Management Practices

Once, Sears was the whole world

June 13, 2019
While the Amazon model is unique and modern, there have certainly been other companies that have strived to be all things to all people. In 1908, that company was Sears.

Don’t worry about motivation; hire self-motivated people instead

April 22, 2019
There’s a philosophy out there that you can motivate almost anyone to do their job. It implies we can motivate someone, as well as take away their motivation. Although this viewpoint is typically well-intended, it is counterproductive to greater success.

Why there are no ‘useless’ meetings

February 14, 2019
Let’s just wait one second here before we start our daily bashing of supposedly time-wasting meetings, shall we? Consider these advantages of even the ones that feel so very sloggy and pointless.

5 secrets to making a great brand

December 13, 2018
Asked to tweet their best ideas for making a great brand great, business leaders and creative types came back with these.

Sound Bites: December ’18

December 1, 2018
Whether in person or remotely, get all meeting attendees on the same page … How your receptionist can off insight in a group interview … Log off on the weekend … When to never apologize … Icebreaker: 10 things in common … How upper and lower case letters got their names

Hold meetings people won’t hate

November 29, 2018
Meetings don’t need to be a waste of time. Use these tips.

Lead … with your wallet?

November 8, 2018
What if you set 2% of your earnings aside to create a personal “leadership budget”?

Benign dictatorship? It’s a gamble

October 21, 2018
Q. I find that my people respond powerfully to assertive, one-sided authority. But is this model dead? Am I a dinosaur?

Throw away your interview questions and think ‘I versus E’

October 21, 2018
What can’t job seekers fake in an interview? The answer is attitude, a person’s tendency or way of reacting to obstacles. It’s the #1 predictor of future job performance.

When it’s okay to be a little paranoid

October 11, 2018
Q. In a society where things we did and said twenty years ago can be so easily retrieved and held against us, I’m nervous seeing my name attached to so many work documents I never actually see, emails from the company, etc. Am I being needlessly paranoid?