A guest post by Richard Lee, author of Work That Counts. On a Saturday morning years ago, I distinctly remember a CEO bringing his execs together for a meeting to discuss a critical problem. These were all senior people, competent, forged at the best schools with the best companies. I was there as his organizational consultant. After about an hour, he became increasingly … [Read more...]
Using Apology to De-escalate a Conflict
Apology is a powerful — and often underused — conflict resolution tool. One reason for not apologizing that I often hear in my work with clients is the concern that apologizing either totally admits fault for the conflict or reveals a weakness. While those concerns may be legitimate in some situations, they are overblown in most cases. Conflicts usually escalate because … [Read more...]
7 Fundamentals of Successful Problem Solving
Everyone has problems. Big problems, little problems, work problems, relationship problems. Pick an area of your life, and you probably have at least one issue you are dealing with. When you step into management, you pretty much become a professional problem solver. And if you haven't received any kind of training on the subject (like many first-time supervisors), the role … [Read more...]
Do You Have a High-Performance Culture and Why Does it Matter?
CEOs and C-level team members are generally focused on building the right company culture, and the “right culture” for many is a high-performance culture. The term has become a buzz word for company growth, and many executives believe that they have already mastered this culture. But does your company actually have a high-performance culture, and why does it matter if you … [Read more...]
Find Balance When Work and Home Are in the Same Place
When you work from home, the “workday” becomes a slippery slope—especially when you’re constantly interrupted by your kids, pets, neighbors or spouses. If you’re not careful, meeting your work demands in this chaotic environment can crowd out your other priorities. Below are some healthy habits to help you take back control and protect your work/life balance in these unusual … [Read more...]