Fifty-five percent of U.S. employees have admitted to checking work emails after 11 p.m., according to data collected by Instant Offices. Is that commitment or work addiction? Commitment is what you're looking for. Addiction to work, not so much. When employees feel compelled to be available 24/7, always have work on the mind, and forgo personal (and down) time to meet the … [Read more...]
The Truth About Work-Life Balance
Before we know it, summer will be here, so it's a good time to think about work-life balance. Unfortunately, you and your employees are so busy and feel pulled in so many directions that you all may find the idea of work-life balance elusive, and with good reason. Technology makes us available and "on" 24/7/365. Our phones tether us to work. Our minds wander to the job at … [Read more...]
Are You Assertive or Aggressive? The Difference Matters
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...]
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...]
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...]
5 Ways to Improve Mental Health in Employees
This is a guest post from Marcus Clarke. The best step that leaders can take to improve an organization is to promote mental health among employees. Statistics have revealed that employees experience depression and anxiety each year, and these mental health issues affect employers and lead to huge losses. The nature of work and its expectations is often a leading source … [Read more...]
6 Steps to Confront Negative Behavior at Work
If you choose to look the other way when employees exhibit bad behavior, remember this: Failure to confront a negative behavior is a subtle acceptance of it and an encouragement for it to continue. I absolutely prefer encouraging good behaviors over punishing bad ones. Encouragement is more comfortable to me, and that might be the problem. Behavioral analysts find that … [Read more...]
Learn to Disagree Without Being Disagreeable
When you interact and work with other people, you will eventually disagree with someone. Sometimes, the disagreement will be over minor issues that you can easily ignore. Sometimes, however, you will disagree quite strongly about an issue that is vitally important to both sides. It might be about what course of action to take to turn around the company, which candidate to … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Build Your Confidence as a New Leader
If, as a new leader, you're feeling nervous, overwhelmed and out of your element, you may need to "fake it until you make it." In other words, you may need to pretend you're confident until you actually feel that way. But how do you go about doing that? It's not about strutting around like a peacock or proving to your employees that you have all the authority and power. In … [Read more...]
Friendship at Work? How to Make it a Benefit, Not a Problem
Eighty-two percent of people feel they have friends at work, but only 15 percent see those friendships as "real," says research conducted by Olivet Nazarene University. The survey of 3000 people across 21 industries sheds some light on how people perceive their coworkers. You can see more results here, but here are a few highlights: 71% don't consider any coworkers "best … [Read more...]