One of the most important responsibilities of a manager is to give your team “growth assignments.” A “growth assignment” is typically thought of as an opportunity for someone to take on a project or responsibility that they have not done before. They need to learn new information and possibly develop new skills along the way. One of the most difficult challenges for a … [Read more...] about Improving Your Team’s Performance
teamwork
Dealing with Your Difficult Boss
If you work long enough, you will have to deal with a difficult boss at some point. Some people say “Wait them out until they get promoted or fired,” but that strategy does not always work. Here is a summary of some good ideas based on a blog by MaryAnn Kerr. I don’t need these now, but I will remember them for the future! 1. Don’t Take it Personally! A difficult boss … [Read more...] about Dealing with Your Difficult Boss
Handling Your Staff’s Complaints
Not all staff complaints are created equal. Done productively, complaints can actually provide valuable feedback and lead to improvements in operations. Sometimes a complaint is simply a way for people to vent. If this is over and done with once the venting is complete – then it can be fine. If there is more to it, then it needs to be redirected into a more productive … [Read more...] about Handling Your Staff’s Complaints
Assess Your Team
How can you improve your team’s performance? Recently, I did a training workshop for staff of the Cherokee Nation on Teamwork. Many of their questions centered around this question, and I suggested: “You might think about starting with an assessment.” You can keep it simple and take fifteen minutes at the end of your next staff or Board meeting to ask: *What’s are … [Read more...] about Assess Your Team
Boost Your Team Creativity
Leaders continually strive for more creativity and innovation from their teams. The ever-changing environment calls upon us to strive for continuous improvement. One of my favorite authors, Adam Grant, wrote an excellent book on creativity called Originals. You can check out my blog on his book here. As far as creativity among teams goes, a recent article in Harvard … [Read more...] about Boost Your Team Creativity