One of the great beliefs we have as managers is that our job is to listen to our employees’ ideas and then go implement those that we find valuable. Sounds like a great idea. But as managers we know the reality is that a good many employee ideas just don’t make business sense. Read more…
As we got our coffee and sat down, the conversation continued. “I am just swamped though, and the work just seems endless. I don’t know if I can keep this pace. I just imagine this wave of work overtaking me.” My friend tried to comfort me by adding, “You know you will work through it. » Read More
In a LinkedIn poll we conducted 80 percent of managers said that less than 10 percent of employees’ ideas ever get implemented. Sad I often ask managers this question: “Is the key thing a manager can do to engage employees is to listen to their ideas and increase the number that get implemented?” The consensus » Read More
“We have a problem Houston!” The problem is that most U.S. organizations suffer from the 7 Deadly Sins of Management. The 7 Deadly Sins of Management are: Lack of clear direction No line of sight Unclear accountability Inconsistent language Poor issue transparency Insufficient resources Inadequate tools/skills
Sometimes, we just need to acknowledge a situation. We have those moments, but we pretend it is something that it isn’t. What I mean is, at times, we just want someone to do something without much discussion. However, in order to not hurt feelings, we pretend we want their input, but our expressions communicate frustration. » Read More
When we think of planet preservation we think of the air, the water and the land. But we don’t think about the many common forms of waste that occur in our workplaces — and this waste not only costs our business, it wastes the Earth’s resources. Management causes waste through its outdated practices.
We base our first impressions on external appearance. Grooming. Teeth. Attire. Accessories. Accent. We notice scuffs on shoes, extra pounds, and age. Then, we unconsciously jump to conclusions about the person’s potential and abilities. We decide in a split second whether individuals are competent, even before they’ve opened their mouths to speak. When we reflexively act from a prejudiced place, are we really prizing diversity?
Change happens, and we need to hire new people to fill existing or new roles. We go through the typical search: Check our internally and our networks Engage others to check their networks Review and reduce the number of possibilities Interview the candidates Gather feedback Hire Whatever the process is, the thought running through the » Read More
Though leadership and management are not interchangeable terms, the terms can be put together productively. Does a great leader equate to a great manager? What actually makes these two terms different? Let’s think about the daily lives of leaders and managers and also compare those who are role models with those who are not. While » Read More
“A ‘squeaky wheel’ isn’t the highest priority project. It’s the loudest or most noticed. In many organizations, it gets the grease, while projects with greatest potential to bring about business results get delayed or set aside.” This quote, from the book Everything’s A Project, is playing like a mantra in my thoughts. We focus on squeaky wheels because they are irritating, not because they are important. We want the irritation to go away. But oil isn’t the answer.
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