Communication

Is MBWA now DOA?

August 9, 2018
Q. I used to hear a lot about “management by walking around,” but not so much anymore. Has it become passe?

‘You’re choosing sheet cake over us?’

August 9, 2018
Q. I just had a top person tell me he won’t be attending an absolutely vital meeting next month because he’d promised to be there for his kid’s birthday. When I pushed him a little, he said it was a thing he “really needed to do.” Do I respect this guy totally or think of him as lacking in what it takes to bring him up to the higher levels?

You cannot beat this motivational line

August 9, 2018
People really do know it when a leader shows up. Such was the case for Capt. Benjamin Tupper of the Army National Guard, who found himself surrounded by the Taliban in Afghanistan, in a firefight and just about at the end of his rope.

The limits of what money can buy

August 9, 2018
Sure, you can initially attract people with the promise of financial reward. But to retain and motivate the best people, you must tap into how they feel about the work itself.

The dangers of getting locked in

August 9, 2018
Deals loading many benefits into the future may get very wispy indeed as that future arrives.

The case for backing down

August 9, 2018
Q. I have pushed pretty hard in salary negotiations for a job with a new company. In my last discussion with the HR person, he presented some convincing evidence suggesting that the high figure I tried to justify is off the mark. Given how hard I pushed for the higher salary, I am hesitant to back down at this point. Wouldn’t doing so make me look bad?

Avoiding the quiet trap of ‘appreciation depletion’

August 3, 2018
When we watch a puppy push its head forward eagerly at the promise of being scratched by a caring hand, guess what? We’re watching ourselves. Walking around in a $400 suit doesn’t make us want that gentle head scratch any less.

5 tips to memorize a speech

July 25, 2018
If you aren’t comfortable winging your next speech or presentation, follow these tips to memorize it—and ensure it still seems natural.

Rivet your focus for best results

July 12, 2018
The best strategic thinkers attribute their success to one word: focus. They rivet their attention on their highest priorities—and sweep away less important matters.

Trust employees to take charge

July 12, 2018
In 1968, William Cecil wanted to upgrade the North Carolina estate that he inherited from his grandfather. Cecil chose the Biltmore’s head carpenter, Wexler Ogle Plemmons, for the coveted job. Then he challenged him to think big.