Developing Your Employees
All companies want to recruit, hire, and retain great employees; so how does your company stand out from the pack? Learn innovative techniques to help employees develop their skills and grow with your company.
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ArchivesWhere Are You Going to Get Your Next PR Hit?
May 03, 2008, 11:30 PM
Still, to get those hits requires a tremendous investment in time, patience, strategic thinking, hope and a little PR Pixie Dust (it's available in a spray can).
This Blogger Is Moving to A New Address
April 22, 2008, 9:35 PM
Leafing through a magazine article on personal development can offer as much as a conversation with the leading career guru. It all depends on how receptive you're willing to be when it comes to learning.
Supervising With Fewer Managers
April 19, 2008, 5:20 PM
Many successful managers become the people they are because they figure out which things they should focus on and then allow their employees to take care of the rest.
Make Your Age Work For You
April 16, 2008, 7:05 AM
If you feel as if your age is working against you, again whether you just started working in the last few years or have a lot of experience under your belt, consider the ways you might call attention to the ways in which you could never be replaced.
Prioriting Can Lead to Greater Focus
April 14, 2008, 8:30 AM
If you're always rushing around and darting from one fire to another then you're probably not able to think very clearly and as much as you may think you're getting a lot done, well, you might be mistaken.
Organize Your Space, Manage Your Time
April 12, 2008, 10:35 AM
But anyway, just as you might clear away the papers you no longer need (even if it actually hurts as you feed the sheets into your shredder or crumble them up in your fists) you need to decide which interruptions help you get your work done and those that absolutely must be avoided.
Organized Space Means More Productivity
April 11, 2008, 4:25 PM
Sometimes we want perfection in our workspaces. We see our idea in other people's spaces or in the pages of a magazine or furniture catalog. But instead of seeking perfection in your workspace try first and foremost to create an area that helps you focus.
Cleaning Your Office Improves Productivity
April 10, 2008, 8:35 PM
The other thing I realized, something that at first was really hard for me to believe, is that to clean up in a meaningful way means in many cases that you must handle and examine every sheet of paper before you can decide what to do with it.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
April 04, 2008, 7:05 AM
Unfortunately, when we panic we miss opportunities, even the ones right before our eyes or in our own backyards.
Working the Room Is Just One Part of the Job
April 02, 2008, 8:10 AM
Sometimes the follow-up portion of the networking equation is not palatable because it can feel so contrived as if we’re using people for what they can do for us.
Latest Comments in Developing Your Employees posts
The first 10 or so employees including the founders can make or break any company. Most first time 'start-up' employees (including founders) may not understand the 'sacrifice' necessary to build a company from scratch. It requires 24x7 commitment to the company. It requires that each of the employees believe in the vision and contribute proactively towards the company. Early employees must be ready to commit 100% (truly mean that) of their working time (could be long hours) towards the company.
By: Sundar V
on
Nurturing the Dream
Hi, Kim and thanks for your best wishes and your good advice. It's all about balance--giving people the space they need to prove to themselves and others that they can get the job done but remaining close by to offer support when they need it. I know that sounds a little simplistic, but if people were a little more patient with themselves and others great things can happen. Thanks again! LGL ...
By: Leslie Levine
on
This Blogger Is Moving to A New Address
Congratulations on your new blog and I wish great successes! I am sure I will check it out. Learning is one of those great things that is different for everyone. Just sit in any college classroom and you'll learn that lesson! Some people are very intent and others could care less. Some have to study hard and others make great grades by winging it. Same as in the workplace. Some learn by on the job training and others need to read a manual. Developing your PR potential and your employees is a hands on class! It is definitely something that you must put the time and effort into in order to see the results you want. Just leave your employees alone for a while and watch the productivity slide. While no one likes a micro manager, a little hands on with your staff can make a huge difference and make them feel appreciated. Good luck on your new blog!
By: Kim Shuford
on
This Blogger Is Moving to A New Address
I agree wholeheartedly, but would emphasize more your words "then take a minute or two to acknowledge how that individual's wisdom really helped" because too many people send boilerplate emails or notes that say nothing...I think these can even be damaging as they show insincerity.
By: David Hutchison - Executivehacks.com
on
Call the Mentoring Squad
That's a great insight, Ilya. Thank you for taking the time to write.
By: Leslie Levine
on
Networking: New All Over Again
Recently I have had the same type of an awakening when it comes to networking. Networking for your business is hard and appearance plays a major role. As a small business owner I realized that other small businesses first judge you based on your appearance. That is why I started working hard on my business credit profile and image, something that everyone can and should incorporate into their every day networking. Sincerely, Ilya Bodner Small Business Owner Initial Underwriting Group ...
By: Ilya Bodner
on
Networking: New All Over Again
Kim,
Thanks for writing. Your insights are tremendously helpful. LGL ...
