When you listen well you build trust and respect. Most people think they are good listeners, yet most people say others are not good listeners. When managers get feedback on their communication skills it is often about needing to be better listeners. The problem is that good listening is not always a skill offered in […]
I often travel to the US, and was interested to receive an email from the chief executive of United Airlines, Oscar Munoz. His email profusely apologised for the way armed officers forcibly dragged a passenger off one of his company’s planes in Chicago recently. The share price of United Airlines reportedly dropped by $1.4 billion after the […]
Corporate and government appetite for collaboration is definitely growing, albeit unevenly. How many times have you come up with an idea only for someone higher than you to either shoot it down or claim the credit? There’s an excellent New Yorker cartoon with an executive telling the employee, “I know it was your idea but it was my […]
Problems are life’s ingenious habit of tossing a curly one in our path, just when things are going smoothly or when they couldn’t be worse. In business, people often adopt a very black and white approach to solving problems; too often, business rewards those who appear to “get things done” and fail to recognise that […]
Too many teams suffer from project management tension. Some project managers (PMs) are absolute experts in creating workplace hell and the awful thing is, they were designated to be in charge when they couldn’t organise a kindergarten picnic. Seven undesirable project manager characteristics? The list of what makes a PM bad is almost endless. Generally s/he […]
We all know someone who just never manages to be somewhere or do something on time. Often it is managers and the most senior leaders and it costs companies a lot. Is it intentional? Is it inconsiderate and rude? Is it a display of power or rebelliousness? Many habitually blame others for their lateness—it’s the […]
The key to less staff turnover and a higher incidence of employee engagement boils down to recruiting well, giving employees ample reason to enjoy what they do and with whom, and above all, presenting them with incentives, challenges and a positive culture that act as “carrots” to stay. Loyalty However, does retention equate to company […]
Are you aware that at any given time, 55% of employees are looking for other jobs? What’s more, the average company annually loses 20% – 50% of its employees, according to HighGround. What a poor reflection on staff retention this demonstrates, despite the very real life and money insecurities many people are experiencing out there. Many recruitment […]
Sometimes we forget how much our attitude and communication style impacts those around us, and ultimately impacts our career opportunities. Everyone needs to communicate assertively, not aggressively. Respectful, assertive behaviours at work are essential for cohesive teams. Managers must lead the way by creating a positive workplace culture with assertive but respectful communication. We all […]
