Communication

The Career Development Gap – Why Employees Think There’s No Growth Opportunity

March 30, 2017

When it comes to advancing their careers, employees aren’t feeling the love. That’s a key finding from a recent white paper produced by TINYPulse, a firm that specializes in gathering data on employee engagement and satisfaction. Only 26% of employees surveyed felt they had adequate opportunities for career growth. The managers of these same employees […]

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Improve Your Decision Making By Doing These Three Things

February 20, 2017

Strappy heels or comfy flats? Ivy League or state college? At first glance, one choice is relatively simple, the other more fraught with complex decision-making. Look more closely, and you’ll see that sometimes even the “easy” choices are difficult. If you’ve ever struggled with what seems an obvious choice — say, “fruit cup or chocolate […]

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6 Phrases to Get a Derailed Conversation Back on Track

February 13, 2017

My mother always said that the true test of marriage was if a couple could successfully hang wallpaper together. Mr. People Equation and I have that handled. No problem. But engaging in a task that requires me to follow Mr. People Equation’s directions, such as moving furniture or positioning a picture on a wall for […]

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Three Sentences that Cost Your Business Time, Money, and Grief

January 30, 2017

“You can’t change horses in mid-stream.” “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” “This time is different.” How many times have you heard these (or similar) sayings tossed out at the conference table when you’re making an important business decision? These sentences are short-hand for cautionary tales when it comes to decision-making.  Rather […]

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Why Silence at Work is a Good Thing—For Introverts and Extroverts Alike

October 17, 2016

I am the offspring of two very different personality types: a gregarious extrovert and a studious introvert. My youth was shaped by my mother’s extroverted style. She had a positive, upbeat energy and effortless charm in social situations. From her, I learned how to thrive outside the safety of my home. But in my heart […]

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Are Unspoken Issues Creating Mischief on Your Team?

September 29, 2016

When the results of Google’s research on team effectiveness (called “Project Aristotle”) were revealed earlier this year, the conclusion was surprising: the best teams have just one thing in common. Factors such as clear goal-setting and team member dependability are certainly important, but they’re not what definitively sets great teams apart from their average counterparts. […]

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Avoid Snappy Comebacks with Snarky People

July 12, 2016

Someone Googled “come back for want some cheese with that whine” and Google returned my post Want Some Cheese with That Whine? The person viewing the search was most likely disappointed, as the post was about how Human Resources deal with whiny employees.  However, it does raise an interesting question about workplace communication:  what would […]

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Why New Managers Must Excel at Setting Goals

March 21, 2016

Goal-setting in the workplace is key to getting things done. Countless studies on human motivation and performance bear this out. Yet it’s a fact that’s often lost on first-time managers. And even if they understand the importance of setting goals for team members, new leaders miss the nuances of this important management skill. I turned to […]

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New at Making Presentations? Check out these Tips from the Pros

March 14, 2016

You’ve been asked to make a presentation at a meeting and it’s not something you do every day. If you’re feeling nervous, it’s understandable. Standing up in front of a group of people can be intimidating. You feel judged. It’s especially nerve-wracking if there are people in the audience you want to impress. It’s scary; […]

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7 Things to Say When You Catch Someone Doing Something (Nearly) Right

March 7, 2016

Last week, I had the privilege of interviewing best-selling author and speaker Ken Blanchard. Last year Blanchard and co-author Spencer Johnson issued a revised version of their management classic The One Minute Manager. Titled The New One Minute Manager, the parable was tweaked to reflect the realities of today’s workplace. When we talked, I asked […]

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