Our education system teaches students to compete against each other for recognition and rewards. Having been taught collectively and tested individually throughout their formative years, graduates find the transition from learning to earning difficult because the teaching and testing processes are reversed. First-time job placements enter the workforce valuing only what they can do for […]

Whenever contact is made, communication occurs. Every time you open your mouth, roll your eyes, purse your lips, nod your head, cross your arms, or clear your throat, someone is going to assign meaning to it. Hand gestures, voice tone, and body posture can send a signal that you like or dislike someone or are […]

The Competency Checklist below should make it easier for you to identify which competencies a particular person is missing and be in a position to assist him or her to develop those skills and abilities most needed for the job. You might also find it helpful to put your introspective “hat” on and think about […]

Unlike mentoring or networking, your support system will focus on you as a person, rather than on your job or career. The primary mode of communication between yourself and the “players” in your support system should be one-on-one. At times, the level of interaction can be intense, particularly during periods of doubt and confusion. The […]

The speed of innovation is accelerating and embracing the future is the way to stay competitive, but there is more to it than simply jumping from one short-term fix to another. Followers expect a future-focused strategy to have a marked beginning and a measurable ending and when these factors are not present; they eventually lose […]

Mistrust is the result of leaders and followers who do not bother to confirm their assumptions about a given situation before either or both take action. Here is an example. A production line supervisor needed some routine information from Larry who was working nearby at his station. The supervisor walked over to Larry and said, […]

Managers in today’s complex organizations are discovering that getting staff together to develop a common set of goals is not only difficult, but it is frequently divisive and disruptive to the normal work flow. Their challenge is to meld the individual perceptions and expectations into a unified vision. The primary obstacles keeping employees from coming […]

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1090612 Think about a time when your expectation wasn’t met, and you felt rejected. Say, for example, you applied for a job and were selected for an interview. If the interview went well your expectation was met, and you were pleased with yourself for making a good impression. If it went badly, you probably experienced […]

Doers often disparage workplace relationships because they “don’t know, don’t like, or don’t trust” the people with whom they work. Applying the principles of teamwork when building a task-based relationship objectifies rather than personalizes individual performance. This shift in focus attracts Doers because it is now clear to them what, not who, needs to be […]

Applying the tenets of teamwork outlined in the previous blog and in this part 2 when building a task-based relationship objectifies rather than personalizes individual performance. This shift in focus turns makes you a Doer because it is now clear what, not who, needs to be fixed. MUTUAL RESPECT: Accept and value what others bring to […]