Is your flexible, casual workplace becoming too informal or disrespectful? It’s the law of unintended consequences at work, creating situations where employees are disrespectful, missing deadlines, and disrespecting each other’s time and energy. As a manager or supervisor, what can you do? How can you manage this situation, especially if your company emphasizes a flexible, casual culture? In this video, …
It’s the B word … (but not what you think!)
Boundaries. If you’ve ever said I’m so busy! or I have to… Or you’ve ever thought I’m so tired! or Why can’t someone else… Or you’ve ever felt seriously resentful… Your boundaries were being breached, whether you knew it or not, and whether or not you consciously had a boundary at all. We need boundaries at work as well as in our personal lives. …
Gossip, venting, or mentoring?
Is it gossiping when you vent to your spouse or a friend about a frustrating co-worker? How about when you discuss that co-worker with another co-worker? Or when you tear your hair out about the situation with an advisor? Pretty fine lines, aren’t they? And it’s easy to think it’s all harmless when … maybe it isn’t. Let’s look at …
Five first-time manager mistakes
Watch as I review the five most-common mistakes new managers make (including one you probably haven’t even thought of), and give you some tips and resources on how to AVOID making them. As a new manager or new supervisor, you’re wondering how to manage – and how NOT to manage! What mistakes should you be on the alert for avoiding? …
Who values your time?
Time. It really is the one thing we can never get back. But we’re not always as careful with it as we might be. You could be the most organized person on the planet … but if other people nibble away at your time, you can end up rushed and frustrated and out of time for what matters to you. Let’s …
The mid-January droop…
I saw a post on Facebook over the weekend claiming that this week in mid-January is the worst week for depression out of the year – specifically, the third Monday of the month. I don’t know how true this is – Wikipedia calls it “pseudoscience,” and it probably is. But I understand why it might be true. The holidays are over. …
Got a tough feedback challenge?
I once worked with someone who was, let’s say, an extreme health enthusiast. He ran marathons for fun, and ate raw garlic for his immune system and cholesterol. He was smart and good at his job … and we all thought he was probably an interesting person, but no one wanted to get close enough to find out. A colleague …
Ever considered thinking … smaller?
Everyone implores you to THINK BIG. Go big or go home. Be audacious. Don’t settle. Be all you can be (if not more). Set BHAGs (big, hairy, audacious goals). Shoot for the moon – or is it the stars? It’s exhausting. And often demoralizing. Because let’s face it, when we set those BHAGs, we’re likely to miss the mark at …
What HAVE you done?
No, seriously. What have you done? Usually at the end of the year, we look at what we want to do in the next year. Go ahead. Feel free. But first, consider what you’ve done THIS year. I’ll guarantee it’s more than you think. Because we’re all very quick to put completed projects and successful endeavors behind us and hurry on …
Managing a bullying employee
Bullying and sexual harassment are HARD topics, and dealing with the employee in question is especially challenging. The laws about “hostile work environment” vary from place to place and the policies vary from company to company. So, in managing this type of challenging employee, you’ll need to rely heavily on your Human Resources folks. That said, I include tips and …