Tag: workplace
Is It More Effective to Work Neat and Tidy, or Cluttered and Creative?
Earlier this month, I had a funny correspondence with a favorite client. He claimed to have returned from vacation “to a clean desk with a relatively clear mind.” I gave him full credit for his... Continue reading
Do You Know How to Handle the Challenges of Urgency?
Urgency in the workplace has crucial uses -- and some destructive misuses. Yes, urgency may be exactly what’s needed to confront an actual emergency, serious risk, or persistent negative circumstance. But too many managers and... Continue reading
How to Strengthen Your Credibility So Your Team and Colleagues Trust You Again
How do you demonstrate credibility with your team members, colleagues, and boss so that they’ll have confidence in you? The biggest chunk of credibility is keeping your commitments. It’s not enough to appear -- or... Continue reading
4 Surefire Tactics for Increasing Accountability
Do you worry that a lack of accountability is swamping your organization with overall ineffectiveness and bad feeling? Regardless of your rank or role, here are four ways to build a floodwall against further inefficiency... Continue reading
We Can Make Big Problems When We Don’t Talk Enough About Accountability
What do executives mean when they demand accountability? And what do employees mean when they complain that no one in the company has any? Usually, they mean that someone should have decided, acted, or otherwise... Continue reading
10 Ways to Keep Your Team Motivated
You can’t directly motivate anyone, but you can definitely create conditions in which people choose to contribute, participate, innovate, and push themselves. Demonstrating your own commitment helps set the bar for the team -- not... Continue reading
Who Defines Your Service Rules?
According to an old Swahili proverb: “When the elephants fight, it’s the grass that suffers.” That’s certainly true in organizations where executives have ongoing disagreements. Whether the situation involves explicit, pitched battles, or covert, passive-aggressive... Continue reading
Who Should Be Responsible for Career Plans?
Not everyone wants to be a manager or should be one. Lots of people are more comfortable as subject matter experts, sole contributors, or administrators than as implementers. Not everyone needs multiple promotions to feel... Continue reading