Tips for Managers

How to tease opinions out of staff

April 28, 2021
Here’s how to tap employee opinions on a variety of subjects.

Convey your vision with vivid detail

April 28, 2021
Employees want to know lots of things, but telling them where your organization is going is what gets them fired up. The key is providing detail.

We have to stop meeting like this

March 26, 2021
3 ways to stop wasting time on Zoom and in the conference room.

Quash rumors and build trust

March 24, 2021
When things are changing rapidly and people are worried, rumors are the currency of the day. However, the negative effects of rumors don’t have to prevail. The founder of one company used open meetings, uncensored questioning by employees, and humor to disarm rumors and build employees’ trust.

New hire? Build confidence early

March 24, 2021
Imagine you have some new hires right out of college who have been on the job for a little while and are feeling their way into their assignments. They’re doing well at some things and not so well at others. What is the best way to motivate them?

Skip old-school method with newbies

March 24, 2021
Connecting with your youngest employees may just mean that you have to let go of some of your old-school management tendencies. Here are critical rules for managing Millennials and Generation Z employees.

You’re angry! But before lashing out …

March 24, 2021
Ideally, the workplace should be governed by rationality and consideration, but destructive emotions sometimes flare up—especially when you feel you’ve been betrayed, insulted, or attacked. This three-step strategy can help.

Take emotion out of tough talks

March 24, 2021
Breaking bad news to employees about poor performance or behavior is never easy. But when employees’ emotions drive them to start yelling or sobbing, the situation becomes unbearable. Follow these tips to tame emotions and keep conversations moving in the right direction.

Horror tales have value

March 12, 2021
Every group has its horror stories—those tales of the bad customer, the bad boss or just the bad day that people still shake their heads at long after the original situation is over. Dig into them for details, and you can add to your group’s shared knowledge and culture.

‘I did what you told me to do’

February 24, 2021
What’s clear to you may not be clear to others.