People Management

Before rejecting an idea, ask 2 questions

January 13, 2021
Let’s say an employee presents an interesting idea for changing a departmental procedure, but your first impression is that it won’t work. Hold off slamming the door on the idea. Instead, take a few minutes or schedule some time later to investigate the idea with its originator—you may end up with an idea you can use.

Teach new supervisors to navigate these tricky danger zones

January 13, 2021
When you have new supervisors to train, you need to educate them on the possible legal pitfalls to avoid. To help them—and your organization—avoid a legal quagmire, guide them through these eight common danger zones.

Make sure messages are understood

January 13, 2021
Communication in the workplace is a two-way street. Both you and your employees have important responsibilities when communicating with each other, whether you’re talking one on one, exchanging emails, or leaving and responding to voicemail messages. Here’s where your duties lie.

Make people feel important

January 13, 2021
You can’t give every high performer a raise or a promotion, but as a leader you want to help them feel valued in your organization. What to do?

Keep everyone informed: 3 tips

January 13, 2021
Communication can be the key to your organization’s growth, but you have to manage it carefully. Here are three quick suggestions for helping information flow smoothly.

The top traits of budding leaders

January 13, 2021
Finding future leaders for your organization is a crucial task if you want to grow and thrive. Don’t just look for technical skills. Keep your eyes open for these traits of successful leaders.

No bonuses are ruffling feathers

December 9, 2020
Q: In past years we were pretty generous with handing out bonuses to all employees. But this year, we told them our finances couldn’t support it. They are noticeably downtrodden over this. What can I do or say now?

Don’t ask for ideas and then ignore them

November 25, 2020
Researchers report that as many as seven out of 10 employees feel management asks for their suggestions but doesn’t act on them. Keep your employees from becoming disillusioned by remembering these rules of the workplace.

Say ‘No’ without being negative

November 13, 2020
Even if you have to deny a request or can’t help someone, you want people to know they can depend on you for support and assistance. Here’s how to say “No” without alienating people.

Does she deserve a raise?

November 11, 2020
Q: I’ve been informed by some insiders that my administrative assistant is not happy with her salary. She has not approached me, but since I know what her tasks are and how she performs them, as well as what the going rate is for an admin in our market, she is compensated fairly. What can I tell her if she hits me up for a raise?