Are you a great leader? How would your employees answer that question? One of the smartest things you can do for your development as a leader is to gain a real understanding of how your employees view you as a leader. The only way to do that is to ask. Here are several questions to ask them, preferably anonymously so they feel free to be completely honest. Consider using an … [Read more...]
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20 Super Simple Ways to Show Your Appreciation
Lavish rewards are great—if you can afford them. But you can motivate your team and let staffers know that you appreciate them even if you don’t have a dime to spend. Add this list of 20 motivating phrases to your memory bank: “I am proud to have you on my team.” “Congratulations on a terrific job.” “You are so helpful. Thank you.” “You keep improving. Well … [Read more...]
Showing Appreciation Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
Employee recognition is an essential element in the effort to reduce employee turnover in any organization. It is pretty obvious that everyone enjoys being thanked for the hard work and contributions they provide to their organization. So why is it that employee recognition seems so scarce in today's workplace? Don't get me wrong … I'm not trying to say that all managers and … [Read more...]
3 Leadership Tips You Can Probably Forget
We're in the business of offering leadership and workplace advice, but even we can admit some advice runs its course. The times change, making that once sage advice obsolete. Or it just doesn't fit the same situations it once did. It's safe to say that there is always a chance the advice will be relevant again, but for right now, here are three nuggets you can forget. Don’t … [Read more...]
Employees are Staying Silent and That’s Hurting Business
Employees don't feel empowered to speak up, even when they really should, says a new book Speak Up – Say what needs to be said and hear what needs to be heard, written by Professor Megan Reitz, of the Ashridge Hult Business School, and John Higgins, Research Director at The Right Conversation. The research covers more than 4000 employees at every level of a business. The goal: … [Read more...]
Prevent Communication Problems With Your New Team
When you take over a team, outline expectations for how you want to communicate with your new employees. Doing so helps to ensure that they meet those expectations, that you reduce misunderstandings and that you prevent productivity-zapping communication breakdowns. As soon as you assume your role as leader, lay out these guidelines: How you prefer to communicate Are you … [Read more...]
When You Catch an Employee in a Lie
Uh-oh. You caught an employee in a bold-faced lie, and now you're not sure what to do next. A single lie has the power to destroy your trust in the employee, but what is more concerning is why the person told the lie in the first place. Is he hiding something? Does she fear your response? And if the person lied so easily this go round, does it mean he or she has lied before? … [Read more...]
Employee Orientation Matters: Here’s How to Nail It
How important is your orientation period? According to research by Glassdoor, very important: Organizations with a strong onboarding process improve new hire retention by 82 percent and productivity by over 70 percent. That's a big deal, and yet, only 12 percent of employees strongly agree that their organizations did a great job of onboarding them, according to … [Read more...]
The Graduates Are Coming: Take Advantage of This Talent Infusion
The 2019 graduates are about to take the workforce by storm. If you've been struggling to find the right employees in this tight talent market, this is good news. But how willing are you to consider candidates who are fresh out of college or high school? According to an in-depth survey by the Chronicle of Higher Education, 44% of employers value experience over pure … [Read more...]
How to Encourage Employees to Speak Up
As you take on a new management role, you want to make sure that you’re communicating effectively with your team members. But how are you going to get them to open up to you? Many employees have trouble being forthcoming with any boss, let alone a brand new one. Try out these encouraging phrases to get the words flowing: “Help me understand …” Put the blame for … [Read more...]