By: Leslie Levine
on
Teacher As Boss
Thanks for writing. Your insights are tremendously helpful. LGL ...
Reading was ranked last? Oh yeah I guess it is. I skipped over everything after 3. Writing is not as important because technology has given everybody the chance to be a good writer. Spell check, grammar check, and the delete key make it easy to get it right. As a dyslexic, I can get my thoughts down without worrying about spelling and grammar and I can go back and fix anything that is broken. If I was born 20 years premature, I would have had a much harder time writing, and probably would have avoided it at all costs. Now if you still can't express your thoughts with all this technology, then you had better be able to rely on your good looks.
By: Miles
on
What Does the Fortune 500 Know?
Perhaps what's most interesting about the list is that it treats some of these items as discreet skills when, in today's professional and private environments, many of these are actually merged. I can understand why teamwork would be first, since most contemporary forms of communication involve collaboration -- including in business, in school, and in our private lives. Considering how interactive writing and learning have become (this blog, Wikipedia, text messages), it's easy to understand that a sense of teamwork would be essential to the success of those ventures. But here's a rub -- it's also vital now for us to distinguish between all the different sources of information and the competing voices in the conversation. So it's interesting, then, that reading is ranked last. In fact, that would seem to be the skill most closely allied with critical thinking, and therefore as essential today as ever. But I suppose "reading" sounds too book-based to feel relevant to today's multimedia environment.
By: Ghislaine
on
What Does the Fortune 500 Know?
I wonder you came accidently in the field of radio business and proved upto the mark. But as a matter of fact what you are yourself, and what you truly want to do from your capacity. There are fair chances that just to avoid the things you want to do, you are keeping occupied in radio business! regards.
By: Askari Kazmi
on
The Radio Star
You are right on the mark about dealing with bad people. It does not pay to try and talk with them, especially if they are your boss or teacher, or even parent for that matter! Most times this person cannot communicate well and will become extremely defensive at your well-hearted gesture. The saying, "That which does not kill me makes me stronger" comes to mind when I deal with certain people that are always "right" or so negative that you can literally see the cloud of negativity around them. They are termed toxic people and they can have a huge effect on you if you let them. The bad thing is, usually you don't even notice the effect until it's too late or you have finally distanced yourself from them. Take it one day at a time, and if you are in a situation where you cannot distance yourself from this person, remember it is up to you how it affects you and your life. Perhaps take the long way home to unwind before taking it out on your family, or help your children learn a good way to deal with their teachers that will not make them the discipline problem student to the teacher and they won?t end up with a bad grade!
By: Kim Shuford
on
Teacher As Boss
Correction made. Thank you!
By: Leslie Levine
on
Learning from the Master
Leslie, In your closing paragraph you quote Mark's book but the spell checker helped to garble the meaning. The quote should read: He writes, "The wise salesperson will learn from The Master and relate to customers and prospects as virtual family members as opposed to strangers, targets or marks to be sold." Thanks, Chris ...
By: ChrisK
on
Learning from the Master
Sally, thanks for letting readers know! LGL ...
By: Leslie Levine
on
What Did You Learn At Summer Camp?
I just wanted to let everyone know about a new site where there are plenty of young newbies. Just stumbled across it today. It is called www.barefootstudent. It has many young students who are attending college while running student businesses. Very cool!
By: sally
on
What Did You Learn At Summer Camp?
Leslie - I really appreciated your questions: each one was unique and thought-provoking. Hope your readers have fun with our dialogue! Warmly, Erika ...
By: Erika Andersen
on
Helping Your People (and You) Blossom
It's still the same double standard that we have all been fighting against practically since we were born. Your friends and/or co-workers, men and women alike, say they support you in your efforts to climb to that glass ceiling and shatter it. But when you actually get going and it looks like you might get somewhere, they pull back. It seems to be this way no matter what area of life you talk about. (Of course, there are those lucky women out there that do actually get that support from others.) They want you to be successful, but somehow when it's beginning to show, they feel threatened by your success and realize they prefer to see you back where you were, doing a job "better suited" for you. If you break out on your own you may hear, "When are you going to get a real job?" I think that even in this world of advanced technology and women running for President, there are still way too many gender specific minds out there that are not ready to make a change. The double standard always comes in to play...a man who is assertive, self-confident, and knows what he wants is considered an asset to a company and a good businessman. A woman who is assertive, self-confident, and knows what she wants is considered scary and intimidating. I don?t even need to mention that it?s alright for men to have small children and be considered for a top notch job, but a woman who admits to having small children is immediately sent down the road with the ever-existing, "We'll call you." (What they mean is don't call us, we'll call you!) I, for one, cannot wait for the day when all those that have run from a confident woman realize that we can be smart, hold down an upper management job or run our own company, and still be the caregiver that we are supposed to be. Today?s women have to be confident, self-assured, and work almost twice as hard as men to accomplish half as much.
