A fine dining experience this past weekend showed me just how important it is that staff are interested in what they are doing. My family had been given a gift certificate for a local French restaurant, and we were pleased to have the opportunity to try something new. The restaurant was in a lovely setting in a historical building. My … Read More
Why and How to Hire for Diversity
In the workshops I teach, I often talk about hiring for fit with an organizational culture. When I say this, I mean that we should be hiring applicants for the way they connect with our organizational culture and its values. On one level, it is important to hire people whom we can appreciate and enjoy. However, the risk in focusing … Read More
Building a Team to Last Through Engagement
The Challenge – Disengaged Employees Great leaders want to create change and have an impact. This can only be accomplished through the teams they lead and build. Stephen Covey, in his book The 8th Habit, describes a poll of 23,000 employees drawn from a number of companies and industries. He reports the poll’s findings: Only 37% said they have a … Read More
5 Risk Factors for Workplace Sexual Harassment
You’ve read the news, heard the stories, and you’re likely aware that sexual harassment happens more than we’d all like to admit. Have you taken an honest look at your own workplace? Don’t get caught being complacent, sexual harassment can happen anywhere and no organization is immune. By raising your awareness and understanding of the risk factors and types of … Read More
5 Ways to Increase Employee Satisfaction
Leaders often bemoan the fact that employees are disengaged, and it’s true – they are often disengaged. Many are bored, lack interest, seem passionless, and don’t invest energy in their tasks. Sadly, some organizations don’t do anything to help themselves or their employees. Sure, they try, but it’s usually by offering incentives that don’t get at the root of the … Read More
Guidance for Managing Your Team’s Emotional Climate
Great teams start with great leaders who give their team clarity of purpose, use intrinsic motivation as a primary motivator, and consider people’s personal work styles. Great Leaders provide an atmosphere where people can build quality relationships and engage in meaningful work. They encourage fun, collaboration, honest mutual feedback, and hold people accountable to get stuff done. The bedrock of … Read More
Inspiring Employees Through Your Story
I have two teenage boys. In 2017, this means I watch a lot of superhero movies. The superhero movies I like best are the origin stories, like Batman Begins or Antman, where the protagonist goes from being a relatively normal guy to a stupendous fighting machine. It’s hard to relate to movies that are only crazy, high-powered action, but seeing … Read More
How to Create a Culture Where Feedback Actually Helps
Most of us struggle with giving and receiving honest and mutual feedback. In his book, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team,” author Patrick Lencioni deftly describes how an inability or unwillingness to engage in Honest Mutual Feedback (HMF) leads to poor performance. Lencioni provides some solutions, and organizations such as Pixar, Intel and George Mason University have developed additional techniques. … Read More
What to Do About Office Romance
If you work in an office with more than a few people, in all likelihood you will see or experience an office romance. Statistics vary, but most say that more than 40% of workers have dated a co-worker at some point in their career – and a good number of those have married the co-worker. That’s a lot of … Read More
How to Make Space for Friendship at Work
Did you know that having a friend at work is one of the best measurements of a strong workplace culture? Friendships in the workplace are fostered the same way they are anywhere else; we need time with each other. Time to chat, time to joke around, time to eat, time to play, and time to work hard together. Shared experiences … Read More
