Tag: problem-solving
The Difference Between Whining and Telling Necessary Truths
No executive wants to deal with “Vic the Victim” or “Negative Ned”. And no employee really wants to be the perpetual bearer of bad tidings. But the truth, although often inconvenient, is actually a crucial... Continue reading
4 Things to Do to Be a Better Leader
A number of readers have written to ask how they can make real progress in those areas of leadership where they don’t feel strong enough, particularly if they don’t have personal access to a consultant,... Continue reading
It’s Risky If Your Managers are Trying to Be Heroes
From time to time, every organization has to face tough challenges. They can be market-imposed, like a new regulation that changes the way you need to operate; self-imposed, like a fixed ship date for a... Continue reading
4 Practically Proven Ways to Disagree Productively
Disagreements and conflicts occur in every organization, no matter how high-functioning the team, how clear the mission, or how lovely the people. As we’ve seen in the last two posts, conflict-averse executives who don’t share... Continue reading
If You Want to Solve a Problem, Think of It as an Iceberg
In business, lingering problems rarely have a single or simple solution. That’s why they linger. Many work problems are relatively unambiguous and easily are understood by the people who deal with them every day. We... Continue reading
Here are 4 Ways Your Team’s Decision-Making Can Derail
Conflicting assumptions, incompatible needs, differing work styles, and individual stressors can have a negative impact on group process, particularly when it comes to making decisions. Some people need to come to a resolution so quickly... Continue reading
How to Reach Agreement with 3 Powerful Elements of Team Decision-Making
Some work teams have trouble bringing matters to an actual decision. They’re often unaware of how their own inconsistent processes reduce their chances of coming to agreements that everyone can live with. You can make... Continue reading
How to Get Out from “Under the Bus”
“They threw me under the bus” is one of the most common expressions of complaint among employees who see themselves as the victims of intra- or inter-team sniping. Whenever I hear it, I picture tire... Continue reading