Eventually, a major crisis will impact your company. It’s not a matter of “if” but of “when.” And while COVID-19 is the most obvious disruptor, it’s certainly not the last. We all face a new era of uncertainty, volatility, and disruption. Organizations are rocked by technological shake-ups, shifting consumer habits, and political and social unrest, not to mention internal … [Read more...]
The Best Way to Share Bad News With Employees
No doubt, bad news has been the norm lately, and you may have already had to be be the bearer of it more than once. As a leader, especially a new leader, the last thing you want to do is deliver bad news to your employees, who may assume that you are somehow responsible for it. Unfortunately, you will have to make unpopular decisions, enforce changes that are initially seen as … [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...]
10 Tactics to Manage Workplace Drama
From time to time, most of us have experienced or even contributed to workplace drama. It can take many different forms: People gossip, spread rumors, complain, lash out emotionally, rant about a perceived wrong, purposely exclude others, take sides in conflicts, and so forth. No matter how drama manifests, it can be a highly destructive force inside a company, and leaders must … [Read more...]
5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before a Tough Conversation
For leaders, new and experienced, having difficult conversations with employees is one of the most challenging aspects of the job. It's both hard to control your own emotions and respond appropriately to employees, when they become emotional. The key to keeping the conversation on track and constructive starts with going into it with the right state of mind. To do so, … [Read more...]
Ensure a Fun (Drama-Free) Company Picnic
It's that time of year again for the annual company picnic. Whether yours is a huge party funded by your organization or a small backyard barbecue that you host for your team, they are full of opportunities for employees to embarrass themselves and your employer. Fortunately, whether you’re throwing the party or attending it, there are precautions you can take to ensure that … [Read more...]
25 Strategies for Conflict Resolution
This is a guest post by Dan Rockwell, leadership and management expert and author of the popular Leadership Freak blog. Sometimes it is the simplest actions that can help you resolve a conflict quickly, or avoid one all together. When you sense things are heating up, use one or more of these strategies: 1. Don’t focus on winning or losing; focus on achieving … [Read more...]
Avoid Poison Questions That Escalate Conflict
When you are trying to resolve a conflict with a team member, a genuine sense of curiosity about the other person’s perspective often goes a long way toward resolution. You reveal your sense of curiosity by the questions you ask the other person during the conflict conversation. That said, most of us do not naturally ask good questions. Rather than ask questions for the … [Read more...]
Making Hard Decisions
Decision making is a perennial topic for leaders. It is one of those skills that we all use every day, yet we know it is sometimes hard, and we could probably be better at it. So how can you more confident when you have to make a hard decision? Science to the rescue! Today I am using science (yes, real science!) to help you make decisions more easily and more … [Read more...]
Squelching Gossip
Gossip is like a mushroom. Wait, what? That's right, I'm answering today's question with a little comparison... How do I reduce the amount of gossip in our office? Check out the video below to find out! https://youtu.be/ubdymnwA8vg?rel=0&showinfo=0 Tweet it out: Better communication reduces gossip. @KevinEikenberry … [Read more...]