Employees are expected to keep current by learning on the job. In order to acquire and practice new skills, these folks not only need support and encouragement from management, but from their peers as well. The superior-subordinate relationship is the most obvious one to be concerned about. But what isn’t so obvious, and can sometimes […]

We tend to think of commercial enterprises as the only organizations that need to be making a profit. In reality profit is a measure of performance and therefore has a much bigger social context. To a nonprofit corporation or public funded charity, profit should be a gauge of whether or not they achieved what we […]

The story in the previous Blog shows how one employee was welcomed into a company. Amy is a high achiever who was used to having her efforts recognized and rewarded. She approached her new job with great expectations for herself as well as her employer.  Because of the way she was treated during the first […]

The whole point behind a corporation is to create a place where individuals can achieve collectively what they cannot accomplish by working alone. And, in a good and positive environment, where everyone is treated as a corporate citizen, managers and employees can do great things together. But this is not what usually happens—especially during the […]

More and more managers are abdicating the responsibility for resolving behaviorally related issues involving hard-to-handle subordinates. Opting instead to pass these troublemakers along to the human resource department.  Perhaps the responsibility for behavioral management in your workplace has not yet been determined. If that’s so, and you decide to take on this responsibility yourself, here […]

It is sometimes easier for people to accept a moralizing story than a straightforward analysis because they don’t have to figure out the underlying lesson. For example, I like to use nautical terminology when I’m trying to teach people about organizational change. I sometimes describe a motorboat moving at high speed into uncharted waters to […]

What is truly puzzling in this age of enlightenment is the increasing number of people who are still not able to make any connection between the results of their efforts and their company’s future. When their employer gets smacked in the face with a sudden market shift and the profit picture starts to dim, these […]

As economic and social conditions change, the pressure to be flexible and responsive will continue to mount. People in leadership roles will be expected to foresee what’s ahead and to make on-the-job adjustments without losing momentum.  The future vitality of your organization will depend on its ability to change with minimum upheaval. Selecting the right […]

Without a plan for your life, it is easy to lose your sense of purpose. You become confused about the highest and best use of your talents which leaves you vulnerable to rejection. The primary reason for having a plan and making it known to those within your sphere of influence is to establish a […]

When conflict lingers unabated, it doesn’t take long before resentment and distrust set in. As a result, there is little appreciation for the creative aspects of blending contrasting viewpoints. A conflict-resolution process that embraces the disparities between individuals can uncover buried issues, clarify misunderstandings, restore confidence, and minimize rejection. Acting as though conflict doesn’t exist […]