LinkedIn can be a very powerful tool if you know how to maximize its potential for your network and your business. It’s different than any other social media platform because it’s designed specifically for business networking. It’s much more than just a resume showcase. It’s a place to network and…
Many of us delay starting an important task by deluding ourselves. We think we need a large block of uninterrupted time to make progress on important projects. The result is procrastination! The ‘Swiss Cheese’ technique is a great tool to defeat the procrastination that results from trying to schedule or…
Effective management is a process. It’s something you learn through experience, research and application. There is no secret formula to practicing successful management. In fact, many managers have a tendency to fall victim to the same 10 mistakes. In most cases, these mistakes won’t make or break a career – but…
The greatest “myth” among teams is that “good teams get along.” Nothing could be further from the truth! As I like to say, good teams are ugly in appearance with all kinds of conflict. Good teams thrive on resolving conflict and disagreements. Think about it; why would you want a…
You have heard that the greatest fear of the average North American is making a public presentation. While I doubt that is an accurate statement, there is no question that the anxiety arising from this task can be described on a scale from debilitating terror to reluctant acceptance. I have…
I often ask participants in training (both leaders and non-leaders) if they understand ‘team work’. They look at me in a surprised manner as if to say, ‘Duh.’ In fact, I have never met an individual who has said they don’t understand teamwork! Yet, from both research and my personal…
Delegation, considered by some of the greatest gurus in the field of management, is the most important skill in management. It’s also the one skill that has a tendency to throw a detour in your career. Having an understanding of this helps show just how vital the skill of delegation…
Being accountable is being responsible for your actions and decisions while accomplishing the expectations of your role. Accountability implies consequences. Failure to achieve expectations may result in punishments. Likewise, success earns rewards. When leaders fail to obtain their team’s expectations, it is usually because they have made one or more…
Women encounter different obstacles than the men that they work with in the workplace. While these challenges are many, today we’ll be discussing one of the more common issues: stereotypes. Research performed on stereotypes in the workplace, particularly on females in leadership roles, has shown that these stereotypes aren’t just believed…
Want to increase your effectiveness as a manager? Start by improving your listening skills. A research survey of employees found that the most important attribute a manager could have is the ability to listen. When you listen attentively, you communicate that you think the person and what they are saying…