This is a guest post from Jackie Dryden, co-author with Bethany Andell of Get Your Head Out of Your Bottom Line. Millennials – those people born in the early 1980s to the late 1990s – have something of a mixed reputation when it comes to work. Studies show that they aren’t loyal to employers so much as to the job itself. They also want to find a purpose to their careers … [Read more...]
[Infographic]: Even the Most Successful People Fail Miserably
Every body fails from time to time, and as a new leader, you will too, but its not something that should keep you awake at night or stop you from taking chances. Because when (not if because it is going to happen) you fail, you receive an opportunity to learn a valuable lesson, while also proving to everyone how resilient, accountable and motivated you are. So rather than … [Read more...]
Turn to Employees’ Hobbies to Understand What Motivates Them
As a new leader, it can be tough to figure out how to motivate your employees to perform at a higher level at work. Surprisingly, a good place to start doesn't have much to do with work at all. You can actually look at employees' hobbies and interests to find clues about what motivates them and apply that insight as you assign and delegate tasks. A bit of background first: … [Read more...]
8 Steps for Creating and Maintaining Team Ownership of Ideas and Goals
Results and productivity are higher when people are committed to their work, and higher levels of commitment or engagement increase job satisfaction, safety performance and focus, while reducing on-the-job stress and turnover. But how does a new leader increase employees' commitment? Isn't that something employees have to do for themselves? Actually, both you and employees play … [Read more...]
The Power of Expectations
John Steinbeck, the great author, said it as well as it can be said: "It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him." The opposite is true too. That is perhaps the most important, yet most often overlooked, key to your success as a leader. If you want to achieve great results (and why would you want anything less?), you must expect great … [Read more...]
7-Day Plan to Motivate and Engage Employees
To motivate employees, you don't have to throw elaborate parties or offer them big bonuses. In fact, engaging your staff, often comes down to a few simple acts and well-timed phrases. Yet, despite how easy it is, too many leaders (especially new leaders) fail to take the time to show employees appreciation and respect. Don't make that mistake. Instead, motivate your … [Read more...]
Create a “Pocket of Excellence” that Allows Employees to Thrive
For your employees, create an environment that enables them to be their very best. Shawn Murphy, culture change and leadership consultant and author of the book The Optimistic Workplace: Creating an Environment that Energizes Everyone, calls the ideal environment a "Pocket of Excellence" and offers these tips for creating a situation that allows your employees to thrive. … [Read more...]
FAQ Series: Motivating a Blue Collar Team
Need ideas for unifying and motivating a blue collar team? Check out this video for helpful tips to influence and inspire. (And yes, they'll work for ANY team!) https://youtu.be/a-JWQ2-H8Vs?rel=0&showinfo=0 Tweet This: Motivation is internal. As leaders we can persuade, influence and inspire others; but not motivate them. In the Bud to Boss workshop, we address … [Read more...]
How to Give a Gift This Holiday Season
In Monday's post "The 5 Rules of Giving Gifts to Employees," we talked some about the do's and don'ts of choosing and giving gifts to employees. Today we are going to expand on that. While gifts of all kinds are given everyday, we are approaching a time of year when we spend more time thinking about the giving of gifts than at any other time of the year. I thought of that … [Read more...]
[Infographic]: What is the Breaking Point for Employees?
As a new leader, you are largely responsible for employee engagement, satisfaction and loyalty. How you treat employees plays a significant role in whether they stick around for the long haul or move on the minute something even remotely better comes along. As you know, turnover is costly, killing productivity, morale and the bottom line, so you want to do everything you can to … [Read more...]