No matter how great a manager you are, bad things will happen at work: not every day, but occasionally. It’s how you handle those incidents—the ones that fill you with frustration, anger and dread—that determine what kind of leader you are. If you respond to those occasions aggressively (outwardly or passively), you’ll undermine your team, spread fear and start the rumor mill. … [Read more...]
About Bud to Boss Editors
9 Must-Ask Questions for Your Next Job Applicant
How do you select the best employee for your organization? You have to know the right interview questions to ask and what to look for in your interviewees’ responses. Incorporate these into your next interview: Why do you want to work for this organization? You will discover how much research they’ve done and whether or not their expectations are realistic. If they offer … [Read more...]
Put An End to Time-Consuming (And Exhausting) Turf Wars
Turfs wars can derail progress on a project quicker than any other kind of conflict in the workplace. Offering your staff conflict management training on how to deal with that type of situation will save morale and productivity from plummeting—and will lead to stronger interdepartmental relationships, which will undoubtedly be valuable down the line. When you notice the … [Read more...]
Should You Buy Gifts for Your Employees?
Maybe this is your first winter in a supervisory position. In addition to worrying about meeting year-end goals, you might have the added stress of figuring out what—if anything—to give your employees for the holidays. Some people will tell you that you don’t need to buy your employees gifts (or that you shouldn’t), and while I do think that’s your prerogative, I’m a big fan … [Read more...]
5 Employees to Thank Your Lucky Stars For
Thanksgiving 2018 has come and gone, but don't let your gratitude disappear with the last of the leftovers. If you have the following employees on your team, you should be incredibly thankful! So don't forget to let them know just how much you appreciate them. Optimists. Even on Mondays, these employees arrive at work cheerful and energized. They look at challenges as … [Read more...]
Take Accountability for Your Mistakes
Leaders often lament about the lack of accountability in employees. We write about it on this blog often. After all, it's critical that employees take responsibility when they fail, rather than point fingers or place blame on others. But how about when you mess up and it hurts the team? Do you own your mistakes? Or immediately find a way to shift the blame to someone else? … [Read more...]
Lonely Leader Blues? Build a New Network of Confidantes
It is "lonely at the top?” For many, yes. As you move up the ladder in any field, your peer groups grow smaller, and that can be a very lonely feeling. Before you were promoted to a supervisory position, if you had a hard day or a difficult decision you needed to talk through, you probably had a variety of people to turn to: your immediate supervisor, your team members, your … [Read more...]
To Continuing Climbing in Your Career, Start Here
Are you ready to advance in your career? The opportunity could be now. In fact, organizations are seriously concerned about the leadership gap. According to a LinkedIn report "Developing Employees Into Leaders," 85% of executives are not confident in their leadership pipeline, and 86% consider developing new leaders as either “urgent” or “important.” That bodes well for … [Read more...]
Thomas Jefferson on Keeping a Cool Head
We'll just leave this here: Things can—and will—go wrong in every job, but when you’re responsible for the success of others, the opportunity for problems rises significantly. It’s not avoiding problems that makes you an excellent manager, but rather how you respond to the glitches, delays and disasters. Leaders who keep their composure when things go bad, who remain calm … [Read more...]
Before You Send that Email, Read (and Follow) These Rules
It’s best to keep work emails short and to the point. Typically, a couple of brief paragraphs will suffice. At times, of course, you’ll need more space, but it’s still a good idea to limit your word count. Restraining yourself will help ensure that readers don’t misunderstand your message, and it will save you valuable time—both worthwhile goals. Here is a third reason to … [Read more...]