When CEO Tony Hsieh sent out an all-company email informing his Zappos team that they were moving completely to the Holacracy organizational structure of self-management, the story was huge. Zappos has long been the darling of the media for its forward-thinking workplace policies, so it’s no surprise that the media (and yes, we bloggers too)…
Don’t Let Those “Best of” Lists Create Employer Envy
Have you ever worked for a company that was listed as “best of?” You know, “Best of XYZ Industry” or “Top 100 Companies to Work for” and so on. No? Well then you might have wondered: just how cool is it to work at one of those companies? Yet another “best of” list came out…
Are Loose Cannons Driving Down Your Employee Engagement Scores?
Have you ever worked with a “loose cannon”? This high-energy person moves ahead too quickly without checking facts. Loose cannons mean well, but their unpredictability causes collateral damage. Typically, loose cannon employees are seen as a liability—and management is often looking for ways to help them “find new employment opportunities.” Frankly, I’ve not had a lot…
Are You Listening to Yourself? A #soulsparks Story
It happened while I was cleaning up the dinner dishes. While I stood at my kitchen sink, scrubbing pans, the thought formed, completely unbidden: I want to be a writer. It was a June night; my family was outside enjoying one of the first warm days of our soon-to-be Michigan summer. And I was inside,…
3 Insights into Workplace Politics
Guest Post by Bonnie Marcus, author of The Politics of Promotion. Politics is all about relationships, and it’s critical to build and nurture relationships with people who can positively impact your career. Be aware that politics rules and there are constant changes in the workplace dynamics that can trip you up if you aren’t aware…