By: Kim Shuford
on
We Try Harder
I have often been asked if anything intimidates me. My response has always been the same, "No, people are all the same. We all put our pants on the same way!" I always hated the line about imagining people in their underwear as well. Who would want to be in a room full of people in their underwear?? I love the way you put it, to love your audience. It's a great way to sum it up. I have found if you treat people with respect, they will do the same. It is important to remember that when you are a speaker, interaction is the key. You need to find a way to get your audience involved even if it is thinking of the different aspects of the topic you are speaking about. Once you get them interested in what you are saying, the rest is easy. But, as you say, always remember that they are giving up their time as well, so make good use of it. There is nothing worse than listening to someone drone on and on about themselves and their accomplishments and their abilities. Look around and you will see some people catching up on their sleep! Don't read your speech either. You are knowledgeable on your topic, otherwise you wouldn't have been invited to speak, so jot down a few notes on points you want to make and go from there. People respond much better when you are enthusiastic about your topic, and you can't be enthusiastic if your reading! If you use a presentation on powerpoint etc., be sure not to read what you have on the slides. Just put the bullet points on there, or some visual aids to add to your speech. The most important thing is to be yourself. That will come through in your speech and you will be surprised at how many people will perk up and pay attention.
By: Kim Shuford
on
Love Your Audience
Headquarters can compete! I work for myself, and I alternate working at home and working at my real office. The difference depends upon my schedule and how I feel on any given day. While it's nice to run around in jammies and fuzzy slippers while I work, going to the office has its advantages too. I don't have employees, so it's just me at the office. But I like going there because I get my work done and come home. I don't have a pile of work staring at me from the home office. There are better boundaries when I'm working on a project at the office, and it's sometimes easier to focus. On the other hand, working at home offers a lot of flexibility, and when I feel motivated, I might be able to put in an extra hour here or there. My suggestion is that companies try to combine working from home and working at the office. Employees can have those feel-good benefits of working from home, while not losing the connection with co-workers and supervisors. They can also get the hands-on supervision at the office that some are now lacking.
By: Tracy Coenen
on
Can Headquarters Compete with the Comforts of Home?
Unfortunately, networking has gotten a very bad reputation within the world of work and looking for work. Some people feel like they're using others when doing it and others don't like to feel like they're being used. (We can thank the job hunters who misused "informational interviews" who made it bad for the rest who really do want to research an industry, its companies and people before making a move.) Furthermore, one of the biggest status symbols people tout about nowadays is being overly busy. So if you actually have the time to go out and network to meet others in your industry, some may conclude you're not really an important person. I have spoken to some in senior management positions who do know that they have to "network" in order to get more positions. In fact, some have told me that they actually develop more respect towards people who are networking yet don't actually do anything that looks like it. They deliberately choose and take on assignments at their current employer that involves interacting with other employers. This way they continue to provide value and service to their current company while also marketing themselves to other firms letting them know they exist. This is completely different from the frequent advice of joining professional association meetings to network. Some who go to such things do so in the hopes of getting to meet other movers and shakers in their industry. Much to their surprise, they don't see any of the head honchos, and it makes them wonder how is it that those people are advancing and securing positions if they're not doing that kind of networking. Networking really has to be redefined to work right in the 21st Century, online and face-to-face too.
By: blogMeTender
on
Is "Tough Climb" An Understatement?
Thanks, Leslie, for reminding mangagers to pay attention to their best employees. All too often, it's the underperforming ones that employers focus on, leaving productive employees to continuing working in a vacuum without any sense if their effort are being noticed or appreciated.
By: diego
on
Someone to Watch Over Them
Employee recognition is a key factor of having a "fun" workplace. Let your employees know publicly when they are doing a good job. It is contagious. Starting with the right people makes it easier. It is hard in a formal interview to find out how much "fun" a person is. Try to take your interviewee to neutral territory; the corner coffee shop or neighborhood lounge. Food and drink have a great effect on knocking down walls.
By: Violet Beauregarde
on
Does Fun Have Staying Power?
Leslie, let me just take a moment to comment on one particular part of your excellent post -- companies that allow employees to bring their dogs into the office. In my opinion, this is completely unprofessional and inappropriate. It seems like a nice idea at first, but I've worked in offices where one dog (very small and calm) led to two (friendly but large and far too frisky for an office environment) led eventually to three (a barking nightmare that had everyone on edge). Does the employer say "Employee #1 may bring her dog in because it is well behaved, but employee #2 may not because it is loud and unruly"? Maybe "well behaved" means one thing to one coworker, and another thing to a second coworker. What about employees with allergies or worse, fear of dogs? It's unfair to subject the entire staff to this kind of intrusion in their place of work. Then there are folks who out and out don't like dogs. It reminds me of the parents who drag a screaming toddler into a restaurant, oblivious to the other customers around them who may not share the common belief that "kids are so cute!" Leave the pets at home, or one day you may find a coworker's boa constrictor curled up on a your chair when you come back from lunch.
