What to do when an employee is not performing
Have you ever seen a guy walking around with his zipper down? Or a lady with toilet roll stuck to her heels? As embarrassing as it must be for that person, we often feel somewhat embarrassed even to tell them. Is it a one-off mistake? Or is it a reflection of something more profound (e.g., […]
Why most teams fail to change their culture
When I go over my #linkedin feed, I’m flooded with posts about how companies need to change their culture and how people leave toxic environments. It looks like it’s a consensus, but still, so many companies fail to do that. When we say Culture, what do we mean? Most employees want a change. Ask them, […]
2 Management traps that will make you lose everyone’s respect and trust
“‘I can’t tell him what I’m doing!’ “I was walking outside with a friend enjoying a sunny day in Oregon. We like to catch up and share our work and progress. The sun warmed us as well as the long walk outside. I closed my eyes briefly and felt the sun rays on my face. […]
When employees ask for a coach, this is what they really want.
Must managers learn to coach? As part of my role as a leadership coach and a manager, I read a lot of studies. Every time I read a phrase about how managers should learn how to coach, I shake my head. The reason I disagree is not that I don’t find coaching helpful, I wouldn’t […]
Three reasons why you’re not enjoying your role as a first line manager, and what to do about it
I sat with a good friend in a bar during one of his visits. He’s a very technical guy and knows his craft better than anyone I know. I told him about some of the work I do with first-line managers to help develop the skills they need to become outstanding. His face twitched weirdly. […]
How hostage negotiation skills can take out the heat off a tough conversation with your employee
Many managers feel that the worst part of being a manager is to have a tough conversation with their employees. Second only to laying off someone. We prefer as managers to focus on meeting our goals and solving challenges. Just last week I answered two questions on the topic. One was “How do I tell […]
