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
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
Management Pro or Micro-Manager?
I was speaking at a management seminar in Fargo last week and a topic came up that turned into an interesting discussion on perceptions. Since this is a common situation that you might be facing, I thought I’d share the
3 Common Ways Managers Deal With Employee Problems (Hint: they don’t work)
Let’s face it, most people don’t like addressing employee problems. I mean, come on, who wants to confront an employee about their lack of productivity? Or their bad attitude? Or personal cell phone use, inappropriate dress code, attendance, etc., etc.,
How to Connect With Your Team Without Being Creepy
A recent post on LinkedIn written by a new employee described how impressed he was that the CEO of the company knew his name, his hobbies, his history, etc. These were all things that had come up during the interview
Avoid This Leadership Style That Promotes Lack of Focus and Productivity
Imagine driving down the freeway with your eyes on the rearview mirror the entire time. What do you think would happen? At the least, you would lose focus on what’s in front of you and at the worst, you could
Take a clue from Smokey The Bear
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – Benjamin Franklin Unless you work for the fire department the majority of your work day should not be spent fighting fires. Take a clue from Smokey The Bear. He
Management Styles for Climbers, Sliders, and Middlers
Experts have identified numerous styles to describe a variety of management methods including, management by objective, management by walking around, and management by exception, just to name a few. Management by adaptation offers another viewpoint. Management by adaptation recognizes that