Working easily and fluidly with others is simply how things get done in the 21st century
The ability to collaborate with others is a must-have skill to be successful in work. It doesn’t matter if you’re a project manager, a self-employed editor or the chief financial officer, part of your success is probably going to hinge on how well you can work with colleagues. Our work world is a complex system,…
Are you feeling pressure from your boss to deliver, deliver, deliver?
Do you find yourself suddenly being asked to do more with less? Did there used to be someone in the office beside you whose job responsibilities have suddenly become your responsibilities? Are you feeling pressure from your boss to deliver, deliver, deliver? It isn't as if you were slacking off before. Between the meetings, the…
If you take your time, and trust your gut, you are more likely to find the best candidate
Hiring is rarely something managers look forward to. It often feels like an arduous process that ends in a crap shoot. But there are strategies that improve your odds of hiring well. Don’t stay inside the box. In my experience, employers do not cast a wide enough net when they recruit talent. Human resources professionals and…
Studies consistently show that one of the top reasons people quit a job is to escape a bad boss
Cindy, a consistently high performer, has been with her firm for 10 years. She really likes the company, her job and the people she works with. But about six months ago, she found herself with a new boss. He’s an up-and-comer; young and ambitious, but lacking in leadership savvy. Determined to prove himself, he pushes…
Are you in a motivational rut? Do you loathe your job? Here's help
It isn’t a secret that many of us don’t love our jobs. At the moment, I am happily in that ‘I love my job!’ place. But I remember when, a couple of years ago, I was in the ‘I loathe my job’ place. You may be somewhere in the middle. In many respects, that is…
Treating the situation like getting a new job increases your chances of surviving the inevitable review
Here are six key questions you can ask yourself, along with strategies to help you keep your job when you get a new boss. Who is Evaluating Whom? One thing many people forget is that they will be tested. Of course you are evaluating and testing your new boss. But that person is also evaluating…
Social networking opens up a new avenue for those of us who were not born to be social butterflies
Is it just me or is everyone more interested in 'networking' these days? I've noticed a significant increase in 'join my network' requests from people I know, have known, or barely know through sites like LinkedIn. Everyone seems to be interested in connecting and exchanging contact information. Is social networking taking over the planet, or…
If you want to thrive as your own boss you need to be prepared to sell yourself every day
Have you dreamed of being your own boss? Most of us probably have. We think about the flexibility and freedom it offers. We wonder how much more income we would retain if we simply contracted out our services. We imagine what it would be like to be our own boss. That picture of three-day weeks…
It's time boards gave serious and strategic consideration to how they can accelerate and maximize their effectiveness
I'm preparing to facilitate a board strategy retreat and the project has sparked thoughts about bringing a psychologist into the boardroom. “Let me be clear, I don’t do strategic planning,” I stressed when I got the call. The chair assured me they weren't looking for a strategic planning expert. They wanted someone who is really good…
Striving for three final candidates allows hiring committees to keep an open mind, test for fit and plan for imperfection
In The Secrets of Great CEO Selection, Ram Charan advises hiring committees to keep an open mind, test for fit and plan for imperfection. One of the organizations I'm involved with just concluded a chief executive officer selection process so this topic is fresh in my mind. A key lesson I learned is how important it…