By: bizzybee
on
Could You Bring Your Dog to Work?
Leslie, What you say towards the end of your post about networking is something people do not embrace enough. I am a professional resume writer for executives, and I counsel executives DAILY on the critical importance of networking. I have found that the more and more experienced one becomes, the more and more important networking becomes. CEOs cannot identify positions in the newspaper or major Internet job boards. They have to network. The important point for people to keep in mind about networking, though, is that it needs to be ongoing. Forever. When you need a job, it's too late to network. But if you build professional contacts over the course of time, and make yourself responsive and available to them by phone and email, and basically giveGiveGIVE, your network will give back to you when you need it. Jewel http://aperfectresume.typepad.com/ ...
By: Jewel Bracy DeMaio
on
Is "Tough Climb" An Understatement?
I guess it depends on the circumstances of the employee's termination of employment. If someone is being let go for poor performance (or more serious issues), then I don't think his or her manager has any responsibility to help the person with job placement. But when an employee is let go do to downsizing or other issues unrelated to job performance, then a helping hand (or phone call, or email to a colleague who might be hiring...) is the right thing to do. Especially if you work in an industry where you and the employee may cross paths again -- a helping hand during a difficult time will be remembered and perhaps rewarded when the tables are turned down the road.
By: bizzybee
on
"I'm Outta Here"
in our company we are providing all types of facilities to our employees but they are not satisfied with that, but also we hike the salary also but they are leaving the job and joining the other companies ...
By: raghavendra raghavendra
on
Work & Family Life: It's Here to Stay
I think that for many CEOs, this can be a difficult task -- all too often such a "visit to the trenches" can seem as insincere as when Bush showed up in Iraq for the plastic turkey photo op at Thanksgiving. I think a better practice might be for a business leader to arrange a one-on-one meeting with each and every staffmember, to get to know them personally and give the employee an open and friendly forum to discuss the job, the culture of the office, and any suggestions or challenges they might have. I think the information a business leader could gain from such a practice would be invaluable.
By: Rick25
on
Suggested Attire: Trench Coat & Boots
I sure wish I had had a mentor at my last job - thanks for letting people know about this!
By: Susie
on
Mentoring and Retaining Top Talent
I have never commented on an article, blog, posting, etc. before, however because I could totally relate to your posting, I just had to write something. We have all been where you were, and you are absolutely right when you say it's the rude comments/behavior by the airline ticket agents that makes flying so utterly discouraging. These people forget that they are a reflection of the airline we fly not to mention the fact that we have paid a considerable amount of money to fly with their airline ... we are the customer, in case they have forgotten. What's even more sad is that one airline isn't that much better than any other airline, so it's not like we can tell them that we are fed up and will fly with (fill in the blank) next time. I guess maybe they know that so there is no incentive to be nice. I am not saying their job is easy by any means, I'm sure they have a million stories about us customers, however I am in human resources, and I cannot imagine being rude to one of my clients because I have had a rough day. I do think however that you should have gone ahead and indicated which airline it was. Hopefully you forwarded this posting on to that particular airline ... not that it will do much good. But it might make you feel better. ;) ...
By: Heather
on
"It Wasn't Cancelled! It Was Delayed!"-For More Than 24 Hours?!
Thank you for your column related to community of revisited. Honestly, community of people within the organization help the business success. They are instrumental for the suggestion and strategies how the business move on. Without the community of people within the organization, the top management would be encouraging sophisticated work of planning for the betterment of the organization. With the community of people within, help management streamline their task. More power and God Bless you & your family.
By: TEODULO P. LUMOTOS
on
Community Revisited
I appreciate your advise on how to manage problem person in the workplace, because, it personally happened to me. What you had advise is what really I have done. I found out that it was not only a chat but to myself it was a friendly dialogue. However, I have still to observe his attitude in the nearing day. Thank you for your column, it supplemented my approach in talking problem person in our office. I dislike scolding person because it will not solve the problem instead aggrevate it, or worst makes the environment unhealthy. Hoping that my approach will work to my staff. I am not perfect anyway, but I tried to do my best in humanly as possible.
By: TEODULO P. LUMOTOS
on
Difficult Workers: Avoid or Confront?
