Productivity / Performance

8 steps to becoming the manager your employees need

04/23/2025

In an effort to “empower” their staffs, too many managers take a completely hands-off approach, leaving employees alone unless they really need help. But this can create a rudderless ship, says management expert Bruce Tulgan. That’s not leadership! Here’s how effective managers provide genuine support to their employees.

Demote a staffer? Make it work

04/09/2025

If you decide that demotion is a viable alternative to terminating a particular employee, knowing how to execute the demotion properly is essential to making it work.

Managing people with limited professional experience

03/28/2025

Dealing with employees unfamiliar with workplace norms takes patience. But just as you would help someone lacking technical competencies get up to speed, guiding a worker to a higher level of professionalism proves a worthy endeavor. Here are five strategies to try.

Demotion or termination? How to make the call

03/19/2025

If you’re faced with an employee who isn’t a good fit with his or her current job, is termination the answer or is demotion a better alternative? The answer is, of course, it depends.

Toxic positivity: How HR can foster an authentic culture

02/26/2025

Toxic positivity functions as a destructive force in workplace environments. When employees express legitimate concerns, toxic positivity responds with empty platitudes: “You’ve got this!” “Stay positive!” These responses invalidate employees’ experiences and suggest that their struggles stem from poor attitudes rather than real problems.

Embrace return-to-office as an opportunity to collaborate

02/20/2025

As the pendulum has shifted from a fully remote workforce to a more hybrid or full in-office arrangement, now is the time to evaluate how to create a workplace experience that fosters engagement and productivity.

Writing and giving job reviews: 8 do’s and don’ts

01/23/2025

Anything less than a completely honest performance appraisal will only cheat the employee out of personal development, plus it could set the stage for a discrimination lawsuit. Here are eight important do’s and don’ts.

Gallup: Employee engagement hits lowest level in 10 years

01/21/2025

Employee engagement in the United States dropped to 31% in 2024, a 10-year low, according to research by the Gallup Poll. Declines since 2020 alone mean about 8 million fewer engaged employees, including 3.2 million fewer than in 2023.

7 tips to make your meetings more productive

01/13/2025

Between vague agendas and never-ending Zoom sessions, meetings have become a waste of time for many. Here’s how to structure huddles to make them productive and run more smoothly.

Measure productivity loss when tallying health costs