How can you start boosting your productivity today? In my opinion, accomplishing more each day doesn't have to do with some life-changing process or technology. Instead, it's about finding extra minutes and even hours throughout your work week. It's about minimizing wasted time. Here's how I do it, and how you can too. Listen closely We know that being a better listener is a … [Read more...]
[Infographic] 10 Leadership Lessons From Leslie Knope
If you haven't watched Parks and Recreation (ever or recently), it might be time to binge-watch the show (it's on Netflix!). As Fundera points out in this infographic, we all stand a lot to learn from the shows wacky, but utterly devoted, lead character, Leslie Knope. Check out these 10 leadership lessons she teaches us all. … [Read more...]
Is Your Workplace Hostile? Here Are 5 Indicators It Is
This is a guest post from Chris Dyer performance expert, speaker, consultant, and author of The Power of Company Culture. When office relations go south, the boss is often the last one to know. Gossips and bullies act from the shadows. Employees might hold back their gripes for fear of losing favor. And trouble with customers may be shielded so it doesn’t reflect poorly on … [Read more...]
Do You Have 5 Minutes? Don’t Waste It.
Leaders are always telling me how busy they are. Heck, it isn’t just leaders, it seems to be everyone. We all have too much to do and too little time. Today, I am not going to ask you to set aside hours of time. I am asking you to find five minutes. That's it. We all have five minutes show up in our day. We have five minutes between meetings or phone calls. We all have … [Read more...]
Dealing With Creative Block
Two big ideas that have huge implications for you as a leader are swirling in my head. I am struggling valiantly (at least in my mind) to align the ideas in a way that briefly and meaningfully conveys them. I find myself in a creative block. Okay, here goes … Idea Number One: Leadership teacher and author John Maxwell says: Everything rises and falls on leadership. It seems … [Read more...]
The Do’s and Don’ts for Dating at Work
If the impending Valentine's Day holiday has you pining for a new love interest, finding that special someone at work is possible. In fact, 31% of office romances lead to marriage, according to Careerbuilder's Annual Valentine's Day Survey. Dating coworkers can be tricky, though, so follow this advice from HR authority and executive coach, Val Grubb, before you take the … [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...]
Avoid These 7 “Flowbreakers” That Are Killing Your Productivity
If you're concerned about your own or your employees' productivity, you may be dealing with one of the following flowbreakers, say James Manktelow and Julian Birkinshaw, coauthors of Mind Tools for Managers: 100 Ways to Be a Better Boss. Keep reading to learn their advice for managing distractions so that you all can be more productive: Personal technology Smartphones and now … [Read more...]
4 Things You Should Do This Holiday Weekend
In the U.S., we are about to begin a three day holiday weekend for Labor Day. It's a day created to honor American workers and the contributions they make to our great nation. You're one of those workers, and while I hope you've done something special to honor your employees and the contributions they've made, I also don't want you to forget yourself. Start by taking full … [Read more...]
4 Really Great Reasons to Write Positive Feedback Down
Every leader has been told that offering positive feedback is one of the most valuable things you can do. You've heard of all the benefits. You may have heard that you don’t do it enough. If you’ve been reading this blog, you've likely learned the basics of giving positive feedback successfully, such as: Make it timely Make it meaningful. Make it about the behavior, … [Read more...]