In my work with clients of all kinds, I have noticed five basic types of people when it comes to responding to conflict. Admittedly, I did not come up with these categories from a sophisticated and comprehensive statistical analysis. They are, however, built on my observations from working with many people and talking about their approaches to conflict and then observing the … [Read more...]
Don’t Let Rotten Attitudes Bring You Down
Attitude is contagious. One upbeat, positive person can change the vibe of the whole room. The same can be said for one negative person. In situations where multiple people are allowed to spread their negativity all over, the workplace can become downright toxic. If you find yourself regularly coming into contact with people who have bad attitudes, take these steps to avoid … [Read more...]
Manage 3 Major Causes of Workplace Tension
When people are physically uncomfortable, they generally have difficulty focusing on the work at hand, and they tend to become emotionally sensitive and irritable. Both can decrease productivity and increase conflict. Here are three of the most common issues I see as I work with my clients: 1. Space constraints Such constraints can take many forms, but they almost … [Read more...]
Nitpickers Usually Cause More Harm Than Good
By Jaimy Ford, business writer and editor. Having high expectations is certainly not a bad thing. However, when high expectations translate into nitpicking, it is a problem. When you or your employees are detailed-obsessed perfectionists, it puts unrealistic demands on everyone else, it wastes time, slows progress and leaves people feeling overwhelmed, annoyed or even … [Read more...]
3 Steps to Harness Your Emotions and Become a Stronger Leader
If you think being a great leader (and employee, in general) means silencing your emotions, think again. The most successful people, say Ed Hess and Katherine Ludwig, authors of Humility Is the New Smart: Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age are those who can leverage their emotions in a way that allows them to think better and become more creative, innovative … [Read more...]
The Most Critical Thing You Can Do During Your First Week as Leader
No doubt you have so much going on when you take over a team for the first time. Still, how you spend your time during those early days sets the stage for weeks, months or even years to come. Use it wisely by taking the time to build rapport and form relationships with your new employees. In your first week as a leader, sit down with employees individually, and ask each the … [Read more...]
Don’t Forget the Big Picture When You Delegate Work
"Just tell me what to do." "What is the task list?" "Can you give me a checklist?" "What exactly do you need from me?" Those are all smart questions that you hear from employees from time to time. For the sake of avoiding confusion and misunderstandings, we recommend that you provide employees with specific details whenever you delegate work to them. However, … [Read more...]
Improving Workplace Relationships: 4 Responses to Dealing with Drama
By Marlene Chism, consultant, speaker and author. There are many ways that drama can affect workplace relationships. One way that I often discuss in my workshops is how to stop taking the bait. You know what I mean. It’s those times when you put your foot in your mouth, or you get drawn into an argument or communication exchange that you later regret, yet it happens again … [Read more...]
The Best Accountability Tool? You Already Own It
Do you wish your employees would be more accountable? Most supervisors do. I hear leaders complain all the time about the lack of accountability among their employees, and they consistently ask me for tips and tools for building accountability. Do you want to know what I think is the best tool for building accountability? You already have one. It's a mirror. Here's why: When … [Read more...]
5 Biggest Myths Regarding Employee Motivation
Only 32% of employees in the U.S. are engaged, according to Gallup Daily tracking, and in the 15 years since Gallup started tracking the metric, it's barely budged. So despite the general awareness that people are disengaged, companies don't seem to be doing much to help the situation. Unfortunately as a new supervisor, you can almost expect to take over a team of people who … [Read more...]