One of the trickiest parts of managing a team is giving honest feedback, in a way that doesn’t come across as too harsh. Here are three ideas on how to give constructive feedback to an employee. First, check your attitude. You must always offer feedback to make someone better. Have a positive intent. When you are giving feedback, and particularly…
There are a lot of ways to maximize your work environment, and particularly your home office, to enhance your ability to work efficiently. Having a space you can close off from family or housemate interruptions is key. A comfortable chair will save your back, and getting your computer and other equipment in an ergonomic setup will set the environment you…
Ok, that is a controversial headline. But it’s true. Hear me out. In the 1990s I was a junior executive at a company that sponsored a major conference. I was a key planner and facilitator, so I was compelled to go. Problem was, the day before I was scheduled to depart, I got sick. Common cold I thought, but it…
Terrible headline, I know, but that’s what’s going on in America today. It’s disgusting and needs to stop immediately. There is a way forward, and we need to get moving fast. In the past month, we’ve seen a non-violent, handcuffed black man executed in broad daylight by four rogue police officers, people ironically charged by society with keeping the peace….
There has never been a more important time to connect with each other. Social distancing is absolutely vital during this dangerous pandemic as there are only a few ways to stop the spread of the coronavirus. Number one, of course, is staying home, and staying away from others. Washing hands, wiping down surfaces, wearing a mask or mouth covering when…
You are a leader. Whether you are a manager or not, you have the ability to take action, right now, to make your world and the people in it, better. This could be you going to the supermarket or drug store and checking in with neighbors to see if they need anything (besides toilet paper). It could be calling relatives,…
With coronavirus upon us, how do we stay away from people while maintaining the connections we need to get stuff done? It seems hard, but it’s easily do-able with a smidgen of effort. What appears to be the best strategy to slow the growth of this virus is to, effectively, shut down the face-to-face economy. Because the virus is so…
Recently I showed up a few minutes late to a luncheon with about 20 colleagues. The two hosts got up to give me a warm greeting, with a full-on handshake. Immediately we looked at each other in horror; we shouldn’t be doing this! Coronavirus! But how the heck should we be greeting each other? Coronavirus is upon us. It’s serious…
This is a note of encouragement for everyone, whether you are in a relationship or hope to be in one. Reach out. When we do, when we take initiative to start a conversation, people nearly always engage and appreciate it. If you’ve ever ridden on a subway or commuter train, you know that it’s a pretty quiet experience. The train…
In early 2020, the Wall Street Journal ranked airlines from first to worst in customer service. Having read the ranking article, Inc.com’s Chris Matyszczyk had an upcoming cross-country business trip and decided to fly the two airlines to see if he could tell the difference himself. Simply put, yes, he could. First, Chris flew from San Francisco to Miami on…
