There was an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer not too long ago written by the owner of a successful toy manufacturing company. Early in the article, he described the humble beginnings of the company he started in the basement of his parents’ house. I was reminded right away that Apple Computer started in the garage […]
creativity, out of office
A friend posted recently on twitter that she and her husband text from room to room so they don’t wake up their six-month old baby. In some companies, people who work in adjacent offices send texts or e-mail instead of getting up and walking next door or even picking up the phone. While texting and […]
Communication, face to face, leadership communication
I don’t know if you’re one of those people who, when you see something in your everyday environment like a product label or bill board or anything, might take that as a personal message and find some meaning in it. I am one of those people. I don’t know what that says about me. And […]
Listening, Messages, observant
Whether your company has two employees or two thousand, you’ve probably observed that great results often come from highly functioning teams. And you’ve also probably recognized that aside from the technical skills that team members each bring to the table, each person’s personality style and “work style” – their preferred ways of relating to others, […]
Leadership Development, Team, Teamwork
One of the most important things I do is writing regular notes about major projects, my practice, my personal life, and more. Journaling – and I write mine longhand and using a manual typewriter – is something I’ve been doing since childhood. And it’s not the act of going back through them that I find […]
Journal, Leadership Development, Writing
If your sales director walked into your office right now and resigned which would you have: a heart attack OR a plan? Employee turnover is a fact of business life, yet many leaders find themselves blindsided when key employees announce that they’re leaving. Whether you have two employees or two thousand, creating a succession plan […]
Employee Turnover, Planning, Succession, Turnover
One of the keys to keeping turnover low is creating and maintaining an environment where your employees love (or at least like) to come to work every day. And the best way to find out how much they like working for you is to ask them. But many managers are afraid to solicit feedback more […]
constructive feedback, Employee Turnover, Feedback
Professional success in almost any field requires drive, determination and boundless energy. But when people focus solely on their careers, they may reach a point where they begin to ask questions like, “If things are going so well professionally, why don’t I feel happier?” Or “If I have so much more money, why can’t I […]
Personal Development, Stress, stress management
Firing an employee is one of the most difficult tasks that leaders face. And the problems created by terminations are substantial, from high turnover costs and lengthy vacancies to lawsuits filed by disgruntled ex-employees and even violent retaliation for being fired. Although violence is a rare and extreme reaction, the fact that it occurs at […]
firing, Preparation, Termination