Sense of community can be built by collecting and analyzing sincere employee feedback. Here?s a case study showing how Fortna did this using an online survey solution form WebSurveyor. Says Karen Werley, Director of Personnel with Fortna: ??Surprisingly, employees seem to be more critical about their own performance when they do an online survey,? says Werley. ?We frequently see survey responses such as: I think I am doing a pretty good job, however?. It shows that the online survey makes them an active participant in their own review.? According to Werley, the use of online surveys changes the whole nature of the evaluation process. ?Now a review is not something that is dreaded,? says Werley. ?It is more interactive and more alive. Employees are actually asking when it will be their turn to be reviewed which is quite refreshing from a human resources perspective and shows just how involved everyone has become in the process.? http://www.websurveyor.com/company/websurveyor-customer-profile.asp?c=789 ...
By: Yegor Kuznetsov
on
Community Revisited
I don't know if we need to set "ground rules". I believe if management provides a focus such as improving one's own work and participates in activing engaging their people within the focus, then community will arise with that focus. Of course, communication can (and will) spread to other areas, but at least it will be centered around work.
By: Chuck Yorke
on
Community Revisited
I worked for a company that had great success creating a sense of community through the creation and support of community relations teams. I co-chaired a food drive for one of these teams and it was a wonderful opportunity to get to know people I saw on the elevator but didn't know, or people who worked on that whole other world on another floor. This was a great "win-win" situation because it was good for the company's reputation in the community at large and it was an excellent way to build "community" among a large employee base among people who otherwise had little in common. I think it paid huge dividends for a minimal investement of money and effort.
By: Lucinda Grove
on
Community Revisited
Nathan Greeno is correct. The lack of connectivity has a negative effect on the workforce. Learning groups, quality circles and in general asking people to participate in the improvement of the operation, the growth of the business will provide huge gains.
By:
on
In Search of Community
Honestly, money can not make people happy, but, increase in salary motivates stressful employee. Thank you.
By: TEODULO P. LUMOTOS
on
Lost Wages
Of course, our experience shows that training would help employees to become proactive and innovative. Most companies who investment in training discovered increase in their bottomline and its employees productivity. But, success in training would depend wisely on the support of the management. Thank you.
By: TEODULO P. LUMOTOS
on
Is Your Training Sufficient?
Some persons considered laughing as a relief of stress, and others considered it as food for the heart. So, either laughing is helpful or not, laugh anyway to make your life complete and happy. Thank you.
By: TEODULO P. LUMOTOS
on
Laughing Matters
It is necessary to note that laughing is a special ingredient for a health life and a long one for that matter. Some statistics being circulated are saying that while adults these days could not afford to smile in a day kids laugh a thousand times a day. Let us rekindle the childhood spirit for a better life. Thank you.
By:
on
Laughing Matters
It is necessary to note that laughing is a special ingredient for a health life and a long one for that matter. Some statistics being circulated are saying that while adults these days could not afford to smile in a day kids laugh a thousand times a day. Let us rekindle the childhood spirit for a better life. Thank you.
By:
on
Laughing Matters
It is necessary to note that laughing is a special ingredient for a health life and a long one for that matter. Some statistics being circulated are saying that while adults these days could not afford to smile in a day kids laugh a thousand times a day. Let us rekindle the childhood spirit for a better life. Thank you.
By: phillip Chitsika
on
Laughing Matters
Its quite enlightening hobby for an employee to dwelve on something that would help bring himself or herself happy outside the usual routinary office activities. Your column inspire us to look some innovative ways in order to counter stressful office life. Thank you and more power.
By: TEODULO P. LUMOTOS
on
Rock 'n Roll
I think it's wonderful that many people can find ways to be creative outside of their work. The challenge for many employers is to understand that they need to find ways to engage their employees to be creative at work ...
By: Chuck Yorke
on
Rock 'n Roll
Request some updates and new trends in developing employees, succession planning updates, career developing approach, performance appraisal system, and performance management system. Thank you for this learning column in Human Resource Management from All Business.Com.
By: TEODULO P. LUMOTOS
on
Laughing Matters
I think another thing to add to the mix would be to write down what is said, and then read it back to the supervisor. Another thing could be to ask the supervisor to write specifically in response to your question so it can be sure of being understood and implemented. Any good manager shouldn't be afraid to put something in writing if it's what is needed to be accomplished.
By: Gary Bourgeault (managersrealm.com)
on
Can You Hear Me Now?
Great Article. Indeed, this age is the the age of communication. For example, in few years ago there was no blogging and readers and no space to put comments or have dicussion about the news they read. This is right that good questions can provide good space for a good communication.
By: Razib Ahmed
on
Can You Hear Me Now?
I think it all reflects upon an individual's integrity. Whether a confidence is personal or professional, the ability to keep that secret depends on the individual's values. Conversely, we should exercise caution in who we relay any type of sensitive information to. After all, once someone else knows, it really isn't a secret anymore, is it?
By: Rosanna Tussey
on
Shhhhh, Wanna Hear a Secret?
