July 30, 2021 10:40 am
Published by Louellen Essex
Preparing to give critical feedback helps ensure a potentially challenging discussion produces the result you are after. Comedian and television personality Craig Ferguson suggests that preparation begin with three important questions: Does this need to be said? Sometimes reflection leads to the conclusion that the issue is not relevant nor important enough to address. Does this need to be said…
February 14, 2021 10:40 am
Published by Louellen Essex
Study after study tells us that people don’t feel they get enough praise and recognition at work. With more staff members working from home and feeling isolated, the need to be acknowledged is even more acute. It’s easy to feel disconnected and individually unnoticed, given the massive number of virtual meetings, often with cameras off, that many are experiencing. Yet,…
May 9, 2017 2:22 pm
Published by Louellen Essex
Micromanagement is excessive oversight of an employee’s work. When a manager hovers, it causes the employee to feel mistrusted to competently do the work assigned. It can tear down motivation since having autonomy is highly valued by most employees. Below are listed the telltale signs of micromanagement. Identify those that you frequently display to determine if you are slipping into…
January 24, 2017 2:23 pm
Published by Louellen Essex
Managing staff member performance is challenging at best. Individuals come to work with a variety of skills, attitudes, and experiences that require leaders to be adept at adapting to varying needs by using customized approaches. One size does not fit all. Because performance management is complex and time consuming, it is easy for leaders to be blindsided by engaging in…
October 2, 2015 2:31 pm
Published by Louellen Essex
Are you mindful of what you are reinforcing when you reward staff behavior? Are you sure it is really what you want to reinforce? Remember this important principle: People tend to do more of the behaviors for which they are rewarded. Don’t find yourself inadvertently incenting your staff to utilize the following problematic behaviors. 1. Busy Work It might look…
August 9, 2015 7:01 pm
Published by Louellen Essex
To do it right, delegating should be done intentionally and thoughtfully. Randomly handing out assignments does not make for good results or happy staff members! Good delegation is at the heart of empowerment and requires giving away, not only work assignments, but also authority to make decisions. Poor delegation practice is at the core of micromanagement. Use these guidelines to…
June 9, 2015 7:03 pm
Published by Louellen Essex
What happens if you or other key players in your organization leave? Better job offers, retirements, extended illness, or unanticipated death can cause undue chaos if succession plans are not in place. Yet, many organizations fail to create them, at great expense to their business outcomes and the staff who struggle to fill the gaps. Consider, when developing succession plans,…
May 7, 2015 7:04 pm
Published by Louellen Essex
Most leaders say that coaching is an important part of their role in developing staff. Few, however, find the time to do it well. Yet, employees of all ages and performance levels say they want more coaching from leaders they respect. Through feedback and advice giving they hope to learn how to become better at their work and advance their…
March 9, 2015 7:06 pm
Published by Louellen Essex
Motivation is a complex topic. Because each employee has differing needs and drives, one size doesn’t fit all. Yet, everyone has a handful of basic desires: to make a contribution, to feel part of something meaningful, and to be acknowledged. Sometimes leaders forget to utilize those fundamental principles to create a motivating work environment. Here are some things you can…