3 Ways To Give Advice When Employees Don’t Think They Need It

by Rich Henson October 30, 2016

Advice is a lot like Castor oil – easy to give, harder to take.

And since that is so true, it means managers have their work cut out for them when it comes to giving good advice.

We all admire the wisdom of those who come to us for help (ha ha). But that just doesn’t happen often enough. And therein lies the problem.

Good managers must give sound advice on a daily basis, and they can’t always wait until someone comes seeking it out.

Instead, it’s dished out cold, sort of ready-or-not-here-it-comes.

Of course, there’s a lot of advice available on how to give good advice. But much of it just doesn’t apply in the real world of work.

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Professional Development

7 Sneaky (But Effective) Ways To Start A Productivity Habit

by Lisa McKale October 23, 2016

“It’s so easy to stay productive. I just consult my to-do list, start my day fresh at 6 a.m., and plow through until everything is crossed off.”

Said no busy manager – ever.

Truth is, no matter how dedicated we claim to be to “getting stuff done,” it’s a job in itself to develop ingrained habits that keep us productive.

Just like that project inbox we let grow taller and taller, deciding to be more productive and doing something about it doesn’t happen overnight.

The first step is admitting it’s time to be more productive. Whether you’ve just hired fresh faces, taken over a monster project or seen a big surge in business, you probably are facing a mountain of work that needs to get done before it all comes barreling toward you like an avalanche.

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Employee Engagement

Get Out Of Your Rut: 6 Unique Ways To Generate Fresh Ideas

by Lisa McKale October 16, 2016

We’ve all probably said at one time, “that idea’s so crazy, it just might work!”

It usually comes right after we have run out of “real” ideas – or after all those ideas were tried and flopped.

Some ideas are born from desperation, as in, “We’ll try anything at this point!”

While this approach can get you in big trouble, it might also be the start of something big, something that could turn your management outlook or your entire business around.

So dig out that once-nutty idea you thought would scare everyone and present it. Start with “I know this sounds crazy, but…” and let it fly.

Or consider one of these six ideas – they might be just the jump-start you need to generate fresh ideas.

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Leadership

Horrible Bosses: 12 Signs You Might Be One Of Them

by Renee Cocchi October 9, 2016

As far as bosses go, the majority aren’t stellar.

In fact, one study found that 87% of the employees surveyed have had a bad boss.

So, are you a bad boss?

You probably aren’t or you wouldn’t be reading ResourcefulManager, but there’s a good chance you do have a few bad management traits that could be improved.

For example, maybe you’re like me and a little bit of a control freak.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing, if you know how to rein it in and not drive everyone you supervise up the wall.

So what makes a bad boss? Here are 12 traits to watch for:

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Hiring

4 Stupid Interview Questions To Dump Right Now (And What to Ask Instead)

by Lisa McKale October 2, 2016

HR has rustled up a great group of candidates to fill your empty staff position. They seem smart, eager and perfect fits on paper. So how do you know which one is the best?

You’ll never find out if you’re still sticking with lame interview questions.

They’re questions Ellis Chase, HR director at the former Chase Manhattan Bank in New York, refers to as “flat-out dumb.”

But they’re still on many many managers’ interview checklists. And they’ll never get you what you need from prospective employees.

Here are 4 of the top offenders you need to eliminate TODAY – and what to ask instead:

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Performance Management

20 Annoying Co-Workers That Drive You Up a Wall

by Renee Cocchi September 25, 2016

My ideal work environment is sitting at home in my comfy clothes with my dogs lying at my feet while I write and edit in total peace and quiet.

In reality, I work in an office full of people. And while most of my co-workers are great, a few of them – to put it nicely – are a bit annoying.

But it’s pretty much unavoidable that someone’s going to annoy you when you’re in an office 40 or more hours a week, and you combine a bunch of people with different personalities and backgrounds.

In fact, one in eight people will leave their job due to incivility and never report it.

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Leadership

Finding A Great Mentor: It’s A Dance, Not A Contract

by Rich Henson September 11, 2016

There are times when I’m about to offer someone advice I catch myself and say, “You know what? You could really benefit from having a good mentor.”

Which is actually pretty good advice.

And you know what? They agree.

Having a healthy relationship with a mentor has no downsides. And a mentor can provide much more than just sound advice.

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Leadership

The Great ‘That’s Just Who I Am’ Leadership Cop-Out

by John Walston September 10, 2016

I’m a blunt, tell-it-like-it-is, straight shooting son of a gun.

That’s just who I am. And I wear it like a badge of honor.

But it can be a lousy leadership style.

I read a great piece by Karin Hurt of Let’s Grow Leaders this week which reminded me that “that’s just who I am” can be a cop-out. It can demoralize your team and derail your results.

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Employee Engagement

8 Team-Building Exercises That Don’t Actually Suck

by Renee Cocchi September 5, 2016

What’s the first thought that pops into your head when you hear the words team-building exercises?

Mine is run for the hills!

I’m not a fan. They make me very uncomfortable!

But experts say they have their place and purpose. They facilitate better communication, break down barriers, foster collaboration and creativity, and boost morale.

So maybe there are team-building activities that are fun, effective and don’t completely suck. Maybe I just haven’t participated in the right ones.

So I set off in a search of them, and here’s what I found:

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Leadership

How To Say ‘No’ To The PWNHNs (People Who Never Hear ‘No’)

by Lisa McKale August 28, 2016

Resourceful managers always have a lot going on. It comes with the territory. So we sometimes have to say no to demands for our time. And most people respect that.

But then there are The Others. You recognize them. The PWNHNs – the People Who Never Hear No.

They’re always clamoring for your time, and you Just. Can’t. Tell. Them. No.

They ask. You politely say no.

They cajole: “But you’re perfect for this! I need you!”

They pout: “What do you mean, no? You did it last year!”

They argue: “It won’t take long. You can fit it in between meetings.”

But you can’t be everything to everyone. You can stop the PWNHNs by recognizing their tactics, getting smart about avoiding their traps and learning how to say ‘no’.

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