People Skills
Empowerment isn’t about “giving” power to employees, but removing obstacles that prevent them from using the power and skills they already possess. As a leader, remember that empowerment works best when you eliminate these barriers to success.
Question: My exec is a really lousy delegator, always taking everything on herself, even tasks that are far beneath her and could be handled by anyone. As a result, she’s got too much on her plate and she’s always stressed. How can I fix this?
Interdepartmental conflicts can kill productivity, lead to mistakes, and result in disputes. To increase collaboration across warring departments, take these steps.
It’s no fun to have someone in your face—but with the right response, you can turn the situation to your advantage. Follow these steps to escape the most common pitfalls.
Saying “No” in an argument or negotiation can be difficult, but standing your ground as the other person tries to change your mind can be even more difficult.
With COVID restrictions very slowly easing, soon many admins will end their time of telecommuting and see familiar faces in person once again. But this transition will be unique and challenging.
Question: My executive is notorious for delaying, fussing, hedging and eventually missing deadlines. Then there’s always a weak apology: ‘Sorry, I got sidetracked.’ Every time he does this, it inconveniences other departments. Are there any good ways to get him into a different mindset, one where we’re not all scurrying around to make up the time he costs us?
Here are several behaviors and tactics you can use when you need to step in and help settle a dispute.
Question: The coronavirus situation has really revealed who on our staff is technologically savvy and who’s not, but my manager doesn’t seem concerned about the gap. How do I suggest that we all get more trained up on everything we should know?
What was once a standard and reflexive way to meet, greet, part ways, close deals and congratulate may now be coming to an end.
We usually judge employees’ work by the traditional standards—quality of work and amount done. However, since no employee works in a vacuum, add these factors to your evaluations to create a more accurate picture of a worker’s contribution to your group.
Question: My executive got a few figures wrong in a recent meeting where about 20 people were present. How should I have corrected him?
Working, negotiating and even talking with another manager with whom you’ve had disagreements can be hard. Change management expert Rick Maurer suggests four ways to move past the feud.
