Performance is the gift that keeps on giving. Leaders who learn the skill of giving quality performance feedback see higher productivity, fewer mistakes, and increased efficiencies. Whether I’m teaching leadership skills to first-time managers at a sand and gravel operation
How To Get Employees To Do Their Job
How to get employees to do their job? That’s the biggest question I get when training managers. One new manager told me about a difficult situation he was facing. He was dealing with a challenge common to many managers –
Managing High Performers Who Make Their Own Rules
Managing high performers who discard company policies in favor of their own rules can be challenging. A manager at a recent leadership training shared an issue she was having with one and asked for my advice on managing high performers who
Problem Solving Skills for Managers
Problem solving skills are highly valued in the workplace because every workplace has problems to solve. There is no shortage of problems to be solved, from small problems to big problems and everything in between. Many people are good at
Time Management Practices for Leaders
Time management is one of those concepts that many leaders agree is important but fewer put into practice. One reason is that leaders are so busy being busy they don’t make time to think about what’s important. Maximum productivity is
Are First-Time Managers Set Up to Fail?
The latest issue of Precast, Inc. magazine features an article on how to help first-time managers succeed and thrive. In the article, I share that clarity of responsibilities can help curb the 50-60% failure rate of first-time managers. Failure doesn’t
Are you open to some feedback?
Has anyone ever asked you if you were open to some feedback? If so, you were probably thinking ‘No.’ but what you actually said was ‘Sure.’ Then you braced yourself for the brilliant observation that was about to be shared
Employee Recognition That Gets Results
Over the last 5 years, I’ve had the privilege of training thousands of managers and we always talk about the importance of employee recognition. I always ask ‘Is there anyone here who thinks there is way too much appreciation going
Assertive Communication: Focus on Facts, Not Feelings
I was in Milwaukee recently working with a group of managers to develop assertive communication skills. We started by discussing the role personality plays into communication styles and everyone took an assessment. A personality assessment provides critical insight into your
Empowered Employees are Happy Employees
Empowered employees are happy employees? I believe it. The other day, I was talking with a guy I know who works as an attorney for a large healthcare organization. I asked him how his job was going and he said