We Were Warned

We were warned.

For years, companies like Gallup cautioned that the vast majority of our employees were disengaged from their work. Researchers showed us that this lowered productivity and morale, and increased absenteeism and employee turnover. They said that large chunks of our workforce were considering changing jobs or careers.

And they placed the blame squarely on […]

By |2021-10-21T19:29:19+00:00October 21st, 2021|Categories: Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

The Pachyderm and the Pandemic

It’s no secret the pandemic brought unprecedented upheaval to the American workforce.

Overnight, many of us had to learn to work from home or take significant precautions at work. Over the first few weeks, thousands lost jobs.

The pandemic shocked us out of our routines and gave us a chance to see our work, jobs, and lives […]

By |2021-08-10T18:46:06+00:00August 8th, 2021|Categories: Post|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments

Manage Like You Live Next Door

As a manager, your job is pretty straightforward: make sure the people on your team do their work as well and as efficiently as possible.

Good managers accomplish this by putting their team members first, keeping their focus on the business (not on their own ego), communicating honestly and frequently, rewarding success, and publicly promoting their […]

By |2021-04-04T21:09:26+00:00April 4th, 2021|Categories: Post|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Message: Impossible

A few days ago, Tom Cruise was recorded berating his crew on the UK set of Mission: Impossible 7. His f-bomb-filled rant lasted several minutes. He singled out crew members and threatened everyone with losing their jobs.

Cruise is an actor of course, but as a producer, he’s also the boss. And a movie set […]

By |2020-12-18T20:58:36+00:00December 18th, 2020|Categories: Post|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

Penny Wise, A Trillion Dollars Foolish

Theft by employees is roughly a $16 billion problem in US companies. Employees steal through fraud, cheating the accounting department, or stuffing cash or product into their pockets. In response, businesses buy security cameras and motion detectors and hire security guards. They develop tracking procedures and reporting systems, and have their attorneys compose theft […]

By |2020-12-12T01:17:54+00:00December 12th, 2020|Categories: Post|Tags: , , , , |Comments Off on Penny Wise, A Trillion Dollars Foolish

Just Hit ’em Harder

We love our rules, don’t we? They’re important to us because we feel that by regulating the behavior of others, we are safer, healthier and richer. After all, isn’t civilization simply a system of rules and consequences?

So, we apply the same thinking to the workplace. There are rules about what time to show up, how […]

By |2020-10-21T21:09:54+00:00September 15th, 2020|Categories: Post|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

It’s Good to Be the Boss

Why is it so great to be a manager? Because finally, after all those years of butt-kissing, pride swallowing, teeth clenching agony, it’s your turn on top. You’re the boss now. What you say goes.

It’s time for people to kiss your butt and fear your wrath. And it’s time for you to get your hands […]

By |2020-12-12T01:22:47+00:00September 8th, 2020|Categories: Post|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Us vs Them Contractors

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s now-famous comments about the Kenosha Guard Facebook page that violated the company’s terms – that “the contractors” had failed to remove the page – drew a lot of flack.

Many people feel Facebook should be more vigilant. And of course that’s correct. But there is a larger problem here.

By blaming “contractors” for […]

By |2020-10-21T21:10:51+00:00August 31st, 2020|Categories: Post|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

The Stuff People Say

People often think they’re saying one thing when they’re actually saying something very different.

Sometimes the word “but” is the tipoff.

“I’m a very open-minded person, but…” is a sure sign you’re about to hear something very closed-minded.

Sometimes the tipoff isn’t a word, it’s the fact that the person is saying it all, and that’s where poor […]

By |2020-10-21T21:11:53+00:00August 19th, 2020|Categories: Post|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Part 2: That moment when you realize…

…you are a dick manager.

You’re having a discussion with an employee who can sometimes be a little defiant. Their heart is in the right place—probably—but they get no points for style. They are blunt and accusatory and though they may have a point, their attitude makes it hard for you to admit it.

Finally, after going […]

By |2020-10-22T00:22:08+00:00August 5th, 2020|Categories: Post|Tags: , , , |0 Comments
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