Category: Employers

Use a “pay for performance” plan? A two-pronged goal-setting strategy may make sense for your team. In this thought Leaders post, author Mike Figliuolo explains two distinct types of goals – commit and stretch – and the role each plays in driving exceptional performance (especially when money is a primary incentive). Here’s a quick summary…

Accidents. Judgment errors. Cyber attacks. Nothing tests your organization quite like a crisis. And unfortunately, no business is immune. Regardless of your location, size or industry, your company WILL be forced to deal with major problems. So consider this question: If disaster were to strike today, how prepared is your organization to handle it? Not…

Want to make your work teams more nimble? Protect your organization from essential knowledge loss? Create happier, more engaged employees? Have them regularly shadow one another. Job shadowing is a proven development tool that affords both employers and employees a wide range of benefits. If you don’t have a formal program in place already, here…

In the workplace, why are people so resistant to change? Here are three key reasons: An “If it isn’t broke, why fix it?” mentality. People are naturally comfortable with the knowledge and skills they possess, as well as the ways they perform work. This provides them with a sense of competency, and change forces them…

Think your business is too small or unimportant to attract a hacker’s attention? Think again. As large employers improve data security with sophisticated (and yes, expensive) systems, cybercriminals are “moving down the proverbial food chain” and targeting small and mid-sized businesses more frequently. Even worse, these guys have effectively automated web hacking, using malicious bots…

Dead ends. Blank pages. Mental blocks. The struggle to solve problems is all too real. Sometimes, inspiration is in short supply. Other times, you may have plenty of great ideas – but no process for seeing them through. What’s a savvy business professional to do? Get creative! Creative problem solving is much more than brainstorming;…

Is bigger really better? When it comes to work teams…not so much. This Forbes.com article presents a wealth of research which suggests that smaller teams are better than larger ones when it comes to: Engagement. 42% of employees working at companies with 10 or fewer employees were engaged at work, compared with just 30% of…

Autonomous vehicles. Wearable pain-relief technology. Eye-tracking software that controls computers. They’re all real. And for the smart risk-takers who have driven their success, they’re extremely profitable. Why doesn’t every company develop game-changing products like these guys? Mostly because they don’t understand these keys to driving innovation: Challenge the status quo. Instead of shying away from…

Debbie Downers. Negative Nellys. Haters. Most organizations have them. But whatever you call them, one thing is certain: workplace negativity is like a disease. Let it creep into your corporate culture, and it will rapidly fuel disengagement, distrust, turnover, diminished productivity – and sheer misery (who wants to work in an environment like that?). Your…

Time for a quick reality check: when a co-worker walks into your office with a request, do you treat him as well as you would like to be treated? Or as well as new client you’re trying to land? Really? If so, no need to read this post – you’re already treating employees as well…