Teams

“Can I give you some feedback?” At one time, I used to absolutely hate that question. Why? Because I worked for a boss who really meant, “Do you have time for me to tell you what you did wrong?” For him, giving feedback meant criticism. When new employees would complain that he never commented on

Back in 2002, successful businessman Verne Harnish wrote a book he titled “Mastering the Rockefeller Habits.” The book highlighted specific practices that a business could follow to strengthen company culture and improve their bottom line. Its main premise is that these changes come through routine choices both leaders and employees make each and every day.

If you’re a manager, sooner or later you’re going to have to fire someone. Guaranteed. While it’s never fun, some experiences are more draining than others. As a manager, I’ve fired employees for no-brainer reasons, like falsifying timesheets and routinely calling in sick when their Facebook profiles showed them at a friend’s afternoon pool party.

What is brainstorming? Simply defined, it is the process of coming up with new ideas or answers to problems. More specifically the concept of brainstorming in a business setting is the exchange of views amongst peers or teammates that are designed to generate creative ideas to improve procedures, fix issues, and increase productivity. While this

While everyone knows teamwork in the workplace is important, the hard part can often be getting everyone to work together. Whether someone runs a Fortune 500 company or a local coffee shop, there are common pitfalls to watch out for. From role uncertainty to unclear team goals, these problems can quickly get in the way

Are difficult problems part of your daily life at the office? If so, stand up and wave your hand because I think we work at the same place! I manage projects at a creative agency, and it seems like every time I log into my email, there’s yet another large problem to deal with. For

“Where do I begin?” This is the first thing I ask myself when I reach the office each morning. Not too long ago, it sounded more like a lament. Today, it’s a call to action, and I’m always up for the challenge. Although all projects need defined priorities, the organizing process is easier said than

In one fast-paced restaurant, a shift lead could never figure out why he was not promoted to a management position. He had just finished a bachelor’s degree in business management, so he felt like he was ready for the next step. The problem wasn’t with his knowledge, but with his soft skills. This particular manager

Walt Disney once said, “The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” While quotes like this can be motivating to some, they aren’t always enough to kickstart the creative juices required to really get people to work on the tasks at hand. But many business professionals and entrepreneurs have found ways

Do you know the old saying, “You can’t please all of the people all of the time?” Better rethink that if you work at a creative agency, where keeping all of your clients happy is one of the main rules of business. I’ll never forget the first time I got a gift from a client.

Ask anyone who knows me: I’m not someone who’s easily intimidated. But one of the few frightening memories I have is my experience with burnout over 10 years ago. We all have episodes where we feel tired and depressed. The boss is demanding too much, the significant other wants to argue all the time, the

It’s easy to blame employees when they miss a tight deadline. But if this happens all the time, the problem might be the way their deadlines or tasks are structured. Employees can only do their best work if they have a supportive, organized environment to work in. Employers can make it easier for employees to