Turnover, voluntary or forced, is part of the workplace cycle. As in nature, some changes take place a leaf at a time while in other instances a hurricane performs the serious pruning. This article addresses some things you should consider when an employee enters your office and says, “I quit!”; [Read more…]

The word civility is surely not new to the language, yet it is not a term you hear spoken every day. It took a “shellacking,” a tea party, and a deadly shooting for a few people to step back and ask “is this really the way ‘we’ want to treat one another?” Of course, most of us, myself included, are quick to blame others before we monitor our own boorishness, but there is something that rings true, at this time, in this world, which says maybe there is a lesson to be learned. [Read more…]

About eight years into my first career (as many of you know I’ve had a few), I ranked high enough to have access to files. As any good snooping executive would do, I looked at my folder. To my surprise there was almost nothing in it. Okay, yes, there was the usual tax forms, my original applications, and some outdated references but what was obviously not present was [Read more…]

In modern behavioral terms, “introvert” is used to describe individuals who are most comfortable in the inner life of the mind, come across as more reserved, and are less likely to seek numerous or large interactions.

They represent approximately half of the population. In the workplace their presence is less obvious and misunderstood, though their ability to actively listen at a very deep level makes them major idea contributors. There’s risk in confusing their self-containment with a lack of ambition. [Read more…]

As an executive coach I occasionally come upon a coaching client or colleague who claims to want “help and advice” but no matter what I say or do, there is a litany of reasons why it “won’t work,” “costs too much,” they’ve “already tried it,” and/or a million other hurdles and obstacles they have carefully constructed or imagined. These are the people who resist help. They are some of the most frustrating people to deal with, especially to those of us who get gratification in assisting others. [Read more…]

No one likes having the difficult conversation whether it is in his or her personal life or at work. Unfortunately they often are essential.

What makes the interaction scary is the unpredictability of the response and reaction of the receiver as well as your issues about the topic at hand. [Read more…]

You’re trying to change another‘s behavior primarily because it’s driving you crazy and secondarily it might actually help him or her function better in the world, or at least at work. Our natural inclination is to point out the maladaptation, probably a number of times, potentially nagging or getting angry. Of course all of these attempts are immediate or long-term failures inciting nothing more than frustration and possibly resentment in both parties. What’s an alternative? [Read more…]

Constructive conflict is an essential part of any team, group, or partnership dynamic. If people do not disagree or come to the table with a variety of perspectives and their unique set of values, battles would eschew, new ideas would not flourish, and creativity would be stifled. [Read more…]