Whether you are the boss or the direct report, many people dread their regular one-on-one meetings. It does not have to be that way! Here are some tips to improve your meetings: *How Often? Every two weeks works for most people, but of course there are exceptions. *How Long? Block 50 minutes and don’t feel like you have to fill the time. If you are done then you … [Read more...] about Improve Your One-on-One Meetings
Your Underperforming Employee
It’s exciting to hire a new employee! The workplace is full of promise about the new ideas, skills, and energy this person will bring to the team. But sometimes . . . the honeymoon is over quickly. The incorrect strategy that many managers use when this happens is . . . wishful thinking! Don’t do this! You must address the situation immediately. You need to engage … [Read more...] about Your Underperforming Employee
Accountability: You, Then Your Team
The best strategy in the world will not work without effective implementation. One of the biggest mistakes I see in implementation is a lack of Accountability. Accountability is one of the five pillars of teamwork excellence, according to Patrick Lencioni – in his book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team – and I could not agree more. Accountability begins with you – the … [Read more...] about Accountability: You, Then Your Team
Traffic Stops & White Privilege
This is a true story. A few years back I was driving home one evening after teaching a graduate class at the University of Maryland. It was a November evening at about 10:15 p.m. and I was less than a mile from home when a police car appeared in my rearview mirror with its lights flashing. ME: I was confident I had done nothing wrong. I thought “Hmmm, maybe my … [Read more...] about Traffic Stops & White Privilege
Support Your Team’s Work-Life Balance
How well do you support your team’s work-life balance? Work-life balance issues have become increasingly important in recent years – particularly since the pandemic. They are a big source of employee satisfaction and engagement. Supervisors play a huge role in how well their teams navigate work-life balance issues. Following is a sampling of a survey developed by … [Read more...] about Support Your Team’s Work-Life Balance