Good question. Can a boss be a friend? Have you been told not to be friends with your employees? If I asked, should a boss help his or her direct reports, would your answer be absolutely? However, isn't that what true friendship is, helping and supporting one another? Too often managers are advised not to [...]
If you’re reading this, you already know employee retention may be the most important and challenging key to the success and survival of your business. If you’re in a leadership or human resources position, it might be the most critical piece to your growth and career. A lot rides on employee retention. And it’s not [...]
So, how to be a terrible boss? What makes me qualified to write about this? Because I was a terrible boss. I was chatting with a friend recently and asked him who he thought made the best counselors. He asked me what I meant, and I said, “You know, like who would make the best [...]
The other day, I couldn't find the remote. I asked my wife if she'd seen it and she replied, "Joe has it." Joe, our eight year old cat? Joe has the remote? OK, at least it wasn't my problem — I didn't misplace it. Joe had it. I wasn't passing the buck. Has Your Cat [...]
Six years ago, shortly before Christmas I visited my oldest daughter (Dr. Daughter if you please—proud dad) and her family in Melbourne, FL. The last night of my visit my then 17-year-old granddaughter was at work. It’s her first job. She’s a server at a sit down fast food restaurant. Her mother and I decided [...]
One of my mantras is that you manage projects and lead people. I guess if we’re talking about managing versus coaching it would read you manage the game but coach players. Are you doing both in your workplace? Do you know when to coach and when to manage? "One has to do with directing, the [...]
Several friends and I were having dinner when one of the group, asked for advice on motivating employees. One of the friends said, "Well, for starters, follow the golden rule, you know, treat others how you want to be treated." Another friend and I immediately shouted no. We explained that people don't always want treated [...]
In early June, I received a text and then a call from the owner of a company I had done leadership development with. He wanted my advice and hoped I would be available to come to their office and run a meeting. I told him that I was self-quarantined, and he understood. However, his marketing [...]
Whether working from home, in an office, or a shared workspace, most of us spend a lot of time at work. We interact with co-workers more than our neighbors. Often we spend more time on work or at work than at home or with friends and family. That's why it’s so important to work somewhere [...]
When I was a young manager, I picked up a bad habit of treating people like projects. I became convinced that if something worked with one person, it should work on everyone. I thought I could create a bullet-pointed plan to be used with every individual on my team. Later I called it project people [...]
