Theft by employees is roughly a $16 billion problem in US companies. Employees steal through fraud, cheating the accounting department, or stuffing cash or product into their pockets. In response, businesses buy security cameras and motion detectors and hire security guards. They develop tracking procedures and reporting systems, and have their attorneys compose theft policies. They […]
Imagine you have a skill so rare and so valuable that companies will pay tremendous amounts of money for access to your talent. They’ll go to great lengths to win you over because your extraordinary abilities can bring riches to your company, accolades to your boss, and thrills to your shareholders.
Because they–and you—believe you have […]
We all know managers have a tremendous impact on the productivity and engagement of their teams. And we know that not everyone can manage people: Gallup says only 10% of people are natural managers and another 20% are coachable.
Upgrading the quality of your existing managers can seem like an arduous task, but one thing you can […]
Do you know what insubordination is? Do you think your managers do?
It’s an ugly word, isn’t it? Such hierarchical language, hinting at dominance and submission. It all seems so out of place for today’s workforce. “You are my subordinate, I am your superior. You must act submissively, or I shall charge you with insubordination.”
Except that’s […]
Every company has outstanding managers. These are the people who lead happy, productive teams, who easily motivate others and inspire innovation. They wear leadership like a comfortable sweater.
If you take a moment, you can probably name a few of these excellent managers in your organization.
And that’s the problem. There are only a few, and they […]
When an employee questions one of your decisions, how does it make you feel? Is your first thought, “Who do they think they are?” Are you tempted to say, “That’s above your pay grade?”
Or are you happy to take a few moments and explain why you made the call you did?
Your answer reveals a lot […]
In Silicon Valley, people see failure as a necessary part of innovation. If you don’t fail, you’re not taking the risks that can lead to a big breakthrough. You’re not risking enough little things to come up with the next big thing.
This is true not only in Silicon Valley, but across the country and across […]
A lot of managers, particularly new ones, make a fundamental mistake. They do the work their teams should do rather than their own job.
Maybe your staff is down a person, and you figure it’s better to pitch in than to stress everyone out. Or maybe the workload is unexpectedly heavy, so you lend a hand […]
We love our rules, don’t we? They’re important to us because we feel that by regulating the behavior of others, we are safer, healthier and richer. After all, isn’t civilization simply a system of rules and consequences?
So, we apply the same thinking to the workplace. There are rules about what time to show up, how […]
Why is it so great to be a manager? Because finally, after all those years of butt-kissing, pride swallowing, teeth clenching agony, it’s your turn on top. You’re the boss now. What you say goes.
It’s time for people to kiss your butt and fear your wrath. And it’s time for you to get your hands […]
