Question: I have always worked in a very corporate environment. Now I am in a much more casual office. I’ve stopped wearing suits but the lack of boundaries between people’s work and private life makes me really uncomfortable. I like keeping things separate. What should I do? W.S., Nashville, TN Answer: Just as you adapted …
How do I adapt to a much more casual environment? Read More »
Question: I was brought in to shake up the team and inspire innovation. To say it’s been difficult is an understatement. The rank and file are totally resistant and I don’t feel management has my back. I’m afraid I’m going to fail. What should I do? R.M., Dallas, TX Answer: The problem with being brought …
I’m afraid management doesn’t have my back, help! Read More »
It’s easy to overlook the role you play in the quality of your team’s feedback. If you literally ask them to “share your thoughts” about a process, situation, or issue, it will be hard to know whether they’ve offered their best ideas. Instead, take the time to provide context. Explain why your request is important, …
There are two main reasons for underperformance: a skill gap or a will gap. As a manager, you’ll benefit from determining upfront which of these situations you’re dealing with, and you’ll get better results much more quickly. On paper it seems like it would be easy to distinguish—you either want to succeed (will) or not; …
To get a taste of what listening well is like imagine listening to music. Most people listen to people the way they listen to background music, tuning in and out when something catches their interest. Active listening is being fully present much like when you’re wearing your headphones and are totally focused on a new …
What we wear definitely influences how others see us, but did you know it also affects your performance? According to a study led by researchers at Columbia University, participants wearing formal clothing scored better on the ability to think abstractly (abstract thinking is critical to long-term planning) versus those who were dressed casually. This supports …
Question: About a year ago we underwent a merger and any overlap between the companies was ironed out. However my peer is not playing ball and she is stealing my leads. My boss is aware but keeps telling us to “work it out.” I’m at my wits end—what should I do? J.K., Ann Arbor, MI …
One rarely discussed leadership tool is humor. That’s probably because it’s hard to do well and so easy to do badly. However, research shows that not only does the leader benefit by appropriately expressing their sense of humor, but doing so also makes the company more profitable. According to a study published in the Journal …
A key—and often overlooked—aspect of every manager’s job is selling your recommendations and solutions. The pace, volume, and competing priorities that management faces daily means that it’s unlikely that most of what consumes your daily life is top-of-mind for decision-makers. Consider the following before you bring your solutions to the table. Time your conversation. Know …
Make sure your resume gets read by following these tips from BottomLineInc.com: Paste your resume into your email to make sure the recipient reads it. Many companies are limiting and/or prohibiting downloads due to the increase of computer viruses. Swap out typestyles that will get lost in the copy/paste process like boldface or underline. Limit …
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