"Becoming more productive is really more about how one value’s his or her time versus how someone is doing a job. In other words, it has a lot to do with time management." this is really right. i have noticed that many interruptions happen by colleagues. I think one of the good ways of controlling intrruptions is tro be more formal with colleagues and be more wise about using time first for work and then if you get free time have some conversations with colleagues are interesting and attractive for you.
By: Razib Ahmed
on
Do Not Disturb
"Trade secrets" are a bunch of crap. Unless they are kept under lock and key and everybody knows that they are supposed to be a secret, they are not considered a trade secret. We had the FBI come ransack our house because of "trade secrets" and it has come to nothing except an unneccesary headache and a paranoid business owner thinking that everyone is stealing from his company.
By: Stephanie
on
Trade Secrets Anyone?
Excellent advice, if only the major corporations would consider these facts prior to buyouts, cuts and downsizing. Example of GM and Delphi. http://qualityg.blogspot.com/2006/06/another-example-of-demise-of-american.html qg ...
By: qualityg
on
Let 'Em Go?
On this subject, I heard a really interesting story this morning on, where else? NPR. Apparently, some Coca Cola employees conspired to steal proprietary info and to sell it to Pepsi. Pepsi management caught wind and reported the conspiracy to Coke, rather than biting. I thought it was pretty cool--ethics won, for once!
By: Chris
on
It's None of Our Business
Perhaps, along with the necessary "No" needed to keep on track with deadlines and other obligations higher on your priority list comes some other words such as "Why" and "When". Leaving things at "No" may leave you feeling guilty and the other party feeling rejected. By adding a "Why" and offering a "When" you just might stay on schedule and open up a more convenient time to respond to the other person's request.
By: Don Osborne - The Profit Puzzle
on
Never Enough Time?
I agree, it is so hard to say NO. I know for me I just naturally want to make everybody happy and sometimes it was at the expense of others who depended on me. I finally got up the courage to tell others no. It isn't that I don't value them it is that at sometimes choices in value and direction have to be made let alone previous commitments that should always carry a higher priority. I do make an exception and that is to my family which always carries the highest priority. Yea I have to feed them and pay the rent, but at some point I do say no to others and yes to them. The same goes to our personal time and space. My greatest asset to my success came with my ability to plan and use time wisely and effectively. We all are allotted just so much and when its gone, its gone. You can't buy it back. So whether personally or at work think smart.
By: Tim Whelan
on
Never Enough Time?
Yes, it's very important to learn to say "no" when you have a lot of tasks to complete. But in most professions it's vital to build relationships with other people (customers, vendors, bosses, subordinates, peers, etc.) Had I been that author, I'd have scheduled lunch with you even if we had to wait several months for my deadline to pass. Too often people get so focused on the tasks listed on their "to do" lists that they forget to nurture the relationships with others. Building a home requires lumber, concrete, bricks, etc. But they are all bound together by fasteners such as nails, staples, and glue. Relationships are the fasteners we use to connect the tasks that make up our work. You can be successful by focusing on the tasks at the expense of relationships, but just as a home with substandard fasteners collapses in a heavy wind, your work will collapse during a crisis because you don't have strong relationships to back you up.
By: Glenn
on
Never Enough Time?
Time management can have the gravest affect on a business and this is best shown in productivity and in managing the various aspects of the total customer experience. If your employees can't manage appointments what is this saying to your customers as to how important they are, and this applies for small businesses as well. What about the delivery of products or the furnishing of on time services. Time management also plays havoc with quality control and is damaging to the overall moral of any business or company. Whether it?s the Microsoft outlook software or the Franklin time management system, wise time management is necessary for successful customer loyalty, acquisition and good business health. If you are wondering where your repeat business has gone or where old customers have disappeared to you might want to check out the time management and the surrounding culture of your business.
By: Tim Whelan
on
It's About Time
This is well put. Better yet tie it to their pay check. Dissension in the ranks, whether a small business or corporation has direct effect on material out put and customer retention, customer loyalty and a long term reflection on the development of the customer experience. Bottom line it hurts the cash flow. Training programs in employee integration have worked well when integrating cultural diversity and there is nothing to show that such programs with a slight twist wouldn't work here in training others to accept the older, bright, and beautiful people.
By: Tim Whelan
on
Respect Your Elders
Yes, older employees are a major issue for business organizations. Not all older employees are burden to a company. Some of them are very well experienced and valuable for the company especially, for upholding the company's tradition. Any business organization should think about these employees.
By: Razib Ahmed
on
Let 'Em Go?
yes, raising a family and maintaining a corporate job is very tough. The main problem is that in corporate world profit is the main important thing. As long as you can bring the company a profit it is happy with you and that is its only concern. Women who has to take care of their kids and then attend nine to five office lead a very hectic life. They can not take care of their kids because most of the time they stay outside home and when they come home at night they are totally exhausted.
