Tag: leadership

Expert Assessment: ‘HR Deserves a $5,000 Bonus’

In yesterday’s Advisor, Hunter Lott of Please Sue Me fame, offered his lawsuit avoidance tips. Today, his advice on legal exposure in 2011, plus an introduction to the new 24/7 leadership training system. What percent of charges did the EEOC drop last year? Lott asks. More than 64 percent. “That’s us!” Lott says. That’s HR […]

Hurricane Reminds We Really Aren’t in Control of Some Things

For all of us who pride ourselves on being in control of things at all times, Mother Nature served up a big reminder — in the form of Hurricane Irene — that we’re not in control of as much as we would like to think we are. A lot of executives mistakenly believe they’re in […]

The Importance of Good Habits

A colleague shared this poem with me the other day: The Habit Poem I am your constant companion. I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you down to failure. I am completely at your command. Half of the things you do you might as well turn over […]

The ‘Flip Side’ of Mr. Naysayer

After last week’s post I received an email from a reader who had a suggestion: You need to write about the “flip side” of Mr. Naysayer. Her rationale? I once had a job where I became the Mr. Naysayer. It was uncomfortable for me — uncomfortable for all around me — and it was a […]

Dilbert cartoon strip

4 Tips for Dealing with Mr. Naysayer

The other day a colleague shared this Dilbert cartoon with me: My initial reaction was that the message of this cartoon sums up the way the two parties in Washington, D.C. approach one another. ” Everything you said is right, but I have a reflexive urge to disagree with you.” Sounds very much like something […]

Open and Honest Communication

People want to know what’s going on where they work. They want to know what the organization is trying to accomplish — the mission thing. They want to know how the business is going to get there — the vision thing.  And, most of all, they want to know how the company is doing at […]

Angry Businessman Image

You Can’t Reason with Crazy

Try this one on for size. A number of years ago, four to be exact, we were enjoying a successful relationship with a company we had contracted with since 1995. By all accounts, the firm was doing a good job for us. In 2007, one of the key people employed by the firm decided to […]

Negotiations

4 Keys to Successful Negotiating in Work, Life

To live life is to negotiate. If you’re married, you negotiate daily with your spouse. It might be over what to have for dinner or where to go on vacation. If you have children, you certainly negotiate with them. I’m constantly bargaining over curfews, gas money, and the definition of a clean room. (Are hospital corners […]

Older worker

Experienced Workers Have Unique Perspective

Recently, I advised that to engage and retain the young professionals on your team, you must make sure you provide ample opportunity for them. But what about the rest of the team? They’re just as important, and without them there is no team. Let’s face it, it takes a variety of talents, skills, and experiences […]