In many organizations, employees are encouraged to be aggressive and competitive in order to be successful and “get ahead” at work. It’s believed that having a competitive spirit makes employees more productive and engaged. In truth, however, research has indicated that kindness – and not competitiveness – is a much more essential quality. The best(…)
Have you ever heard of having “too much of a good thing”? For instance, eating one delicious piece of chocolate cake is great. But eating twenty slices would probably make you feel sick. Well, the same is true of work engagement. We all know that it’s good to be engaged at work. People who feel(…)
Compassionate organizations tend to be more successful. When employees feel like they have their company’s support when they’re going through a difficult time, they feel safe and secure. They’re more willing to admit to mistakes and work as a team to find a solution. They’re more creative and innovative, because they know they won’t be(…)
When giving a presentation, you want to capture and hold your audience’s attention. But it can sometimes be hard to appeal to everyone. Most of the time, your audience will be comprised of a diverse group of people. You’ll have extroverts who love to express their opinions. You’ll have analytical people who wish you would(…)
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article about the many things that cats can teach us. By following their furry lead, you can be both happier and more successful at work. Now I think it’s time to turn our attention to dogs. Dogs are the best! They’re loving, loyal bundles of joy. My parents’(…)
Studies have shown that one of the most effective ways for managers to improve employee morale, increase productivity, and boost employee retention is by expressing gratitude. Employees want confirmation that they’re doing a good job. They want to know that their efforts have been noticed and appreciated. Expressing gratitude in the workplace makes employees feel(…)
Weekly staff meetings exist for a reason. It’s important for employees to be updated on the work that’s being done by their coworkers. Projects can often overlap, so it’s good to know about the processes that people are using and the progress that they’ve made. But unfortunately, staff meetings also tend to be mind-numbingly dull.(…)
Effective leadership is so important. Research has shown it’s associated with high morale, peak performance, and successful outcomes. Effective leaders guide, motivate, support, and empower the people that they manage. It’s not an easy task, but it’s an essential one. Leadership is a skill that can be learned and developed. But if you’re new to(…)
I have a lot of plants in my office. They just keep multiplying – so much so that I’ve run out of counter space to put them on. Several of them just sit in a row on the floor. I must admit that it’s not the best look. But I feel OK about it, because(…)
A web-based seminar (or “webinar”) can get very boring, very quickly. There’s nothing more deadly than watching a presenter click through a seemingly never-ending series of PowerPoint slides while talking in exhaustive depth about each one. So if you’ve been asked to create or present a webinar, what can you do to make it more(…)