By: Razib Ahmed
on
Welcome Back: Stay-at-Home Moms
" You’ve heard it before and I will say it again: it shouldn’t be personal. All too often, though, it gets very personal." Yes and sometimes it gets real nasty. Well, I feel that in school and university text books, there should be something to influence us about this kind of matter when we are young enough to be influenced.
By: Razib Ahmed
on
Managing Difficult Conversations
in my opinion, if a manager is a good one, he will know what 'management fad/s' is appropriate for his team. if the said technique proves to be effective, he should stick to it and just re-direct the team if/when needed.
By:
on
New Fad or Here to Stay?
in my opinion, if a manager is a good one, he will know what 'management fad/s' is appropriate for his team. if the said technique proves to be effective, he should stick to it and just re-direct the team if/when needed.
By: nikki
on
New Fad or Here to Stay?
Show it to my boss, but i have to translate it first ...
By: Shineatom
on
Too Much Meddling Leads to Low Morale
looking for a better way to manage the company and the business. who knows which is the best? just the way make it.
By:
on
New Fad or Here to Stay?
Dear Leslie Levine, Your article is very truth. But I want to say that, many peoples are qdoing such they are derecting 2 or 3 or more than it at a time. But all of them aren't failed to direct them and if you look over them then, you would be find that they are successfully running their management system.
By: M N Sheikh
on
New Fad or Here to Stay?
A useful thought- If I have my way I would have this read by all the manager every day first thing in the morning with first cup of coffee in the office.
By: Tarun Majumder
on
Too Much Meddling Leads to Low Morale
I am not the manager but my boss is a terrible manager and very rude. So I am going to put this article on his desk and i will share the outcome soon!
By: Paulette
on
Five Sure Fire Ways to Succeed As a Manager
hello! http://www.dirare.com/Sweden/ online directory. SMART Yellow Pages, About DIRare, Search in Business Category. From online directory .
By: online directory main
on
Oscar Interpretation
Very nice and useful article. I agree with what you say and I like to add that by respecting others you can get respect. If you insult your sub ordinate then they will never work well.
By: Razib Ahmed
on
Five Sure Fire Ways to Succeed As a Manager
In my younger days as a middle manager, I was on the back sied of the bell curve in terms of my team's productivity. My boss took me to the woodshed and told me I needed focus on teambuilding. I listened and now believe that a manager's number one responsobility, despite what the job description may say, is to build an effective and productive team. By the time I was promoted out of the ranks of middle manager my team was producing higher increases and more revenue that all others. I'd moved from the back of the curve to the leading edge. It's the people, not your products that are important.
By: Glenn
on
Five Sure Fire Ways to Succeed As a Manager
In my younger days as a middle manager, I was on the back side of the bell curve in terms of my team's productivity. My boss took me to the woodshed and told me I needed focus on teambuilding. I listened and now believe that a manager's number one responsibility, despite what the job description may say, is to build an effective and productive team. By the time I was promoted out of the ranks of middle managers, my team was producing higher increases and more revenue that all others. I'd moved from the back of the curve to the leading edge. It's the people, not your products that are important.
By: Glenn
on
Five Sure Fire Ways to Succeed As a Manager
Cultivating a good employee should be number one request on an employer?s desk. No, I didn't like the Roth blurbs saga, but the station had a responsibility to mentor him and teach him expectations, skills and the how to deal with whatever if that was necessary to the success of the program and ultimately the station. This is true in any organization. The employee is key to creating and maintaining good customer relationships and in developing a key strategy for the realm of customer experience management. Poorly trained and supported employees breed discontent in the customer and shorten the customer life cycle. This means less money for the company and ultimately maybe even closing its doors.
By: tim
on
Learning How to Accept Shortcomings
Hi Leslie, This is Ankit from INDIA. I am a software professional working with Asia's Largest Software Exporter(TCS). It was really great pleasure to read you article about how training of employees is an everyday event. I am also passionate about MBA, and would be going for management education from TOP Indian university soon,, Gudbye, and keep writing..
By: Ankit Arora
on
"Training is Every Day"
hello! http://www.areaseo.com/contacts/ google pr. SE marketing, High Rankings, SEO consultant. From google pr .
By: google pr main
on
Oscar Interpretation
online directory main ...
By: ssgadcl@google.com
on
Oscar Interpretation
I n eed a new training manual. Let me know where to go.....
By: C C
on
Is Your Training Up to Date?
I do general building works and supliers, i have got a contract to supply a high impact traffc doors for a hospital theater, i am to import these doors from AMERICA to my country Ghana West Africa, i have no inough money to do these bussiness, Please, what do you think i should do?
