Posts Tagged ‘workplace’
A Giant Waste of Time, Part 2 — Meetings
(Second in a random series on Business Time Wasters) If email is the great curse over the workplace, (and it is, trust me), then without a doubt, meetings are a spell that’s been cast over offices to suck the life energy out of employees and management alike while making us all think that issues are…
Read MoreA Giant Waste of Time, Part 1
(First in a random series on Business Time Wasters) Email. If there was any greater curse ever cast over the workplace, I can’t think of one. Sure, it facilitates communication. And none of us can even imagine anymore how we could function in a business environment without the ability to dash off a quick note…
Read MoreThe Communications Cocktail
Some of you got excited when you saw cocktail in the title above, didn’t you? You figured, “Finally, somebody agrees with me—a little liquid social lubricant can go a long way to getting people to loosen up and talk…” Slow down there, Norm. We’re not heading for Cheers. That’s a different conversation. But I’ll give you this much:…
Read MoreThe Real Problem Isn’t The One They’re Complaining About
When your employees voice a problem, split off the complainer from the complaint to get at the real issue (For my previous thoughts on workplace problems and a drama-free workplace, see People are the Problem and Solve it with Structure.) We live in an age of outrage. Whatever it is—jobs, schools, restaurants, auto repair, retail…
Read MoreDrama-Free Workplace — Part 2
Livin’ the Dream: A Drama-Free Workplace Part 2: But I Have Good News—Structure Can Fix Your Drama (People) Problem In Part 1, I discussed how drama and conflict in the workplace are usually caused by personality clashes. We talked about identifying personalities and motivations, and how understanding them can help you target the actual issues…
Read MoreDrama Free Workplace — Part 1
Livin’ the Dream: A Drama-Free Workplace Part 1: I Hate to Tell You, But It’s Your People Do you dream of a drama-free workplace? One without personality conflicts? Or emotional turmoil? Experience has convinced me that all workplace issues are usually people issues. And it doesn’t matter what industry or what problem—if you’re experiencing a…
Read MoreTime: Your Most Precious Resource—Are You Spending It the Way You Want or Just Staying Busy?
Your Most Precious Resource—Are You Spending It the Way You Want or Just Staying Busy? When asked “How are you?” do you reply “Busy”? Is busy-ness a symbol of your importance? Is it a badge of honor you wear and shine to impress others? Let me ask you this: How many times in the last…
Read MoreYou Don’t Have to Have All the Answers (Isn’t That a Relief?)
So many leaders get bombarded with questions and then feel like they have to have all the answers—and when they don’t, they either become anxious or spend a ton of time trying to fish answers out of the people they think should know. Sound familiar? While working on my Master’s in Design Thinking Certification from…
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