Communication

Tips for a smooth office relocation

11/12/2014

At some point, your office will likely need to pull up stakes and head out to unexplored territory, moving the staff and everything else—whether it’s two doors down the same hallway, or across town in a shiny new complex with (finally!) sufficient parking. Your preparations will fall into two categories: (1) ticking off the absolutely-must-do’s and (2) solving the hidden issues that can trip up an otherwise orderly relocation.

How to make yourself into a leader, not just a boss

09/26/2014

Some people use the words interchangeably. But for many people, the traditional boss is someone who turns employees off, while a leader turns them on. That’s why it’s important to understand how to become a true leader of your team. Here are some useful guidelines.

7 great meeting icebreaker tips

09/22/2014

Getting meeting participants comfortable with one another and ready to work can be a big challenge, particularly when individuals don’t know each other or have worked together only once or twice. Here are icebreaker tips to move past that awkward stage and get things rolling.

The old suggestion box: How to make it work

09/18/2014

Some suggestions from our readers … and some ideas that might be charitably considered, well, unusual.

Understand Gen Y to work with them better

09/10/2014

Suspend all prejudices for a minute, and try to understand why these fresh young thinkers do what they do. It’s all about the economy.

6 steps for setting up an in-house dispute resolution system

08/20/2014

An alternative dispute-resolution program lets you identify and address problems while they’re still manageable and before they land in court. Here’s a six-step process for establishing an ADR program.

Four questions every manager should answer

08/19/2014

Employee engagement starts with an engaged manager. It’s important to know the general “wants” of employees, but it’s better for supervisors to connect with the specific needs of each worker. Consultant Mel Kleiman suggests managers need to regularly ask themselves these four questions about each of their employees.

Handling common employee gripes about pay

08/07/2014

What do you do when workers complain about their pay? Try these responses to common kvetching.

How to discuss employee’s medical condition

08/04/2014

Employees often fear that disclosing a health issue to management may change others’ perceptions and limit career opportunities. Providing a supportive environment in which such matters can be discussed, however, is vital to maintaining productivity and reaching solutions.

How to motivate your employees simply by listening to them

07/25/2014

Ken Rees takes every opportunity to ask front-line employees to share their ideas and experiences interacting with customers. “That’s where the answers are,” he says. Rees, CEO of Think Finance, energizes his staff with motivational programs that resonate with employees