Workplace Dynamics

The Seven Moods of Employee Engagement

September 12, 2011

On this morning’s walk I saw a typical sight: kids waiting at a school bus stop. There were six elementary-aged kids, all lined up, hoods drawn up around their heads to ward off the chill in the Michigan air. Their body language telegraphed various attitudes: duty, sleepiness, and watchfulness. Six kids waiting for their day [...]

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The Way We Work: Creating a More Flexible Life

September 6, 2011

Part Three of a Three-Part Series The conclusion of this series on integrating our work and personal lives focuses on the changing nature of work—when we work, how we work, and how others around us deal with it. Part One of the series was What is Work Life Integration? and Part Two was Work Team [...]

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Work Team Leaders- A Key Ingredient for Successful Employee-Friendly Practices

August 30, 2011

Part Two of a Three-Part Series In this second installment of a discussion with Tracy Brower, Director of Performance Environments for Herman Miller, we explore a key factor that determines the probability of success for a company’s work/life integration policies. The first article in this series was in What is Work/Life Integration?.      JM: [...]

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What is Work/Life Integration?

August 23, 2011

Part One of a Three-Part Series   I attended a Workforce Issues panel discussion during which panelist Tracy Brower discussed forces shaping work/life integration. Tracy and I first met when we were colleagues in the Learning Development Group at Herman Miller. Tracy is currently the Director of Performance Environments for Herman Miller. In addition to [...]

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5 Tips for Building Your Superhero Power at Work

July 26, 2011

When we were kids, all it took was donning a beach towel cape and running through the neighborhood to make us feel strong and competent. A simple garment addition and voila! We were superheroes.  Then, we grew up and went to work. At your place of employment, you might be less inclined to feel the superhero [...]

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The 3 Myths of Office Politics

July 12, 2011

Whenever I facilitate a presentation or workshop on navigating office politics, I start off with the question, “When you hear the phrase ‘office politics’, what comes to mind?” Typical responses include: Back-stabbing People who are in it for themselves “Run for the hills” Slimy self-promotion Favoritism Does this line up with your thoughts about office [...]

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The Golden Rule of Listening: How to Speak Loud and Clear without Opening Your Mouth

June 24, 2011

  About a month ago, I read an excellent guest post on Great Leadership by Tim Eyre. I liked his writing style so much that I asked if he’d be willing to share some thoughts on The People Equation. He said “yes” and what follows is an insightful observation about the power of listening. Guest [...]

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Is Faulty Wiring Frying Your Gut-Check?

June 10, 2011

Even the most plugged-in leaders get it wrong sometimes. This fact was driven home to me the other day as I listened in on a phone conference led by a regional manager named Pete who manages a group of customer service teams spread across the northern half of the United States. My purpose in joining the [...]

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What Bugs Us At Work

May 6, 2011

I heard a great review on NPR the other day of a book called Annoying: The Science of What Bugs Us. The book covers the science of why things like loud cell phone conversations and fingernails on a chalkboard are universally annoying to us. As I listened, I realized that a big part of my [...]

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Does Your Office Have Food Issues?

April 19, 2011

Where’s your office food hub? Perhaps it’s a co-worker’s jelly bean dispenser, or a candy dish filled with treats at your company reception desk. It may even be an actual table where people drop off treats they bring in from home. Most offices several “go to” areas for people seeking a little socializing and/or noshing. [...]

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