Management Practices

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?

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.

Social justice: yes, get involved

July 9, 2020
Q: At work there’s been a lot of discussion about social justice issues, and several of my employees have said that talking about it is not enough; we should be doing something about them. What actions can and should we take?

Morale is rooted in fun

July 9, 2020
Running a department or business is a serious endeavor. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a sense of humor.

An empathetic leader? Yes; a pushover? No

July 9, 2020
In these difficult times, we look to business leaders to take the helm of their company with confidence and authority. However, now is not the time to rule with an iron fist.

Avoid 3 critical errors when reopening the office

June 30, 2020
In a still-confusing time, you want to get people back to work, and keep them there. But Dan Kaplan,a partner at Foley & Lardner’s Madison, Wisconsin office and a leader on the firm’s Coronavirus Task Force, has some reminders for us of the organizational and legal issues we cannot look past.

Shouldn’t we place more value on our values?

June 10, 2020
Q: We have our company’s core values plastered all over the place, but little by little you can sense that they’re being pushed aside in the name of profit and expediency. This has happened in more than one place I’ve worked. How do I call attention to this without seeming like a complainer or a troublemaker? I can just hear it now: “That’s what you’re bothering us with?”

Lead with and through enthusiasm

February 13, 2020
Are you enthusiastic about your organization, its products or services, and your role as a manager and leader? Just as you set an example in your work, try setting one with your attitude.

5 work ideals that are disappearing

November 20, 2019
The workplace is constantly changing—or should be changing—to adapt to new trends, technology and shifts in business. Jacob Morgan, a keynote speaker, author and futurist who focuses on the workplace, believes that the following old-school workplace ideals are on their way out.

Which meetings are worthwhile? A test

September 26, 2019
Here’s a revolutionary way to determine which meetings are truly worthwhile: Cancel all formal meetings for a month.