Communication

Shake up the team and its results with sprints

April 13, 2022
The sprint process as it relates to business is just what it sounds like: a burst of intense activity for a short, set amount of time, typically about five days. A team is challenged to zero in on one big goal and move from idea to prototype to customer outreach within that tight window.

Raise the costs of not negotiating

April 13, 2022
Often, a negotiation opponent, or even a happy customer, will become so content with the status quo that they see no need to change anything, and so they won’t trouble themselves with the headache of a difficult discussion. When this happens, point out factors that could suddenly make the status quo less desirable.

When “we” suddenly becomes “I,” you’ll grab their attention

April 13, 2022
When bargaining, you’re probably going to speak in terms of what your company or side can offer, and so you’ll be using a lot of “we” terminology. If things begin to go south, consider the strategic single use of the word “I” instead.

How to avoid the dreaded ‘predictable surprise’

April 13, 2022
When entering negotiations, it’s smart to protect yourself against what Lawrence Susskind calls “predictable surprises.” Here is some advice from his book Good for You, Great for Me.

Effectively negotiate your bills

April 6, 2022
When the term negotiation arises, it’s often in the heady context of business deals, referring to tactics and skill. Well, what makes your personal finances any different? Try a bill negotiation app.

Beware 4 negotiation squeezes

March 25, 2022
When entering negotiations, you have faith you’ll be talked to honestly. But you do have to go in prepared for underhanded tactics. Here are a few of the tackiest old-school ploys negotiators may present.

Illegal harassment vs. legal (but still wrong) bullying

March 17, 2022
Nate’s mistreatment of Will in Season 2 of the hit TV show Ted Lasso is uncomfortable to watch and horrendous management. But is it illegal? The answer is no.

How to compete with rising pay expectations

March 10, 2022
Target announced at the end of February that it was dramatically raising its minimum wage. Other large companies are also raising pay and benefits to compete for available talent. What does this mean for smaller organizations that can’t afford such lofty pay scales and benefits packages?

What exactly is insubordination?

March 9, 2022
When people hear the term “insubordination,” they often envision someone in the military refusing to carry out the orders of a commanding officer. The concept is similar when applied to a work environment

Making the world go around

March 9, 2022
Mike Rose’s book The Mind at Work is an important reminder of the need to value the intellects of all workers in all trades. This excerpt describes how he learned about the world of physical work from the adults in his life, especially his Uncle Frank.