Accountability is not always fun nor easy
Enforcing a rule that someone doesn’t agree with or like can be difficult, especially if you are anticipating resistance. You dread having to deal with those cranky comments and grumblings from staff and so it’s tempting to dodge it all together. When that happens, you’re letting your short-term interests (avoiding the conflict and trying to make everyone […]
Finding beauty in the beast
Yesterday when I returned home and stepped out of my car, I nearly flattened this baby snake with my feet before I realized he was there. Given his small size, measuring no more than six inches, he didn’t scare me, but he did startle me. Snakes generally terrorize me; I realize it’s not a very rationale reaction. This […]
Who Moved My Acorns?
When weeding a few days ago, I pulled up more than I bargained for. I noticed a tight grouping of healthy leaves off to the side of the garden; they were attractive but obviously not one of our planted perennials. I wrapped my hands around the stems and tugged back and forth a few times, then one final pull […]
An easy, simple, and effective way to motivate employees
There is an easy, simple, and effective way to motivate employees. It works like a charm, and better yet, the real benefits are lasting and deep. Here’s the tip: Have employees do what they love and then encourage them to do it more. Maybe that sounds just too crazy. I imagine you reading this and thinking […]
The Grass is (Not) Always Greener on the Other Side
It’s human nature to want something that we don’t have. I see it in workplaces all the time. It shows up in a multitude of ways. It’s evident when an employee wishes they had a job with more pay, better hours, or a more understanding boss. They may hear lofty stories of good times from […]
The secret to how to trash your bad habits
Bad habits. We all have them. Nobody wants a bad habit. Even fun ones, like eating a big dish of ice cream, are enjoyable in the moment, but not beneficial in the long-run. That’s why we call it a bad habit: it’s an event that happens repeatedly, over a long period of time, and impacts […]
Which leadership trait do you use most: Control or Wisdom?
Being an effective leader means having control and being in control. That’s what a lot of people think, anyhow. It’s certainly true that there are times when a leader has to take the helm and move things forward. It is especially critical for a leader to take control during difficult or contentious situations. Chaos and […]
These cool rodents exposed me to a new kind of rat race
In today’s business world, where being busy is a badge of honor, it’s easy to get caught up in the corporate rat race. Sometimes the pressure comes from a demanding organizational culture, sometimes we impose unrealistic expectations upon ourselves to do more, work harder. We feel compelled to achieve more than is humanly possible and feel […]
April Fool’s Day can be everyday in the workplace, if you do it right
Today is April Fool’s Day, a time for pranksters to have some fun and have an excuse to justify it. These impromptu games might be acceptable today, but they are characteristic of the same kind of irritants that managers unknowingly create for employees on any given workday. Some employees feel invigorated by spontaneous announcements, but […]
Icing your concerns can be a good stress management method
When faced with a big problem, we can do one of two things: plunge ahead to fix it or ignore it. Many times, it’s the right thing to immediately jump in and take care of an issue, most especially when our safety and security are at risk. But it’s rare that any situation will benefit from ignoring […]
