The biggest problem with collaborative problem solving is the collaborative part. Many new leaders became leaders because they know how to get things done. That individual ability to solve problems, applied in a team environment, can become a weakness as the new leader pushes strongly for a solution that others resist. I have been that new leader who pushed too strongly … [Read more...]
3 Types of Supervisory Problems, Part 3: “Won’t Do” Problem
This is three-part series by guest blogger William Dann. Read Part 1: 3 Types of Supervisory Problems: "Can't Do" Problems and Part 2: 3 Types of Supervisory Problems: "Confidence" Problems. As we discussed in the previous posts, Ken Blanchard has said that there are two categories of problems in supervision, a “Can’t Do” and a “Won’t Do” problem, and I add a third category … [Read more...]
3 Types of Supervisory Problems, Part 2: “Confidence” Problems
This is three-part series by guest blogger William Dann. Read 3 Types of Supervisory Problems, Part 1: "Can't Do" Problems As we discussed in the previous post, Ken Blanchard has said that there are two categories of problems in supervision, a “Can’t Do” and a “Won’t Do” problem. I add a third category, "Confidence" problems that falls somewhere in the middle. In the last … [Read more...]
What Is the Most Important Thing for a Boss to Do Well?
How would you answer that question?Many people would respond with "Ask for and value employee input," according to a survey by the leadership training firm Fierce Inc. Eighty percent of the corporate executives and employees it surveyed put that at the top of their list.“Everyone wants to be seen and heard,” said Halley Bock, CEO and president of Fierce Inc. “To create a … [Read more...]
No.1 Thing All Supervisors Should Do Well
What is the most important thing for a boss to do well?Ask for and value employee input, according to a survey by the leadership training firm Fierce Inc. Eighty percent of the corporate executives and employees it surveyed put that at the top of their list.“Everyone wants to be seen and heard,” said Halley Bock, CEO and president of Fierce Inc. “To create a collaborative, … [Read more...]
For Women: It’s OK to Be Awesome
"If you ask men why they succeeded, men attribute that success to themselves; and women, they attribute it to other factors like working harder, help from others. Ask a woman why she did well on something, and she’ll say, ‘I got lucky. All of these great people helped me. I worked really hard.’ Ask a man and he’ll say or think, ‘What a dumb question. I’m awesome.’"Facebook COO … [Read more...]
Loyalty Comes as Employees Grow
Continue to help employees develop their careers as a way to improve both productivity and retention. Employees who feel stagnant are unlikely to contribute to moving the organization forward. When people are growing, their loyalty increases—plus, they perform better. Here are simple strategies to keep employee growth continuous:Hold short workshops. Ask employees who excel in … [Read more...]
Preempt Interruptions
This is a guest post by Amy Beth Miller, business writer and editor. One morning when I was still a relatively new manager, Matt came to my desk and told me about a comic routine he had seen the night before. The comedian described how a child will constantly interrupt a parent who is on the phone: “Mom! Mom! Mom! Mom!” Then the comedian asked the audience to imagine if they … [Read more...]
Walls Don’t Have Ears, but Customers and Employees Do
This is a guest post by business writer and editor Catherine Welborn. The other day I was in a toy store when I heard a manager say something that left me absolutely dumbfounded. She was at the back of the store when one of her employees approached her, complaining about a “problem” customer. In a mocking tone of voice, the employee said “OK, now she’s demanding to talk to a … [Read more...]
Critique the Feedback You Deliver
This is a guest post by business writer Amy Beth Miller. At the time I thought that I was being clever, but it was one of the dumbest things I ever did as a new manager. As I edited a rookie reporter’s story, I smirked as I typed “Sheraton is a hotel chain. The Civil War general was Philip Sheridan.” I lost sight of my true goal, to train this reporter to be a careful and … [Read more...]