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The value of self-reliance
Advancement - to whatever level one wants - comes through personal effort. We can't rely on others to bring us success. Achieving your dream means determining what you want and then doing what it takes to achieve it. Letting the side down
One of the staff Paul manages doesn't pull his weight, is always coming up with excuses for time off and now clams to have picked up an injury. Something needs to be done – but what? How much personal business at work is reasonable?
The average worker apparently spends approximately two hours each day taking care of personal matters. So why is so much personal business being done at work? And what - if anything - should we do about it? Engaging change: six tips for surviving and thriving
With the economy experiencing a major shakeup, every day presents new challenges and opportunities. How managers adapt to the changing horizon can make the difference between surviving or thriving.
Getting 97 percent of what you need to succeed
However you define success, everyone seems to want it. But most people struggle in the effort - and that begs the question, what is needed to get past the obstacles on the road to success? Positive thinking: does it really get results?
The idea that positive thinking can affect our lives for the better has been gaining momentum over the past 80 years, and even more so recently. So does the concept work? I dare say it does - within reason. Five simple keys to building solid teams
When I ask teams what they would like from their supervisors, the same simple things keep coming up. You might think they're obvious - but if they are, teams wouldn't continually be mentioning them! What are you doing to increase trust?
Without trust, there's no passion or desire for excellence. Employees stop contributing, valuable new ideas are never brought the table and bad ideas are never challenged. An organization suffering from these conditions eventually becomes incapable of correcting its own mistakes. Is your work an obligation or an opportunity?
People tend to see work either as an obligation, overbearing, or an opportunity. And if you want to take the opportunity to rise above the mundane and "make a difference", try thinking like an entrepreneur. Workplace values must be valued – by all
Criticizing people who adhere to a code of ethical, moral behavior seems to occur in the workplace more often than most of us would like to admit. Cutting corners can lead to catastrophe
Cutting corners on the fundamentals to save a few dollars in the short-term may end up costing you big time. It's far wiser to budget for known costs rather than risk unknown costs that could wipe you out. Erratic economy may be a good time to step up
In an unstable economy, taking risks can be seen as foolish. But success occurs only when people chances. And despite what critics you might encounter, now might be a great time to take a risk. Avenues for employee complaints seem to be closed
A prime reason for employee unhappiness is that companies do not adhere to a set of standards. Some are too forgiving of employee misconduct, while others are managed by people who themselves overstep boundaries and could care less about rules. New managers need to learn assertiveness
When you're not experienced, being on the receiving end of a heated conversation can be tough. But verbal challenges can be addressed tactfully and professionally as long as we've thought through a process for how to do it.
It's time to rethink the way you think
Recent discoveries in how the brain functions have resulted in some startling new conclusions about implementing change. In other words, it's time to rethink how we think. Time for a low-carb Lean Six Sigma?
Lean Six Sigma is all very well, but it doesn't take into account intangibles. And ignoring things they can't be measured - like integrity, team spirit, dedication and loyalty - is downright dangerous. The missing link in strategic plans
It is widely acknowledged that effective training programs make it much easier for organisations to achieve their strategic goals. But strategically-aligned training is still missing from most companies. Helping co-workers cope with loss
When people are hit with a tragic loss, don't believe for a moment that they're leaving their personal lives at the door. Debilitating diseases, divorce or the death of a loved-one are among the most stressful events anyone can experience. Big help available for small businesses
You opened your business with less than $35,000 operating capital. You have less than five employees. Some say you are crazy. I say people like you are the backbone of the country. And the good news is that there is plenty of help out there for you. How to kill morale and start an exodus
If you want to know how an apparently competent manager can preside over the destruction of team morale and productivity and the exodus of their best staff, this true story provides some salutary lessons. Turning E-learning into a powerful asset
As someone who strives to create engaging e-learning, I have to admit, I said "no kidding!" when Management-Issues ran a piece entitled "E-learning is a boring distraction". But even though it's often true, it doesn't have to be like this. Focus your team with stories
What's your story? Study just about any inspiring leader and you will find someone who can tell a story that drives home a point – all the way down to a person's core. How to hire, train, and retain great employees
Accurate job descriptions are like stealth secret weapons for hiring, training, and retaining great employees. I guarantee whatever effort you put forth will save you hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars. My end of year list of recommended reads
Whether you're looking for a good book to give as a gift or you want something for your own reading pleasure, it's time once again for my annual "must read" list. Stand your ground with manipulators
Manipulation in the workplace is profoundly damaging to employee commitment. And since nobody likes being manipulated, it pays to become a student of how to stand your ground in the face of manipulators. What are your workplace pet peeves?
No workplace is perfect. And while we can usually perform well around people who have a wide range of idiosyncrasies, some behaviors just get under our skin. The do's and don'ts of hiring a consultant
It's all too easy to get it wrong when hiring a consultant and be left with a bad taste in the mouth. So here are some suggestions that may prove helpful the next time you need to hire outside help. Turn up the quiet
Jet lag. Delays. Bad hotels. Such are the joys of business travel. But believing that if we're not part of the solution we're part of the problem, I'd like to offer up a few stress reducing tips to make travel better for everyone. It's time to give your training a boost
As with any educational endeavor, workplace training is most effective when it engages learners in ways that appeal to them. So if using old, canned presentations have resulted in stale training, perhaps it's time to try a different brand of instruction. Are you a builder or a climber?
Over the years, dozens of types of leaders have been identified. But as someone who believes that simpler is usually better, I've boiled down all those styles to just two basic types: Builders and Climbers. The bottom line is not the bottom line
Corporations have been cutting corners and forsaking moral purpose in the pursuit of bigger profits for years. Yet as we continue to experience unnecessary illness, polution, death, and disease as a result, isn't it time we answered the question, "how much is enough?" Sometimes you need to apologize
When a customer brings a complaint to our attention we have a choice. We can be arrogant and pigheaded, or we can listen carefully - and, if necessary, apologize and make it right. Continuous improvement is more than just jargon
If you're part of management or on an executive team, allow me to say this. Stop making the mistake of ignoring your team's production capability. Production by itself can be propped up only so long. What happens if you get hit by a bus?
When an unexpected event interrupts the flow of your business, the results can be devastating. In fact 40 percent of businesses which experience some form of disaster go out of business within five years. But it doesn't have to be that way. To blog or not to blog, that is the question
For the business person, personal broadcast media such as blogging and podcasting are very attractive: They are both inexpensive and can be targeted to specific audiences. In fact, there are few reasons NOT to embrace them. Don't start a business by the seat of your pants
If you try to start a business by the seat of your pants, chances are you're going to lose your shirt. But with so much information out there to help, any budding entrepreneur ought to be able to start and grow a successful, profitable enterprise. The future of marketing
Over the past 25 years, cable TV, the Internet, satellite radio, TiVo, and podcasting have dramatically changed the way we get our information. This begs the question, what is the future of marketing? Boosting employee retention
It ought to be common knowledge, but it probably bears repeating: People leave their managers more often than they leave companies and jobs. Which means that throwing money at them won't persuade them to stay. My mid-year list of recommended reads
Usually I wait until the end of the year to provide my list of recommended reads. But this year I've had several good books come across my desk and I want to recommend some I think are useful. Punishing the Good Samaritan
Being a Good Samaritan comes naturally to some people - unselfishly helping others is a virtue, not a transgression. But as Colin Bruley found last week, altruism can also lead to getting fired. So it's no surprise that we find an increasing number of people turning away when others are in need. 
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