Have you seen productivity dip while creating a positive atmosphere? There’s a likely reason, and a solution.
So much
culture
What drives you nuts? An idea for coping…
A coping strategy when things “drive you crazy” at work or home:
Take a moment to consider the
A simple way to “stick” to a new plan…
How are the New Year’s resolutions coming? How about any commitment to self-improvement?
A helpful idea that’s quite simple (it almost seems silly to write about it) is the “sticky-note” technique.
Leaders Smile
There are scientists and psychologists who report that the most powerful expression in the human repertoire is the smile.
When there is work to be done, and we’re “all business,” we might forget the power of the smile. Not just to transmit our happiness, but to
Things Successful Leaders Avoid Saying (part 5)
Here’s a phrase to purge: …that would be great. Two reasons why: 1) It’s not specific. If we know that people are more engaged when presented with frequent, specific, direct feedback, then we need to seek out chances to be specific. If something “would be great,” why? Will it make life easier? Help meet a … Read more
Silos in the real world…
This post will be a part of a local effort from author and change agent Danny Heggen that is worth your attention, but I share it here as an example of how
Things successful leaders avoid saying (part 4)
The phrase “I don’t care” is often used to give permission. It may be splitting hairs to talk about this phrase, but this blog has often been picky about the words that we use. Words are important.
Three points, in order from
Three little words for busy leaders…
Sometimes people feel disconnected from us, because we come off as “too busy.”
Good news – there are three words that can reverse this dysfunction.
A piece of equipment went missing, and I wasn’t told about it. I found out accidentally a few weeks later, that this $75 piece of equipment had been lost or stolen. I knew Nicole must have known about it, so I asked her why she didn’t let me know.
Two Words Turn a Negative Request Positive
An earlier post discussed the perils of the use of the word “don’t”.
“Don’t” is negative, and can also be dismissive. It is direct (that’s good) and easy (that’s why it’s frequently used). There’s a nice alternative, though, that can quickly lay out both the non-desirable behavior, and the preferred:
Leaders tell people “why”
Hannah was a young person volunteering at a community dinner. She sure seemed like she didn’t want to be there. She was listening to her iPod and had earbuds in both ears as she served peas to the public. She was surrounded by about twenty adult volunteers.
At one point, Harold, one of the adult volunteers, finally said something. He scowled, and