Tips for Managers

Don’t ask for ideas and then ignore them

November 25, 2020
Researchers report that as many as seven out of 10 employees feel management asks for their suggestions but doesn’t act on them. Keep your employees from becoming disillusioned by remembering these rules of the workplace.

Scuttlebutt may hold bits of truth

November 25, 2020
Here’s a common situation: An employee informs you of a co-worker’s faults or misdeeds. Although most of the tale sounds like gossip, some details sound as though they could be true. Certainly you don’t want to support gossip, but you have to get at the truth. Try this approach.

Spot the warning signs of disengagement

November 25, 2020
Be on the lookout for these symptoms of growing disengagement.

3 tips for better retention

November 25, 2020
It’s a familiar saying: Employees doesn’t leave organizations so much as they leave bad managers. You can be the kind of manager employees stick around for. Here’s how.

When to end the debate and make the decision

November 25, 2020
Most of your managerial decisions involving your group call for negotiation, multiple viewpoints, and lots of discussion. However, at what point should you, as the discussion leader, end the debate and move ahead to a decision? Use these three criteria to decide when it’s cutoff time.

Verbally attacked? How to reply

November 25, 2020
When tempers flare in the workplace, your response tells employees a lot about the kind of behavior that’s acceptable. Keep your cool, and try some of these replies.

How to motivate call-center workers

November 25, 2020
Because call centers seem to be breeding grounds for discontent, how can you motivate workers and keep them on the job?

Say ‘No’ without being negative

November 13, 2020
Even if you have to deny a request or can’t help someone, you want people to know they can depend on you for support and assistance. Here’s how to say “No” without alienating people.

Turn spats into constructive dialogues

November 11, 2020
Office conflicts don’t have to be destructive. For example, imagine that two employees disagree over the best way to complete a task or solve a problem, can’t resolve their quarrel, and dump it in your lap. To help these two get back to work quickly, try this approach.

Help employees shake off errors

November 11, 2020
After an employee has made an error, co-workers may shy away. As management consultant Margaret Morford suggests, step forward and treat the employee normally.