Most organizations still require managers to conduct annual evaluations. We recommend offering more frequent, timely feedback to improve and maintain performance. Still, if the annual review is one of your jobs requirements, you can't avoid it. As a new leader, it can be pretty overwhelming, especially if you have to conduct several reviews all at once. That's why we … [Read more...]
Move Past Resistance and Make Positive Change Happen
Change is a major part of life—and so is resistance to it. So when you inherit a team that is resistant to your new role and the changes that come with it, be prepared. Engage your resistant team with the following techniques: Acknowledge the change Don't sugarcoat it. Your employees will appreciate your candidness if you openly discuss your plans for change, and how … [Read more...]
Inspire Employees to Take Pride in Their Work
Employees who take pride in their work are motivated, productive and pleasant to be around. They raise the overall morale of the workplace and inspire their co-workers. They happily go above and beyond requirements and expectations simply because their work makes them feel good. These four leadership practices will instill pride in all of your employees: Build anticipation for … [Read more...]
When You Should and Shouldn’t Reprimand Employees
Reprimanding employees in front of other employees is never a good idea. Embarrassing staff members in that way damages morale and can put people on the defensive, making it less likely that they will fix their bad behaviors. Scolding employees in front of customers is worse. Even if employee has done something that deserves a good talking to, and even if you think the … [Read more...]
Turn Lazy Employees into High Performers
Slackers can ruin the dynamic of any team—without doing a thing. When workers get lazy, their colleagues have to do more than their fair share. That results in overworked, stressed-out employees and mediocre projects. When they waste time on Twitter, make personal phone calls and take long breaks, lazy workers reduce productivity and, when their laziness goes unchecked, … [Read more...]
Stop Working Hard and Work Smart Instead
If extra-long workdays have been the norm since you became a boss, it’s time to find out why, before you burn out. Because at some point you won't have anything left to work harder. You'll have used up all your mental power, energy and enthusiasm. However, you can always work smarter. Follow these steps to do so. Take a close look at what you’re doing during those long … [Read more...]
1 Case Where Quantity is as Important as Quality
Every day can present an opportunity to improve employees' performance, and many of you are missing it. Not enough leaders, and especially new leaders, are discussing performance on a regular basis and, instead, are relying only on the annual performance review. That's just not enough. In fact, 65% of employees want more feedback from their managers. Study after study shows … [Read more...]
It’s Time to Have That Difficult Conversation
You can put off having difficult conversations with employees about negative behavior and poor performance, but you can’t avoid those discussions forever. By delaying the inevitable, you risk the chance of escalating your dread into chronic anxiety. Perhaps you’re concerned about saying the wrong things and hurting someone’s feelings. You may be worrying yourself sick over … [Read more...]
Stop Spending So Much Time on Email
It's Friday, and you may be starting to wrap up your week and may even be planning to make it a long weekend heading into the 4th of July. Whether you make it back into the office on Monday or Wednesday or some day thereafter, vow to spend less time on email. You already know why. Constant email interruptions steal precious time from other tasks because it takes you … [Read more...]
6 Questions You Must Ask Yourself Every Single Day
As your leader, your job is about so much more than checking tasks off a to-do list and telling your staff what to do. You have the power to make a real difference in the business and in the lives of your employees. You need to always be thinking about the big picture and how you can move the team and organization forward. You need to come up with ways to make things run … [Read more...]