Category Archives: How to Be a Great Boss

Why do good people quit their jobs? According to a Gallup poll, bad bosses are at the top of the list. So what does it take to be a good boss? Check out the articles in this section to learn how you can become a better boss and keep your employees motivated and happy.

5 Ways to Mentor Your People to Success

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Randy is more than a little anxious. He’s been moving ahead rapidly with his company, and he knows that his C-level managers see him as an emerging leader. Now, however, his boss has just presented him with a new challenge: mentor two impressive employees who have just joined the firm. Randy has had a few good mentors in the past, but there’s a big difference between having one and being one. He needs to be ready in two weeks. What to do first?

Randy begins to brainstorm and research. Within a few hours, he has the outline of a game plan and knows exactly what he needs to do to become a great mentor:

Develop a servant mentality Ask the right questions Cultivate their strengths Model executive presence Put them in the spotlight

Let’s take a more in-depth look at each of these traits now.

5 Ways to Be … Continue reading 5 Ways to Mentor Your People to Success →

How being indispensable is hurting your career

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You’ve seen multiple colleagues promoted ahead of you, despite your better job performance. You have received nothing but praise and great reviews, month after month, but still, career advancement eludes you. You don’t have time to delegate, and can’t take a holiday without being bombarded with questions only you can answer. Any of this sounding familiar?

Too often, hard-working, intelligent managers are passed over for promotions because they have struggled to make the necessary transition from their current role to a strategic leader for the business. In fact, they have become too good at their role, and therefore made themselves an indispensable part of their team, inhibiting both personal and team growth.

However, there is a solution. Richard Jolly, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour in the General Management programmes at London Business School, writes extensively on the topic of indispensability, which has served for … Continue reading How being indispensable is hurting your career →

7 Essentials for
Training & Developing Happy Employees

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Use your training—both internal and external—to develop happy employees. These people are motivated and want to build up your company. When everyone is onboard working for the common good, great things happen.

So what steps can you take in developing motivated, productive employees? One key lies with effective training.

Here are 7 keys to training and developing employees Train employees in jobs they like.

Transfer responsibilities from your worker that he or she finds boring, dull, or uninteresting. There are others for whom routine gives security. This frees up your worker to take on new and more interesting work. When your staff finds their jobs exciting and challenging, they will be happier and more productive. Give your employees room to develop more control.

Help your employees self-manage. For some you can simply let them loose. Let them choose work time, break time, and flex-time. You may set the … Continue reading 7 Essentials for
Training & Developing Happy Employees →

Why Talent Development in Business Matters

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Jack Welch said it best: “My main job was developing talent. I was a gardener providing water and other nourishment to our top 750 people. Of course, I had to pull out some weeds, too.”

Developing high potentials should be a top priority in any successful executive’s strategic plan. Writing in the journal, Leadership Excellence (May 2011), Louis Carter and Brian Fishel discuss talent development in business, based on the findings of their Talent Management Survey. Their research indicates that 82% of the companies surveyed had either a formal or an informal talent management program. How do you rate? Are you part of the 82%? Are your flowers flourishing? A good talent development program will accomplish three things: it will attract, grow, and retain top talent.

Here are 4 action items that should be included in your talent development plan. Put people first.

Of course your talent development and … Continue reading Why Talent Development in Business Matters →

Men and Women in Leadership – Helping Their Employees Succeed

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As a manager, motivating and helping your employees succeed ought to be among your top priorities. You need to build a succession plan with a leadership bench that is broad, wide, and deep. The people in your work group need the leadership, direction and support that only you can provide. In this article, you’ll find seven proven strategies managers can use to help employees reach their full potential and be ready for the next move up the organizational ladder.

Employees who have gaps in their knowledge and skills aren’t able to do the job as well as managers need them to. American schools are training workers who are woefully unprepared for the jobs of America’s future. Not every worker needs to be a college graduate. Indeed, perhaps 30-40% of new jobs will require college degrees. However at least 89 percent will need some post-high school vocational training. … Continue reading Men and Women in Leadership – Helping Their Employees Succeed →

Ways Managers Can Improve
Employees Performance at Work

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It’s not easy keeping a smile on your face in today’s business environment. Employers are faced with laying off employees, cutting benefits, workplace perks like bottled water and birthday parties. Managers and employees alike are focused on survival. Enjoyment seems to have taken a back seat.

It’s easy to let the good times roll when business is booming. But when times are tough, it’s more important than ever to create a positive work environment.

According to a recent article in the Chicago Sun Times, even in a lackluster economy, there are numerous inexpensive ways to improve morale of your staff.

Here are tips on ways managers can improve their employees  performance at work Survey your employees.

Successful employee retention and promotion begins with assessment. Get their feedback on existing programs and on what they think they need. Even more important, use an employee retention survey to find out … Continue reading Ways Managers Can Improve
Employees Performance at Work →