Some People Manage by Fear. Here’s How to Face Them
I’m lucky that none of my direct clients try to “motivate” their team members through fear—or at least, not intentionally. Many employees experience some level of fear just from being part of a power hierarchy... Continue reading
It’s Never Good to Tell Your Boss “I Can’t.” Try These Approaches Instead
One of my clients was distressed about how much his new boss was pressuring him. His boss kept loading him up with multiple new initiatives and demands to increase his team’s performance with no apparent... Continue reading
Two Criteria That Make It Practical to Engage in Conflict
How can you decide when and how to get involved in a work conflict? Even if right is on your side, and you have a high enough level of hierarchical power, two assessments will help... Continue reading
Ways to Handle People Who Try to Frighten You Off When They’re Under Pressure
Have you ever worked with someone who had so much trouble being confronted or found in the wrong that they would create a deflective smokescreen of issues to avoid accountability? And if so, did you... Continue reading
4 Ways To Free Yourself From Conflict Even When You’re Horribly Stuck
This post originally appeared on Forbes. Sometimes you just can’t resolve a conflict completely, even if it’s a righteous one. Maybe your boss refuses to cough up the resources you need for your people. Or... Continue reading
Want Improvements? Help Your Boss Feel Safe Enough to Try the Better Way
It can be quite startling to recognize how often leaders and other people with authority and status behave ineffectively. Their difficulties can be interpersonal, as when a leader shows favoritism to specific individuals or groups... Continue reading
Is It Better to Resign or to Figure Out What Your Touchy Boss Needs?
After months of working together, Steve really thought he and his boss, Mitch, had come to an understanding: Mitch would focus on strategy and marketing while Steve would handle day-to-day operations and virtually all communication... Continue reading
How to Help an Emotionally Unregulated Boss Who Needs Feedback
Here’s a situation that no one wants to be in. Let’s say you report to the founder/CEO of a startup. The founder has no management experience and the startup has grown beyond a size they... Continue reading