Will someone please tell me why so many business execs are obsessed with buzzwords?
Is it their egos? Are they trying to convince others they are smarter than they really are? Is it ignorance? Or do they simply not care?
Professional Development
Much of a ResourcefulManager's success is tied to soft skills. They may not sound important, but they may be the most critical skills of all and critical in your professional development. These posts will help you stay abreast of what's working and not working.
Productivity Killers: Why You Can’t Get It All Done [Infographic]
Do you feel like you’re busier than ever, but are accomplishing less?
That you’re pushing an ever-growing boulder up a hill?
Welcome to the typical U.S. workplace. The growth rate of productivity has slowed in the past decade.
Why? We’re distracted at every turn by meetings, smart phones, the Internet, etc.
And working more hours doesn’t solve the problem.
This infographic will give you a better understanding of why you’re less productive and what you can do about it.
6 ResourcefulManager Infographics Every Manager Needs To Bookmark
We have a lot of great resources on the ResourcefulManager web site, but we are particularly proud of our infographics.
They’re loaded with valuable statistics and information every manager needs. And they are visually stunning, too.
In our “In Case You Missed It” section today, I’m recapping some of our best and giving you links so you can put them to good use.
How To Ask For A Raise: An 11-Step Formula To Getting Paid
Can’t remember the last time you got a raise? Or at least a raise that actually felt like a raise?
Not a surprise. For many, the days of the automatic yearly raise have pretty much dried up. Particularly for managers.
Now if you want a raise that will be meaningful, you’re going to have to ask for it.
Gulp! Bet that made your mouth go dry. Asking for a raise can be intimidating and nerve-racking.
But it shouldn’t be.
You’ve earned it. You deserve it. So just do it!
But to make the process easier on yourself and increase your odds of being successful, put this 11-step formula to work:
Getting Layered; Equal Pay Problems; Egotistical Jerks
It’s a pretty disconcerting feeling.
You show up for work one day only to discover that you’re one rung further down the corporate ladder than you were the day before.
And you didn’t even get demoted.
You’ve been layered! And it can be pretty awkward – and deflating.
For example, you were only two layers down from the CEO. She hires a new VP and suddenly you’re three layers down. Or your boss, someone you love working with, hires a new person and inserts him between you and him.
The Coaching Habit; What Leadership’s Not; 30 Motivational Quotes
We’re a collaborative group at ResourcefulManager, so I wasn’t surprised when Dannie Evans, our Marketing guru, shared this with me:
“Heard this podcast on Hubspot today. Guy wrote a new book on coaching employees. Great stuff! Gotta get it.”
Oops! Michael Bungay Stanier’s “The Coaching Habit” was sitting on my desk. He had sent it to me earlier this year. And I hadn’t shared it – with Dannie or our readers.
So here goes. Yes, it’s a valuable read. It’s a fresh, innovative approach to coaching employees.
To-Do List Battle Royale; Be An Original; The 10 Rs Of Leadership
It was a great week! OK, we didn’t sell as many Blueprints as we’d like, but I personally had email exchanges with 81 of you who told me why you didn’t buy (more on that later). And that was the great part. I really appreciate it and our marketing team is poring over your comments.
Yep, I know you’re busy. Who’s got time to read? But there is a lot of valuable and helpful information being published each week that can make your life easier.
And we can help you with that. The ResourcefulManager team scours the ‘Net daily researching our reports, and we turn up some really interesting stuff.
So we thought we’d start sharing the best of it.
Paralyzed By Public Speaking? 19 Tips From Someone Like You
What’s the one thing people fear most?
Public speaking!!!!
It takes the No. 1 spot on my list! I’ll do just about anything to get out of doing a presentation.
So why are so many people afraid of public speaking?
Basically it comes down to: There’s safety in numbers – and vulnerability in standing alone.
Makes sense to me. When giving a presentation, my face turns red, I start to sweat, my mouth dries out and my mind goes blank. Yeah, I would say I’m feeling vulnerable!
But the good news is there’s hope.
Following this 19-step guide can help conquer your public speaking fears:
17 Writing Mistakes That Make Smart People Look Dumb
You probably became a manager because you were good at your job and good with people. Right?
But you probably never said, “I should become a manager because I’m a great writer.”
Unfortunately, writing is a part of just about any job, especially if you’re a manager. You have to write emails, memos, reports, reviews and so on.
And while you don’t have to be Mark Twain or J.K. Rowling, knowing how to write a complete sentence that makes sense is important in the business world.
Reason: Bad writing makes it look as if you lack intelligence!
And while you might get away with using the wrong word in a conversation because once it’s spoken it’s gone, that’s not the way it works with the written word. It’s there for everyone to pick apart – forever.
7 Little-Known Traits That Make Leaders Great Communicators
Know what all great leaders have in common?
They’re great communicators.
Notice I didn’t say great talkers. Just because someone can talk a good game doesn’t mean he or she is a great communicator (even though everyone pictured above are or were masters of both).
Often it’s the opposite!
I know a ton of great talkers, but virtually none of them are great leaders – heck, most aren’t even mediocre leaders.
But listen, I won’t bore you with the typical characteristics or qualities (great listener, personable, passionate, clear and concise, attentive to nonverbal cues, etc.) that make great leaders great communicators.
Instead let’s look at the not-so-obvious characteristics and qualities that make a difference.
Great leaders are great communicators because they:
