Best-Practices Leadership

Take these 5 steps to opportunity

December 9, 2020
To help your group identify opportunities for innovations, improvements, or solutions to problems, try a five-step question sequence suggested by training consultant Mark Tager.

Keep that startup feeling alive

December 9, 2020
Nothing beats the excitement of a startup, but maintaining the momentum over the long haul can be difficult. Here are some tips for keeping the startup atmosphere alive in your workplace.

Plan for a new manager’s role

November 11, 2020
The creation of a new management post is a positive sign—your organization is growing and hiring more people. So you need to design the position with care in order to sustain your progress.

Investigate before you innovate

November 11, 2020
If you want your frontline employees to innovate, fine—but don’t just issue orders. Instead, ask a few questions to determine how well your employees are prepared for innovation so you’ll know what else you have to do. Begin with these questions.

Has ‘TMZ’ shown us the future of business?

October 7, 2020
Watch for bold companies to offer ever more vivid windows on their day-to-day operations. What began years ago with a CEO surprising everyone by taking the stage in sneakers and a turtleneck may transform into a competition among organizations to see who can show the public the most candid, unvarnished aspects of how they live and breathe.

Make diversity and inclusion permanent

September 10, 2020
A commitment to normalizing and driving equality and racial justice is now a corporate imperative, offering a clear opportunity to be introspective and listen to the challenges of Black employees in the workforce and beyond. It is a positive sign. But will it drive lasting change?

Never shut off the idea spigot

August 13, 2020
Q: I have a loyal employee who does a good job with every task that is assigned to him. One problem: Every original idea he’s ever suggested is absolutely terrible and he has not even a smidgen of clever, original thinking. Yet it would be quite awkward to actively disinvite him from brainstorming meetings or cut him from group projects. What to do?

Save good ideas from oblivion

August 13, 2020
In a fast-paced meeting or discussion, people can get so caught up in presenting ideas that some valid thoughts, responses, and additions get pushed aside too soon. Don’t let them get lost.

Solutions to 3 common project problems

August 13, 2020
Even the best planned projects can run into problems over time, no matter how hard you try to anticipate and prevent them. Be on the lookout for these common issues that can crop up as a project goes on and on.

Are your ‘best practices’ just that?

July 9, 2020
Experts may recommend adopting best practices and performance benchmarks to improve your group’s performance. However, as management consultant Michael McLaughlin cautions, don’t import ready-made solutions until you’re sure they’ll work in your situation. Test each practice four ways.