Author Archives: worxjones
Embracing Awkward Moments
There’s bound to be a period of floundering whenever people undergo change—it can’t be avoided. So you might as well face the inevitable and learn to be more graceful and accepting of people’s mistakes. In order to make the most of a potentially difficult period, everyone involved needs to be aware of and embrace these […]
Authentice Myths Build Community Spirit
Organizational life is full of historical myths: some are positive and pull people together while others are negative and drive people apart. No matter what you do, myths are going to circulate. The challenge is to support the myths that work to your advantage and expunge the ones that don’t. Leaders can use positive myths […]
Assessing Readiness Facilitates Change
Orchestrating change is not just management’s job. To make change work leaders and followers need an opportunity to voice their concerns through meaningful dialogue and purposeful exploration of what lies ahead. Rather than throw out the old and replace it with the new, there needs to be more open discussion around the change itself and […]
Attracting And Retaining High Achievers
High achievers will check you out before they consider showing up for an interview. Here are seven ways to establish the reputation you’ll need to attract and retain those vital few who get things done. 1. The enduring attraction to a high achiever is the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, to make a measurable […]
Whinning Is A Form Of Protest
Whining is a form of protest that is frequently triggered by unclear directions. Given the demanding nature of the modern organization, where employees are pressured to change quickly and respond accurately, it’s no wonder people are whining. In today’s fast-paced workplace, employees feel confused without a sense of what to do when new ways of […]
Strategies For Managing Change
Watch closely next time a change is announced and you’ll notice that people react in three different ways. The proactive view change as an opportunity to try new things and make improvements. They value innovation and respond positively to difficult situations, collective concerns, and personal challenges. The reactive immediately start working to block the change […]
What’s Wrong With Being Right
The chaos that ensues from less than full participation in the problem-solving process provides an opportunity for people with dominant personalities to impose solutions that may not be right. Unfortunately, coworkers often accept an idea that seems right simply because it came from someone who sounds right. Things often go wrong when those engaged in […]
Management By Metaphor
A metaphor is like a story or a fable, in that it doesn’t have to be factually accurate, just descriptive. Unlike clichés or sarcasm, which only convey meaning to those “in the know,” a metaphor carries meaning for all who share in it. It’s much easier for people to accept a metaphor because they don’t […]
Shining Light On The Shadow Competition
In a dysfunctional workplace there’s always a shadow competition going on between the high achievers and the low performers. The term “shadow” is used because management is usually in the dark when it happens. Fortunately there are several observable behaviors that will indicate when and why the shadow competition is taking place. For example, dysfunctional […]
Dead Wood Floats
The greater the level of dysfunction the more complaints you’ll hear from leaders and followers about each other’s shortcomings. The sad truth is that neither side understands the other because they both use disparaging terms that spawn misunderstandings, miscommunications, and mistrust. Unfortunately, after experiencing an adversarial relationship for so long, the most troublesome people have […]
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