging - than ever before. Start with communication to be the most effective.
5 Keys for Successful Teams
Successful teams are made of of five key elements. When combined, they create the successful teams that others WANT to join.
Keys to Employee Retention
Increasing employee retention rates can be done with minimal effort by leadership. Here is one key to creating an environment where employees want to stay!
What are communication styles and why do they matter?
Have you ever worked with someone who seems to be a nice person, but too often he or she can be incredibly annoying? Perhaps your boss or coworkers, or the customers or vendors you deal with at work act in some of the following ways. They may be: Cold, abrupt,...
Emotional Intelligence and Communication
Emotional intelligence indicates that someone is skilled in managing their own emotions and responding in a useful way to others’ emotions. This is extremely helpful when building strong work teams and important relationships, and defusing or preventing conflicts. When tensions are high, emotional intelligence is a crucial tool.Developing good emotional...
The Care and Feeding of Teams
Many managers I’ve worked with in my leadership training and coaching work expect their staff to be self-motivated and their teams to function with little direct leadership. They are disappointed and frustrated when this doesn’t happen. Often, they blame team members, especially the “next generation”, for not having a strong...