By: kaba A. keith
on
Does Making a Difference Really Matter?
Leslie, This was a great article. I'm a real estate broker, the title caught my eye regarding "Network like there is no tomorrow," great concept, I intend to pass it on. Thanks! Yolanda ...
By: Yolanda Paramore
on
Network Like There's No Tomorrow
Leslie, This was a great article. I'm a real estate broker, the title caught my eye regarding "Network like there is no tomorrow," great concept, I intend to pass it on. Thanks! Yolanda ...
By: Yolanda Paramore
on
Network Like There's No Tomorrow
To Whom it may concern: Mentoring Program sounds like a great idea. If I had a mentor to start with a lot of facts that don't get mentioned in meetings are quick and easy. I guess it saves a lot of time, and does away with unwanted, "todo." Otherwise the employee is strained for time consuming tedious tasks that are not necessary. Lisa Bentrup ...
By: Lisa Bentrup
on
Mentoring Program: What's In It for You?
Actually it is not a bad idea. Mentoring really needs to be defined before we hike off onto some unknown planet and develop the MENTOR Squad. Sounds like a new sound bite for a movie. In all seriousness mentoring is an excellent way to develop employees in any industry at any position. It doesn't have to be segregated to large companies only. A small business can benefit as much from this as a medium or large. Our employees are the central key to our success and this is a neat way to reward them and train them.
By: Tim Whelan
on
"Training is Every Day"
iam a man of 33 years. i from nigeria lagos ...
By: samuel maduako
on
High-Maintenance Employees
Dear Sir / Madam Basically your article really encouraging me to motivate and lead my employees better. But my concern is nowdays not many employees working with full hearthly. What they expecting is 'comfortable zone'. Not many want to work for the success of the company. They prefer to avoid any commitments and just doing things for sake of doing, like no option. How to change them? Thanks Noka ...
By: Noka
on
High-Maintenance Employees
I've seen a lot of websites, but few with Leslie's charm & wit. What a joy to be able to visit here!--Laurel Yourke, author of "Take Your Characters to Dinner" & "Waiting for Beethoven" ...
By: laurel
on
Welcome!
I've seen a lot of websites, but few with Leslie's charm & wit. What a joy to be able to visit here!--Laurel Yourke, author of "Take Your Characters to Dinner" & "Waiting for Beethoven" ...
By: laurel yourke
on
Welcome!
You are so right! High maintenance employees are a lot of work, but they have a great deal to offer if they have a strong leader grooming them and channeling all that explosive energy in the right direction. What is negative can be used in a positive manner if doing the right tasks at the right time. If they do want to succeed, they will value the leader who takes the interest in them and challenges them. The potential can be greatly rewarding for all involved.
By: Crystal Dunstan
on
High-Maintenance Employees
It reminds me of how often people have told me: "But, we've always done things that way!" as an excuse for not changing. Your advice about breaking rules is good because it helps us get out of the "we've always done it that way" rut. If we never change then we will probably never improve. We certainly will not see or experience what could be. So, the best first step to changing might be to "break the rules!" Thanks for the great advice Leslie!
By: Kevin Stirtz
on
Break the Rules
Language and perception are everything. Even if the language is perfect if we aren't delivering it at the right level it won't be heard. This is especially true in marketing or in dealing with customer/clients. The messages create can bring a negative or positive experience to those who listen. In marketing we create mental images and create expectations that are making a promise. What happens if that promise can't be fulfilled? What happens if we break that first trust relationship with our customer? We may get the first sale, membership, project etc but the next time around the trust won?t be there and neither will be the client. When writing your adds or creating market campaigns be honest in your promise. It is your brand promise and customers remember.
By: tim
on
The Language of Crochet
As a second thought it is wise to rember that your employees are also customers. Whaqt you say, and how you train are just like marketing only from the inside out. How effective it is will depend on whether they buy in to the brand. The language you use to communicate ideals, goalas and purpose may or might not be heard depending on the delivery.
By: tim
on
The Language of Crochet
And I thought that I was the one with too many fingers in different pies! When do you have time to crochet? I agree completely, that the language is extremely vital to learning. I own a small fitness facility, and changing the nature of the ads that I had been using for the past 3 years increased my membership by 150%!! I used language that they needed to see, most that they could understand, all evoking emotion in them that changed their way of thinking. I love reading your ideas, keep up the good work.
By: ginny
on
The Language of Crochet
And I thought that I was the one with too many fingers in different pies! When do you have time to crochet? I agree completely, that the language is extremely vital to learning. I own a small fitness facility, and changing the nature of the ads that I had been using for the past 3 years increased my membership by 150%!! I used language that they needed to see, most that they could understand, all evoking emotion in them that changed their way of thinking. I love reading your ideas, keep up the good work.
By: Ginny
on
The Language of Crochet
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