Communication

Sound Bites: September ’20

September 16, 2020
Are you too quick to offer help to employees who come to you with problems? … How does it strike you when someone says “What?” right after you’ve said something? … Pre-speech calisthenics … Hand-draw your proposals

Any suggestions for our empty suggestion box?

September 10, 2020
Q: We put up an employee suggestion box, and month after month, despite the fact that we know there’s a lot on employees’ minds, it’s usually empty. What do you think is going on here?

Meanwhile, back at the office…

September 10, 2020
Q: For the most part, our employees are back in the workplace at least a few days a week. However, some who are parents say they can’t return at all. I don’t mind, but it’s obvious this is causing resentment from the ones who show up. Morale is sinking. What can I say?

Before rescuing a supervisor, do this

September 10, 2020
When one of your supervisors complains about an employee who reports to him or her, you must decide, “Should I step in?” Weigh these issues in deciding.

Uh-oh! There goes my mic

September 10, 2020
Pleasing an audience is tough enough, but sometimes it seems that the inanimate world is after you, too—microphones and projectors in particular. When these necessary but irritating items break down, here are some ways to bail yourself out.

What you must know about performance

September 10, 2020
You’re not managing effectively if you’re not tracking each employee’s performance. Every week, spend some one-on-one time discussing these questions.

Promoting an employee? Look for 3 basic qualifications

September 10, 2020
Imagine that you have an opening for a supervisor in your group, and you’d like to promote someone from the ranks of your employees to the position. Several of your employees seem qualified, but none of them has a track record as a manager. What should you look for in a supervisor candidate?

Take staff above the status quo

August 13, 2020
Teach your employees how to excel, not just how to maintain the status quo. Raise their sights by taking these steps:.

How to set up subcommitees

July 9, 2020
Heading a committee or leading a project team is quite a job to begin with. When the group’s work gets heavy or complicated enough that you have to appoint subcommittees to handle specific areas or tasks, your job can become even tougher. These four tactics should help.

Lights … camera … awkwardness

July 9, 2020
Q: Our staff has been given a project to record dozens of short first-person presentations on video. We’ve found that a few folks are depressingly wooden, formal, and uneasy on camera. Is there a simple way to snap them out of their stage awkwardness?