Frequently in organizations, managers make a rush to judgement, extolling bad attitudes, horrible decisions, and any number of problematic employee actions. In my early career, I would hear these stories and be immediately outraged, frustrated that employees would act in such unacceptable ways. Over time, however, I learned that perception is in the eye of the beholder, and often these “horrendous” acts, were simply misunderstandings or misinterpretations of events. While it

Do you have bullies at work? Is it possible you could be the bully or an enabler? There is a lot of drama in the world these days and it can seem more acceptable to be rude or to yell or to treat fellow employees poorly. But if that’s going on in your organization, you should rethink that type of culture. People tend to be less than their best when they’re frustrated, nervous or afraid. If you have someone in your organization with a short fuse, what damage are they causin

There are times in most of our lives where we need mental toughness to get through whatever roadblock we’re facing. Projects that are difficult for various reasons, physical exertion or illness that strains our bodies, or even difficult choices we make at times require us to find some mental resources that we may not even realize we have. In order to call upon that mental toughness, we need to hone the skill and determine how best to enhance it. Working with our staff to mo

We often think of entrepreneurs as individuals starting their own companies. But staff can be entrepreneurs in the organization they already work for! While being an entrepreneur typically involves assuming personal and financial risk, the key aspect in being an entrepreneur is in driving economic growth and innovation. We all want that within our organizations, and not all individuals want to assume the financial and personal risk involved in branching out alone. So what d

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and we need to remember to address this in our workplace. As domestic violence is increasingly common, chances are someone within your organization is or has been affected. Providing resources and helping management understand ways to help can make a difference in someone’s life. Most companies have employee assistance programs; make sure that information is posted and that each manager has the information to provide staff. Relo

Is your staff financially aware? Have you ever talked about budgets and expenses? Do they understand your company or departmental...

What does it mean to consider your team’s purpose in the organization? Businesses are established for various reasons, offering products...

Many of us have at least dabbled in the use of Artificial Intelligence, but have you created or thought about a policy on the use of AI...

We’ve been living through a period of plentiful jobs for workers for the most part, but what does it mean as we start inching to a higher...

Job descriptions are vital in today’s business to help employees and managers ensure they’re on the same page. They lay out the primary...

Most managers are familiar with specific job descriptions, but what’s a general job description and why would a company need or want it?...

Unfortunately, these days protecting your company from spam must be top of mind. Have you provided your staff with the tools/reminders...

There’s been recent news regarding an HR executive caught in an uncomfortable position in a very social media way which made me think...

It used to be that office etiquette seemed inherently understood: you don’t microwave fish; you greet each other with a smile; you listen...

In working with employees, we look for specific skills sets in hiring, but what are soft skills and why do they matter? Soft skills are...

Some managers and/or staff may ask what exactly is HR and why do I need it in my organization? First, consider HR as Human...

In a world of divergent opinions often clashing and creating chaos, what can we do to encourage conflicting ideas at work in a way that...

Summer can be a busy time with the differing schedules and longer days, so how can we use that to boost employee morale? When it comes...

Burnout and stress should have us considering ways to encourage mental and physical health at work. Why should managers consider these...

Virtually everywhere I’ve worked, there’s been at least one toxic employee. If you don’t work with one, you’ve certainly heard of...