No matter how positive a spin you try to put on it, change is scary because it spawns ambiguity, inconsistency, and uncertainty, all of which raise the level of dysfunction. During periods of transition, management frequently gets blamed for failing to provide adequate, timely, helpful, and accurate information. However, when challenged, employees admit that even […]

So, what’s all the fuss over vision statements? Is it a big deal and should you care? To gain a personal perspective, think about your workplace and complete this statement: This organization is being managed as if its main purpose is to ——–.  If your response came quickly, can be explained easily and fills you […]

Your mother was right about first impressions being important, but they’re not always the ones you want to rely upon when it comes to building a working relationship. This is particularly true if you think the other person is an idiot based upon what you’ve heard from others. You really don’t get a clear sense […]

Working alone can be very stressful which is why most people need support while they’re acquiring new skills or taking in new information. Several things can go wrong if people don’t learn to support each through the process of learning—here are just a few samples of what can happen. Learning objectives The chaos that ensues […]

Generally, a productive work team should devote most of its time thinking about what lies ahead. Spending too much time on the past is distracting unless the results can be used to positively impact what happens in the future. Unfortunately, the past is well known and therefore much easier to recount and discuss. The future […]

Followers form a mental image of what their leader expects of them based on what they see, hear, or feel. For these reasons it is important to correct misinformation by putting your vision out there so that those who look to your for direction can ‘see’ what you mean and where you’re going. Whoever said, […]

Employees not only winch at the mention of change, they also cling to the past with fierce determination. Who can blame them? Given the way a record number of corporate chieftains have mismanaged so many companies into oblivion, they’ve got reason to be nervous about change. Change resistance is trigged when the boss returns from […]

Functional employees can figure out who the leaders are and determine for themselves how best to work with them. Dysfunctional employees don’t fully understand their own actions, so don’t expect them to give much constructive thought to those of the leader. As you try to influence the behavior of the poorest performers, remember that you […]

The greatest political lesson learned from building coalitions and working collaboratively is that solving problems on a community basis has a greater chance of succeeding for these reasons: First, local problems have already spread well beyond the jurisdiction of local leaders and government officials thereby limiting their restorative powers. Second, health and human services can […]