One thing companies did not need, but we got with the pandemic, was more channels of communication. Between in person, phone, email,...

When faced with a new task or situation, smart companies look for best practices or learnings from someone who has done the same, or...

I've mentioned it before, but there is almost always a disconnect between what a manager says and what the employee hears. Both are 100%...

I've been in many classrooms where we talk about communication through the describe/draw activity. One person has a picture and tries to...

When setting expectations, most managers understand the Who, What, and When. But I often get a few quizzical looks when I stress the Why....

When setting expectations, it is critical to explain the Why. To understand this, it helps to learn a concept called Commander's Intent....

You can't possibly prepare for every situation. However, you can (and should) prepare for generic situations so you and your team can...

In one company, I was occasionally asked to coach underperforming employees. In almost every case, the pattern is the same. Manager tells...

This is one is a periodic series of posts about things that make my head explode because they are such bad ideas - the non-compete...

Yesterday I wrote about autonomy. The companion element to that is social support. Having either one is great - having both is the goal....

When you start to study engagement at a deeper level, you start to notice that one concept continues to pop up - autonomy. It is at the...

I know it sounds strange, but I love hearing employees and managers say "I don't know" (IDK). It isn't because I take some perverse...

This is a topic that I spend a lot of time thinking about and can get a little confusing - but it is important, so bear with me. This has...

I sometimes get a question about department group calendars. Mainly, are they an effective way to communicate availability. I am not a...

Considering the holidays are supposed to be times filled with cheer, the stress levels that people feel is incredible. There is less...

Last week I talked a lot about preparing for year-end and this week the theme continues - specifically focusing on the holidays. This is...

As you plan for year end, set the expectation with your team that they start planning as well. I recommend you do this in a team meeting...

Around this time of year, at least once a week I pause and think "it's only X days until Christmas". Which means the end of the year is...

One of the biggest challenges for managers today is the fact that your company is constantly needing people with new and upgraded skills...

I have a few pet peeves about managing (someday I’ll list them all out and ask for your suggestions). One is the employee who complains...