In many situations, the smartest questions you can ask will begin with the word “why.” Think about that. Have you noticed the inquisitiveness of young children? As long as they’re encouraged to do so, they seem to ask questions endlessly. They want to know how things work. They want to know the purpose of things.…
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You’ve seen most of the teamwork clichés: – Together Everyone Achieves More – Great things never come from comfort zones – Teamwork makes the dream work – Individually we’re a drop, together we’re an ocean But of course posters in the employee cafeteria don’t transform glib slogans into reality. Effective teamwork…
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Corporate hallways and lunchrooms are often festooned with “motivational” wall posters. The idea seems to be that clichés enhance comradeship and performance. Military drill instructors scream at recruits, apparently assuming that insults and humiliation are inspiring. Motivation can come from many sources. A tyrannical manager may “motivate” people to work killer hours that ruin health…
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Engagement—the degree to which people invest discretionary effort on the job—has been all the rage in business circles for years. “Engaged” employees are absorbed by and enthusiastic about their work. They have a sense of psychological ownership of their organization’s purpose and success. The Gallup organization’s Q12 survey has gathered data from tens of millions…
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You’re contagious. And you’re surrounded by people who are also contagious. I’m not referring to a flu bug or a case of measles. I’m talking about how you view your environment, how you respond to personalities and issues, how you live your life. Have you ever been around someone who brings a dark cloud into…
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“People are born ignorant, not stupid. They are made stupid by education.” That may sound like a line from a comedian. But it’s actually from Bertrand Russell. You know—the British philosopher, logician, mathematician, historian, essayist, social critic and Nobel laureate. Not known for comedy. Intentionally or not, Russell provided a fair description of what often…
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Enjoy the little things, because one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things. That may sound like a line from a syrupy greeting card. But it turns out to be an important ingredient in workplace issues like engagement, wellbeing, productivity, and even profit. Star Dargin knows a bit about the rough-and-tumble…
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There are almost as many leadership theories as there are would-be practitioners. Many of those theories—or call them frameworks or philosophies—have excellent underpinnings. I’ve found that, regardless of the latest leadership formula you may choose to try, a few simple guiding principles can always be helpful. Keep it simple. Go back to basics. The stones…
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Our current environment is sometimes touted as the age of tolerance. Consider how many company rosters now include positions like “VP of Diversity and Inclusion.” But the reality signals something else. Each Thanksgiving, the Internet is abuzz with advice on how to avoid letting dinner table discussions devolve into a Turkey Day brawl. Thousands (millions?)…
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