By Kevin Eikenberry Looking for a way to help your team achieve goals? As a frontline supervisor, you help to set goals. We help the team to set goals, we help individuals on our teams to set goals, and you even help departments to set goals. We expect these goals to be reached during regular work hours, in addition to their regular work. There are three major reasons … [Read more...]
Four Steps for Selling a Change You Don’t Like
By Guy Harris Have you ever had to sell a change to your team that “came from above” and that you did not like? If you have not yet, that day is coming. It happens for everyone in a front-line leader role. Here is how the process often looks from the front-line leader position: Someone in the organization, a customer, or a vendor has a problem or … [Read more...]
How Do I Implement a Change I Don’t Like?
By Guy Harris If it has not happened already, the day is coming when you will need to implement a change that was not your idea and that you either do not like or at least have reservations about. As a new, front-line leader, that situation is incredibly difficult. You might feel stuck between your team and “management.” You might struggle to satisfy both your desire to do … [Read more...]
How Do I Reduce Turnover?
You've got questions, and we've got answers. Hi, I'm Kevin Eikenberry, answering the questions that new leaders ask us. Actually, it's our goal to help all leaders be more productive, successful, and confident. And today I'm answering an age old question. The question is how do I reduce turnover? Are you ready? Let's get started. Turnover is a big problem, and there are lots … [Read more...]
Taking a Cue from Nature
by Kevin Eikenberry I love the vibrant colors of the changing leaves. One of the great benefits of living in Indiana is seeing the beauty in nature all around. And as I take it all in, I’m reminded each year of the reason we get to see this tapestry: change. Fall is truly a period of change – a transition from summer to winter. And this innate ability to change fuels not … [Read more...]
Going Back to Old Spaces in a New Way
by Stacy Henry If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, it’s that you can’t go back to where you used to be. This is especially true today. Since 2020, our lives have changed. Our collected experience has given us better understanding, different expectations, and a new direction. As things are opening up and employees are returning to work, it’s important to recognize a … [Read more...]
The Culture Responsibility of a New Leader
by Kevin Eikenberry When thinking about team or organizational culture, often new and frontline leaders think the way they did as individuals – that culture is something for the C-Suite or senior management to think about. Culture, they often think, is above their pay grade. Yes, culture can be driven from the top-down, but it can be reinforced, and even more powerfully … [Read more...]
What Do I Do When People Don’t Want to Change?
Joni showed up at her boss Bob’s office more frustrated than he’d ever seen her. Joni was a relatively new supervisor and had been developing well, but on this day, she seemed different. When Bob asked what was wrong, her frustration came out immediately. “What do you do when people don’t want to change,” she asked. Bob smiled and asked her to explain. “You know the new … [Read more...]
How Do Your Employees Feel About Returning to Work?
For many organizations, the new norm is work from home, and for many managers and employees, there is a great deal of uncertainty about if and when they will return to an office or on-site location. If you are one of them, your transition back to the office may be completely out of your hands, but one very critical role you can play is communicating with your employees to … [Read more...]
How First-Time Leaders Can Effectively Manage a Crisis
This is a guest post by HARRY HUTSON and MARTHA JOHNSON. Being a new manager or a first-time leader can be a wild ride. Some days your heart is in your throat with trepidation, and on others it is bursting with the pride of accomplishment. Day-to-day responsibilities and task assignments are in your face. No time for what-ifs, strategic thinking, or long-term … [Read more...]